Great Plants for Winter

• Bark, Twigs, Form, Flowers, Fruit, Seeds, Leaves, Needles and Perennials for Winter Interest

INTERESTING BARK

Acer Griseum – Paperbark Maple

Acer griseum – Paperbark Maple

• Hardiness – Zones 4 to 8• Slow growing• Sun to partial shade• Prefers moist well drained soil – NOT

drought resistant• 20-30’ tall x 15-25’ wide• One of the BEST small ornamental trees• Great reddish fall color

Acer griseum – Paperbark Maple

• Problems: Aphids, scale and caterpillars. Mites can cause leaf spot gall. Fungal leaf spots and root rots are common.

Betula nigra – River Birch

Betula nigra – River Birch• Hardiness Zones 4 to 9• Not subject to infestation by the lethal

Bronze Birch Borer, as are some Birches in many regions of the United States

• Rapid growth and establishment • Wet or dry site adaptable • Exfoliating flaky bark in various mixed

shades of cream, orange, and lavender

• Bicolor Summer foliage that shimmers in the breeze

• Single trunk or multi trunk (clump) forms

• Very symmetrical branching • Foliage casts a light to medium density

shade, depending upon the maturity of the tree

• Golden fall color in good years

Stewartia pseudocamellia

Stewartia pseucocamelia

• Hardiness – Zones 5 to 7• Moderate growing – 12-18” a year• Best in partial shade but tolerates full sun

if the soil is moist and well drained• 30-40’ tall x 20-25’ wide• This is one of the most handsome of

medium-sized ornamental trees • Red to dark purple fall color –

WONDERFUL flowers!

Stewartia pseudocamelliaProblems:• does not establish easily. • dislikes intense heat and

drought. Cultivars/Varieties • 'Ballet' - A selection out of the

Polly Hill Arboretum on Martha's Vineyard, MA. This plant is unique due to it’s spreading habit and larger flowers, to almost 4" wide.

• 'Cascade' - This is a semi-weeping form with gently drooping branches and growing tips. It grows very slowly.

Metasequoia glyptostroboides

Metasequoia glyptostroboides

Metasequoia glyptostroboides• Hardiness Zones 4 to 9• Fast Growing• Full sun only• 30-60’ tall or more x 15-30’ wide or

more• This is a DECIDUOUS evergreen• Foliage is golden brown in the fall

before falling• FEW PROBLEMS• 'Gold Rush' and 'Ogon' - These

two gold-foliaged forms may, in fact, be the same. The plants produce yellow needles that are especially bright when young. Growth is slower than the species, and the mature size will be smaller.

‘Gold Rush’ (L) and ‘Ogon’ (R)

GREAT TWIGS

Cornus varieties

• Cornus sericea ‘Cardinal’

• Cornus sericea ‘Flavirames

Cornus varieties

• Cornus stolonifera ‘Arctic Fire’

• Cornus sericea ‘Baileyi’

Cornus varieties

Cornus varieties

IN GENERAL:• Tough as nails Zones 3 (some are Zone 2)• Many (probably TOO MANY) cultivars with

growth from 1-2’ tall to 5-6’ tall and various width• Moderate growing, tolerates VERY wet soils –

NOT drought resistant. Full Sun is best – but will tolerate some shade

• Most varieties have reddish fall color, white flat flowers and white fruit

PROBLEMS – Subject to fungal leaf spot in wet summers or under constant irrigation

Corylus avellana ‘Contorta’Harry Lauders Walking Stick

Corylus avellana ‘Contorta’ Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick

• That it blooms in late winter adds tremendously to its extravagant cold-season interest. These green catkins lengthen through November & December & dominate after leaf-fall, as shown in this photo. These burst into soft, bright golden catkins in February, lasting through March.

Corylus avellana ContortaHarry Lauder’s Walking Stick

• Much in demand for flower arrangements, C. avellana was found in England

• Reaches a height and width of 7’

• Zone 4-8• In spring & summer & early

autumn, it has large crinkly leaves so dense it hides the exaggerated corkscrew appearance of the limbs. So to great extent this is a more interesting tree in winter when the branches are bare & their eerie windings most obvious.

• Control the suckers!

Harry Lauder• This tree is also called Contorted Filbert & Harry

Lauder's Walking Stick. Sir Harry Lauder (1870-1950) was a Scot & a leading music hall entertainer who sang lovely ballads & told jokes on himself. He was greatly beloved in his day, & was knighted by King George V for service to the country in the first World War, wherein his only son was killed.

American soldiers were entertained by Lauder during the war & afterward he toured America where he gained a considerable following. He was briefly a film star in the early 1930s. Yet he's not well remembered now, & the tree baring his name is increasingly just called Corkscrew Hazel, though more than an occasional home owner has been known to give their corkscrew the pet name Harry.

His signature song "Roamin' in the Gloamin'" is still well known, though many mistake it for a folk tune when in fact Sir Harry wrote it. The lasting image of the tight-fisted Scot with a twisted walking cane — originated by Lauder & imitated by many a stage & film comedian, including Danny Kaye — has outlasted Lauder's international fame, to the annoyance of some Scots who've wearied of the stereotype.

Robinia pseudoacacia ‘Twisty Baby’

Robinia pseudoacacia ‘Twisty Baby’

• 'Twisty Baby' is a horticultural selection, propagated by grafting, with contorted branches and leaves. What makes the tree especially appealing is the tightly growing leaf clusters that hang down, very much like wisteria blooms.

• The fragrant, whitish flowers, borne in showy racemes, appear after leaf emergence in May or June. The perfect flowers originate in the axils of current year leaves and are pollinated by insects, primarily bees.

• PROBLEMS -Borers can be a significant problem in some areas. Also susceptible to scale, leaf miner, leaf spot, powdery mildew and canker. Branches are susceptible to winter injury from heavy snows or ice.

• 8-10’ tall x 12’ wide• Zone 4 to 8

Salix matsudana var. Tortuosa

Salix matsudana var. Tortuosa

• Hardiness Zones: 5-8 • Growth Rate: Rapid • Site Requirements: Sun;

moist soil • Height: 20 to 40' Width:

15 to 25‘• Comments: Short lived;

the more vigorous the growth the more contorted

Winter flowers

Hamamelis vernalis• Extremely fragrant flowers in Winter or

very early Spring (this genus represents the first group of woody plants to flower)

• Stem cuttings can be forced indoors for fragrance in Winter

• Equally tolerant of wet or dry sites, sunny or shady sites, and gravelly or clay soils (and therefore an excellent choice for naturalized areas, erosion sites, or neglected areas)

• maturing at about 8' tall by 8' with slow growth rate

• Witchhazel Family, with no significant disease problems, and occasional leaf gall being the only cosmetic pest problem

• Zones 4 to 8

Hamamelis vernalis varieties‘Arnold’s Promise’ (L)

and ‘Diane’ (R)

Erica varieties• Zone 5• Up to 12" tall; twice as wide as tall • Blooms in late winter to early

spring (late March to early April) • Cold injury is likely in severe

winters• Needs specific site requirements.

Requires moist, acidic perfectly-drained soils

• Soils should be low in fertility and high in organic matter often killed by overfertilizing in landscapes

• Full sun to partial shade • There exist many more than 100

cultivars of this plant

Erica Carnea varieties

Cornus mas• A small, deciduous tree reaching

20' tall or slightly larger with a rounded shape.

• Hardy to zone 4• Small yellow flowers in rounded

clusters that are numerous. Blooms in late March or early April andflowering is quite showy.

• Flowers are best viewed against a dark background

• Bright red fruits shaped like an olive in mid summer. Can be eaten when color becomes dark red or maroon

• Often consumed quickly by birds • Full sun or partial shade

WINTER FRUIT

Malus Varieties• Flowering Crabapples• Many have persistent fruit lasting through

February, others have no fruit.• Generally hardy to zone 3 or 4• Most crabapple trees are between 15–25’

tall and 8-25’ wide at maturity, depending on cultivar or species. Some cultivars only reach 5’ tall. Crabapple trees offer an interesting range of shapes from low mound, shrub-like to dwarf trees to narrow-upright, wide-spreading, round, oval, horizontal, vase-shaped or pendulous (weeping) types.

• Flowering crabapples are adaptable to a variety of sites. Crabs prefer a heavy-loam soil, but will tolerate clay soils as long as they are well drained but moist, with no standing water. Flowering crabs require full sun and open exposure to increase air circulation.

Malus - problems

• Flowering crabs are susceptible to a variety of diseases including fireblight and apple scab. Susceptibility varies greatly between cultivars and species.

• Disease and insect susceptibility make many cultivars and species not worthy of use. Apple scab can be severe, causing defoliation in summer.

MALUS ‘Golden Raindrops’ Top Left

MALUS ‘ Sargentii’ Top Right

Malus ‘Winter Gold’

Malus ‘Sugar Tyme’ – Bottom Right

Crateagus viridis ‘Winter King’

Crataegus ‘Winter King’

• Zone 5• 20-35' high, equal width • Unlike most other hawthorns, it

remains relatively free of pests and diseases such as scab and rust. This cultivar of Crataegus viridis is also noted for its enormous fruit, consistently growing larger than those of the regular species.

• For winter interest, this is a plant that's hard to beat.

Winter Seeds and Dried Flowers

Rhus typhinia

• Zone 4• 15-25’ tall• A large open shrub or

weedy tree • Uses – massing, woods

edge, naturalistic areas and bank covers

• Yellow, orange to red fall color, very showy

• Persistent dried flower.

Rhus typhinia

Rhus - cultivars

Winter Leaves

DAPHNE x burkwoodii Carol Mackie

• 2-3' tall and wide• Zone 5-8 • Garland flowers are

prized for their early spring bloom of exquisitely fragrant palest pink flowers in profusion. Must have good drainage. Good as a specimen plant, or in groups. Each leaf is perfectly edged in cream.

DAPHNE x burkwoodii Carol Mackie

Rhododendron P.J.M and varieties

• Zone 4 • Group of hybrids

resulting from a cross between R. carolinianum and R. dauricum var. sempervirens

• Named after Peter J. Mezitt, founder of Weston Nurseries, Massachusetts

‘P.J.M.’ varieties

Arctostaphylos uva ursi

• Tends to occur naturally in sandy or rocky soil

• Zone 3 • An evergreen

groundcover - low growing forming dense, spreading mats

• Individual plants can be 6" to 12" tall by 15" diameter

• May turn a bronze or a reddish color in the fall and winter

GREAT NEEDLES / Form

More needles

Great Needles / Winter Color

Perennials in Winter