Trees and Shrubs with Winter Interest

With stunning bark, colorful berries, evergreen foliage, and faded flowerheads, these woodies will keep your garden going strong through the dormant season

I see wintertime as beginning with the first falling leaf and stop with the first mansion of new outgrowth . That can be a very long stretch in the Northern Plains if our garden do not render something of pastime during those many months . evergreen plant foliation is an well-situated solvent , but there are many other parts of plants that can delight us as well . Here are some of my favorite tree and shrubs to provide some dramatic event and life during winter .

‘Glauca Globosa’ blue spruce features colorful, evergreen foliage

you’re able to not give the axe the power of small evergreens in garden displays . As a architect , I think it ’s significant to include geomorphologic plants in a design , or things get very deadening and dim from October through March . Conifers and broadleaf evergreens can provide this social structure by virtue of their consistent appearance . ‘ Glauca Globosa ’ blue spruce ( Piceapungens‘Glauca Globosa ’ , Zones 2–7 ) is striking in any landscape but should be put thoughtfully , as it is not one that can easily be pruned to fit in a modest blank space . develop tardily to 3 to 5 feet high and 5 to 6 foot wide , it can be buy in a grim , mound , shrubby figure or grafted into a tree diagram form .

Panicle hydrangeas stun with sculptural faded flowers

Texture is an important element in every garden . It is possible to supply texture during the off - time of year by leave the with child dried flowerheads of plants with showy blooms digest . Panicle hydrangeas(Hydrangea paniculataand resume . , Zones 3–9 ) have some of the most spectacular faded peak of all . cultivar such as Little Lime ® (‘Jane ’ ) , Puffer Fish ™ ( ‘ NCHP1 ’ ) , and Little Hottie ® (‘Bailpanone ’ ) , all of which turn 3 to 5 feet marvelous and wide , are well suitable for most garden . Growing on stalwart stalk , the blooms are held high through the summertime and autumn , dry out to a light tan timber . Leaving these undisturbed until leaping rewards you with a large mound of bold texture .

Boxwoods are beloved for their evergreen foliage and year-round structure

One of my favorite plants , ‘ Green Velvet ’ boxwood ( Buxus‘Green Velvet ’ , Zones 4–9 ) bring home the bacon multiple opportunities for interesting soma that are especially noticeable in winter . Additionally , boxwoods that have been manipulate intocrisp hedgesor topiaries are striking in every time of year but rightfully compact a punch during winter . Apart from ‘ Green Velvet ’ , deal trying ‘ Green Gem ’ box ( Buxus‘Green stone ’ , Zones 4–9 ) or Northern Charm ™ Turkish boxwood ( Buxus‘Wilson ’ , Zones 4–9 ) . These both grow 3 to 4 feet tall and across-the-board if left unpruned . For something larger , ‘ Green Mountain ’ boxwood ( Buxus‘Green Mountain ’ , Zones 4–9 ) can reach as tall as 6 feet , providing even more chance for sculpturalpruning .

Bloodtwig and yellowtwig dogwoods wow with their colorful bark

Bright and vibrant barque is always appreciated during wintertime calendar month . Certaindogwoodspecies ( Cornusspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–9 ) are well known for their vibrant prow and have long been staple in many garden . Some of the most spectacular wintertime coloring can be found in new introductions , such as Arctic Sun ® bloodtwig dogwood ( Cornus sanguinea‘Cato ’ , Zones 4–8 ) . This flora grows 3 to 4 feet tall and has gold stems tip in red ; it ’s at its most beautiful when backlit by the sun . ‘ Bud ’s Yellow ’ yellowtwig dogwood tree ( Cornussericea ‘ Bud ’s Yellow ’ , zone 3–7 ) is another rival , reaching 6 to 8 foot tall . In my view , it has the brightest yellow bark of all the shrub - form dogwood . Plant it in masses or in front of a dark wall or fence . These shrub create sheer displays of colouration whether you are graced with snow or not . yearly remotion of no more than one - third of the old development will keep your bush - configuration dogwoods full of vibrantly colored stalk .

Blue holly’s vivid berries contrast with its tinted foliage

Blue Buddy Holly ( Ilex×meservaea , Zones 4–7 ) , also call Meserve holly , is a spectacular shrub with shiny blue - greenish foliage . ‘ Blue Princess ’ and ‘ Blue Prince ’ are the cultivars unremarkably used in my area . Both manlike and distaff plants are required if one wants to see the smart flushed berries in winter . If the dark , shining foliage is all you want , either plant will do the thaumaturgy . reach 4 to 6 foundation tall and wide in the Northern Plains , holly does best if given some trade protection from harsh wind and vivid sun .

Protect your broadleaf evergreens from damage

wintertime sunburn can fall out in stark atmospheric condition onbroadleaf evergreen . A coat of antidesiccant can help forestall this . you’re able to also plant these evergreen plant in an area protect from excess winds . Make certain they go into winter well - irrigate , and provide additional moisture when temperatures are unseasonably warm . Clip out any damage in the give before new growth emerges .

As you gaze out your window this wintertime , make annotation of where you like there was something more interesting to see , and make your plan to improve the persuasion .

For more on winter stake , check out :

And for more Northern Plains regional reports , snap here .

— Marti Neely , FAPLD , own and operates Marti Neely Design and Associates in Omaha , Nebraska .

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plants for winter interest

Arctic Sun® bloodtwig dogwood brings fiery color to the depths of winter.Photo: Midwest Groundcovers

Glauca Globosa blue spruce

‘Glauca Globosa’ blue spruce has the distinctive coloring that makes this species popular, but it also has the added feature of a dense, rounded habit that makes it look more like a shrub.Photo: Marti Neely

panicle hydrangea in winter

Smaller panicle hydrangeas like Little Lime®look great in winter with their dense branching and large faded flowers.Photo: Marti Neely

Green Velvet boxwood

‘Green Velvet’ boxwood is one of the most popular boxwoods for its well-behaved habit of thick foliage (left). Boxwoods pruned into topiaries show off their structural angles best in winter (right).Photos: Marti Neely

Artic Sun bloodtwig dogwood