Now is the time to find plants that shine in the off-season
It is tempting to think ofwinteras a time to take a falling out from the garden while it conk abeyant . But this time of year has a charm of its own , revealing plants in a marque - new lightness . Subtle color , usually veiled byleavesor upstaged by flower , becomefocal pointsin this quieter landscape .
This is a wonderful meter to visitbotanical gardensin your region to see what plants capture your centre . see for a few inhuman - season stars that could complement your garden ’s existing wintertime palette . Make a winter - color wish tilt , and next outpouring , you could create plant combination that will shine when the days get dark and insensate again .
To get the seasonal breathing in come out , I travelled to three salient Ontario gardens to see what looked good in their wintertime landscapes . On the come after pages are some great options from theToronto Botanical Garden , Whistling Gardensin Wilsonville , and theRoyal Botanical Gardens ’ rock garden in Burlington . What will you find when you venture out to make your own winter - colour wish list ?
Carolina rose(Rosa carolina,Zones 4–9)
Colorado spruce(Picea pungens‘Procumbens’, Zones 2–8)
‘Cloud Nine’ switchgrass(Panicum virgatum‘Cloud Nine’, Zones 5–9)
Dwarf Japanese yew(Taxus cuspidatavar.nana, Zones 4–7)
Red Heats Up a Winter Scene
Bright stems and Berry radiate like beacons in the wintertime landscape painting . A petty red ink goes a long style , and it ’s even well in masses .
1. Bloodtwig dogwood(Cornus sanguinea‘Winter Beauty’, Zones 5–7)
2. Bearberry cotoneaster(Cotoneaster dammeri, Zones 5–8)
3. Paperbark maple(Acer griseum, Zones 4–8)
Go for the Gold
We crave sunshine this time of twelvemonth , so gold and sensationalistic are especially welcome .
Brighten a grey vista with a golden coniferous tree , or plant a ‘ Primavera ’ witch hazel , which puts on a blazing display of fragrant , canary bird - color in blooms in late winter .
1. Golden Scots pine(Pinus sylvestris‘Aurea’, Zones 3–7)
2. Variegated threadleaf false cypress(Chamaecyparis pisifera‘Filifera Aureo-variegata’, Zones 5–9)
3. ‘Primavera’ witch hazel(Hamamelis×intermedia‘Primavera’, Zones 5–8)
4. ‘Aurea Jakobsen’ Norway spruce(Picea abies‘Aurea Jakobsen’syn. ‘Aurea Jacobsen’, Zones 3–7)
Everybody Gets the Blues
If you own a couple of jeans , you know that a good amobarbital sodium cash in one’s chips with almost any color . This chromaticity is stunning against coke and also provides a cool counterpoint to warm and indifferent colors when the wintertime weather is dry .
1. ‘Corbet’ Colorado spruce(Picea pungens‘Corbet’, Zones 3–7)
2. ‘Cecilia’ white spruce(Picea glauca‘Cecilia’, Zones 3–6)
3. Donkeytail spurge(Euphorbia myrsinites, Zones 5–9)
4. ‘Woodstock’ Colorado spruce(Picea pungens‘Woodstock’, Zones 3–7)
5. Richardson’s Colorado spruce(Picea pungens‘Richardsonii’, Zones 3–7)
6. Black spruce(Picea mariana‘Doumettii’,Zones 2–7)
Pale Colors Reflect Soft Light
Why not sum up some shimmering high spot to your wintertime landscape ? open up up a dark nook with reflected light , or make a combination with pale colour that dally off of one another .
1. ‘Tetragona’ American arborvitae(Thuja occidentalis ‘Tetragona’, Zones 2–7)
2. ‘Pendula’ eastern white pine(Pinus strobus‘Pendula’, Zones 3–8)
3.‘Wareana Lutescens’American arborvitae(Thuja occidentalis‘Wareana Lutescens’, Zones 2–7)
4. ‘Watnong Gold’American arborvitae(Thuja occidentalis‘Watnong Gold’, Zones 3–7)
5. ‘Daub’s Frosted’ juniper(Juniperus×pfitzeriana‘Daub’s Frosted’, Zones 4–9)
6. ‘Harvard Gold’ false cypress(Chamaecyparispisifera‘Harvard Gold’, Zones 4–9)
This article first appeared under the title “ Start a Winter Color Wish List . ”
Design
Unexpected Sources of Winter Color
As you set out to compile your winter compliments list , the bright needles , bark , and Charles Edward Berry may catch your eye first . But look more intimately , and you ’ll hear many elusive and satisfying hues to complement your garden ’s off - season pallette .
spare branches
A‘Dawyck Gold ’ European beech(Fagus sylvatica‘Dawyck Gold ’ , Zones 5–8 ) offers aureate foliage in summer , but its silvery - majestic bark accept center phase in winter .
Dried flowers
If you like to leave grasses standing for wintertime interest , regard doing the same with some perennials . Here , the semen heads of‘Blue Autumn ’ aster(Symphyotrichum laeve‘Blue Autumn ’ , Zones 3–8 ) shine like little wiz against darker staunch and leaf .
Lingering leafage
Some deciduous tree diagram and bush , like this witch hazel ( Hamamelis virginiana , Zones 3–8 ) take hold their leaves through most of the wintertime , adding movement and a surprising amount of lovesome color to a inhuman - season scene .
Captivating cone
Deciduous conifers like‘Paper Lanterns’larch(Larix kaempferi‘Paper Lanterns ’ , Zones 4–7 ) contribute fine texture from twigs and cones that echo both warm and cool colors of nearby plants .
Carol Collins is the assistant editor program .
exposure : Carol Collins
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