Winter’s Landscape

I’m writing this on a (rare) beautiful snowy day.  February is a fickle month around here.  We tend to get teased with spring-like temperatures early on and then our hopes are dashed as winter makes a comeback.  These last of winter days are a good time to assess the landscape for winter interest.  We tend to think that it’s an ugly time of year in the garden, but there are many plants that liven things up with color, texture, and form with or without leaves. 

Evergreens, whether broadleaf or conifer, are the most obvious winter interest plants and form the backbone of many landscape and foundation plantings.  They become the center of attention when the foliage and flowers of neighboring plants are absent.  Upright conifers are the kings of interesting texture and graceful form, and there are many dwarf forms which take on bronze or gold coloring with the onset of cold weather.   

Think stems, too.  Not all deciduous stems are brown in winter.  Check out the red and yellow display of the shrubby species of Cornus (dogwood).  Several varieties of Coral Bark Japanese Maple show off with bright orangey-red stems.  Peeling or mottled bark can be beautiful and is most evident when the leaves are gone.  Consider Lagerstroemia (Crape Myrtle) and Betula nigra (River Birch) just to name a few.  Weeping trees provide great structural interest year-round.

Finally, don’t overlook perennial possibilities.  Grasses provide great texture and structure.  I have a Vernonia (Ironweed) which I leave uncut through the winter.  I think its round fluffy seedheads are pretty and they last most of the season.  Autumn Joy type sedums will persevere as dried bouquets.  This year I unintentionally left (meaning I didn’t get around to cutting them back!) some tall Helianthus (Perennial Sunflower).  I was happy to see finches feeding on the seedheads so, while the stems were not much to look at the birds certainly were. 

All this is to say that if you’re finding your winter landscape a little lackluster there are many ways plants can make it more interesting.  Now is the time to take note of spots that might need a little help and plan ahead for the spring planting season.