Due to the unique climatic characteristics of hot summer and cold winter,the application of vertical greening in China can not copy the practical experience of tropical high-density cities including Hong Kong and Singapore. The “Envi-met+TRNSYS” coupling method was used to rationally analyze the winter energy-saving effects of different vertical greening patterns. The spatial structure of residential areas and the typical winter meteorological days in southern Hunan were analyzed. The residential building covered with three patterns of vertical greenings was simulated with the indoor thermal data collected. Based on the human body’s tolerance to the cold in Hunan Province,TRNSYS was used to simulate indoor heating energy demand under different vertical greening patterns. The results showed that vertical greening may increase the energy demand for building heating in cold climate conditions,which is unfavorable to energy conservation. In a typical winter day in southern Hunan Province,the buildings with linear green walls and modular green walls increased the electricity consumption per household for heating by 1.2 to 1.5 kW·h. The buildings with green facade walls still had an energy-saving effect in winter,with an average household heating energy saving of about 0.2 kW·h.