In Seattle, where so many evergreen shrubs thrive, it is easy to plant a garden that is green year-round. Still, it is a shame to forget about deciduous shrubs and trees whose bark and branch structure can add sculptural beauty and pops of color to the winter garden. Not to mention there’s herbaceous grasses, whose summer green turns to glorious shades of gold and brown. Here are some stars of the winter landscape:
- Cornus ‘Midwinter Fire’ (Red twig dogwood)- This shrub is attractive in summer, with bushy green leaves and white flowers, but truly spectacular in winter when the branches glow in fiery shades of orange and red. Plant it where you can see it on a grey and gloomy day. The colors really pop when in front of an evergreen backdrop or dark colored structure.
Cornus ‘Midwinter Fire’
- Betulus (Birches)- are lovely deciduous trees which bring an ethereal magic to the winter garden. Betulus utilis va. Jacquemontii (Himalayan birch) has beautiful pure white bark, Betula papyrifera (Paperbark birch) features papery exfoliating white bark and Betulus nigra (River birch) has salmon colored exfoliating bark.
Betula jaquemontii, paperbark birch.
- Acer palmatum (Japanese maples)- Denuded of foliage, the Japanese maples’ trunks and branches are revealed showcasing fantastic sculptural forms, and delicate sprays of branches. Choose a weeping variety for the most fascinating, serpentine winter form, or an Acer ‘Sango Kaku’ (Coral bark maple) for its striking red winter branches.
Weeping Japanese Maples often have an amazing serpentine structure.
- Miscanthus (Maiden grass)- Add some light and movement to your winter garden with these big tufted grasses. Green in summer, they turn glorious shades of gold, orange and brown in winter.
Miscanthus grass in winter
The winter garden can look tired and muddy, but it doesn’t have to. This spring, choose plants whose underlying colors and textures provide an interesting and varied winter show once the foliage falls away.
