Winter gardens are something we usually don’t think about until the dreaded white stuff appears. As you can probably tell, winter is definitely not my favorite season: the first snowflakes make my body go into sudden convulsions. However, while driving through
Exfoliating bark & Stem color
Exfoliating bark is often overlooked when shopping for plants in the spring and summer because you are unable to see the bark. Two of my favorite varieties for their winter bark are
Stem color is a big thing to consider when picking out plants for the winter landscape if having a 4 season garden is of interest. Dogwood is by far the most popular genus for this cause. There are multiple colors to choose from and they are great for indoor decorating as well. Dogwood looks best when planted in mass, but older varieties can reach up to 8 to 10 feet. That is fine for larger gardens, but in small gardens, there are two types that have been recently introduced that would do much better. These varieties are Arctic Fire™ (Cornus stolonifera ‘Farrow’) and Arctic Sun™ (Cornus sanguinea ‘Cato') dogwood. Reaching only 3 to 4 feet in size they can easily be managed in a small garden with 3 or 5 planted side by side. Arctic Fire is unique for its bright red stem color that lights up against a snowy backdrop setting and Arctic Sun has yellow stems at the base that change to red at the tips. It is unlike any other dogwood except ‘Midwinter Flame’ which can get up to 10 feet tall. Proven Winners® ColorChoice® is always looking for compact new varieties to use in smaller gardens.
Berries
Berries are one of my favorite features which is why I adore Viburnums. There are many different forms and all have their unique qualities, but some that I would classify as my favorites include Cardinal Candy™ (Viburnum dilatatum ‘Henneke’) and Brandywine™ (Viburnum nudum ‘Bulk’). Cardinal Candy is one of my special favorites because the breeder is a good friend of mine, and with every phone call he puts a smile on my face. As I peer out the window on this cold December winter day, the berries of Cardinal Candy still dangle on the bare branches. It adds a sparkle of color to a dreary gray day.
So what other plants have amazing berries? Ilex verticillata is another choice where you can’t go wrong. These hollies actually lose their leaves in the winter, but the berries remain on for a show. The berry colors range from golden to orange to red and can be used in cut flower arrangements or wreaths during the holidays. Two of my favorite varieties of Ilex verticillata are ‘Winter Gold’ and ‘Red Sprite’. ‘Winter Gold’ has gorgeous fruit that look like golden pearls and ‘Red Sprite’ has red berries, but the stem is light brown instead dark brown like all the others. Keep in mind that these plants need a male pollinator to produce fruit. It is recommended to use ‘Jim Dandy’ with ‘Red Sprite’ and ‘Southern Gentlemen’ with ‘Winter Gold’.
Amethyst™ Coral Berry (Symphoricarpos x doorenbosii ‘Kordes’) is another all time favorite. I love the berries on this plant – they are bright pink and cover the entire shrub. Making it even more elegant is its graceful, weeping habit. There are not many shrubs that display this vibrant color in fall, and as a bonus the birds seem to leave the fruit alone throughout winter.
Evergreens and Foliage Plants
Evergreens and foliage plants are absolutely essential for any landscape. They provide a colorful backdrop for other plants to play off of year round. Two colorful evergreens that pop out of the snow with vibrant green and yellow variegated leaves is Blondy® euonymus (Euonymus fortunei ‘Interbolwi’) and Gold Splash® euonymus (Euonymus fortunei ‘Roemertwo’). These two plants look incredible year round. They are a busy gardener’s dream come true because you basically plant them, water a couple times and they are good to go. I love these types of plants because I don’t have time to be babysitting my garden everyday.
Boxwood is always a good standby when it comes to evergreens. These plants form wonderful hedges for walkways, driveways, knot gardens, etc. North Star™ boxwood (Buxus sempervirens ‘Katerberg’) is a recent introduction through ColorChoice® plants that is noted for its dense, globe shape that requires little if any pruning. It is another perfect choice for the busy gardener.
One plant we northern folks don’t really think about is Abelia, which to my surprise is semi-evergreen in our area. Silver Anniversary™ (Abelia x grandifolia ‘Panache’) and Golden Anniversary™ (Abelia x grandifolia ‘Minipan’) are ideal for adding color in a white area of your garden. These plants really surprised me, but they do well in the winter landscape. Their variegated leaves are showy and are decorated with white bell-shaped flowers in the spring.
Texture
Bangle™ Dyers-Greenwood (Genista lydia ‘Select’), is a plant many people are unfamiliar with, it is by far an underutilized genus, but its texture in the winter and spring is by far one of my favorites (I know I keep saying that, but horticulturists have no limits). This is a great plant for raised beds if you are trying to cover a brick wall. It also is a water conservatist’s ideal plant because it’s very drought tolerant. In the spring when it blooms it is unbelievable like a carpet of yellow flowers. If you don’t have several of these you need them.
Butterfly bush (Buddleia or Buddleja) is also an ideal plant when it comes to creating texture in the winter garden. Many gardeners cut down the dried flowers during fall cleanup, but I feel that they add texture and movement to the garden and look beautiful with dried grasses and sedum. There are many types of butterfly bush to choose from, but there will be a new variety for spring 2009 called Lo & Behold™ ‘Blue Chip’ (Buddleia davidii ‘Blue Chip’). This variety comes out of JC Raulston Arboretum and was bred to be dwarf, have a round habit and produce no seed. It is all those things and so much more. This butterfly bush will definitely change your perspective on this genus.
Another shrub that creates beauty in the winter landscape is Hardy Hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata). This hydrangea is much better than the mophead forms of hydrangea that everyone goes goo-goo over. This hydrangea can take full sun and is drought tolerant unlike its sister, who is a total water hog. Two varieties that I have in my garden are ‘Limelight’ and Pinky Winky™ (Hydrangea paniculata ‘DVPpinky’). If all of their flowers are not pruned off in the late summer for cuts in the house then don’t cut them off during fall cleanup. They look beautiful whistling in the winter wind. For this species and butterfly bush, pruning will need to occur in early – mid spring for blooming to take place.
Last among the texture plants, but definitely not least is Henry Lauder’s walking stick (Corylus avelena). The twisted and contorted branches of this plant make it interesting in any season. There is a new variety called ‘Red Majestic’ that is making its way onto the scene. It has the same beautiful form, but is covered with red ‘majestic’ leaves. It is a dramatic addition to the garden and should be placed in a prominent focal area to receive lots of attention.
In closing, winter can be fun if you look at it as a big shopping experience and look forward to the spring ahead when the planting can begin. Remember to not be taken hostage by the flower power of a plant and look for these amazing varieties above that will bring beauty to your garden in the winter time as well. Happy planting!
Author bio
Danielle Ernest is a dynamic, well respected horticulturist that draws on a wide range of experience including public garden curation, sales, merchandising, new product development and marketing. She currently works for Spring Meadow Nursery, where she is responsible for educating clients and the media about the Proven Winners® ColorChoice® brand of flowering shrubs.
She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Horticulture and Landscape Design from
