PLANTS WITH INTERESTING FORM
Helping your garden hold some winter interest to pass the cold, dark
months can be as simple as adding in some plants with interesting shape
or form. The term "winter interest" isn't just limited to plants
with late season color - the structure of the plant itself can be
appealing as well. Here are a few selections that may add that
year's end touch to your landscape: |
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Grasses
Ornamental grasses can play many roles in the landscape. They can
be used for both formal and informal settings. You can plant a small
group as a single stand of grasses, throw one in by itself as an accent
plant, or mass them for a privacy screen. Most grasses are easy to
grow and essentially maintenance free. Since they don't get cut
back until March, you can enjoy them throughout the winter, with most
grasses' golden browns being a soft contrast to the season's gray, and
occasional white, backdrops. Many of the larger varieties look
stunning in the landscape, with attractive fall colors as well.
Miscanthus 'Morning Light' and Zebra Grass fill in nicely and add some
pinks and red to your gardens come autumn. |
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Sedum
Here
is a late blooming perennial that will hold its ground after most
perennials have said their final farewell for the year. Sporting
pink to red flowers August to October, these succulents tend to keep
their dried-flower look for a better part of the winter season, provided
they are not taken down by heavy snowfall. Groundcover varieties
of sedum, such as Dragon's Blood, are semi-evergreen and tend to turn a
reddish or burgundy color over the winter. This is a great
perennial to add winter interest in a garden that, during the rest of
the year, is typically too hot and dry for most plants. If you're
trying to achieve a hot and dry winter interest garden, try pairing your
sedum up with some achillea (yarrow), nepeta (catmint), or dianthus
(pinks). |
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Clethra
Summersweet, or Clethra alnifolia, is a
deciduous shrub that holds not a single leaf to its name come cold,
bitter weather, but has a unique look with its twisted, compact
branching. Known in the warmer months for it's late blooming,
fragrant flowers (which are a magnet for butterflies and hummingbirds),
Clethras turn a bright yellow in the fall and can tolerate part shade to
full sun exposure. They range anywhere from 4 - 10 feet depending
on the variety, and bloom pink or white. This is a great
candidate for a spot on your property that is too wet for other shrubs,
as Clethras will thrive in a wet or moist area. Giving this shrub
a light trim after it blooms will encourage more blooms later in the
season on new growth. |
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Contorted Hardy Orange
I like to save the best for
last. You'll be challenged to find a shrub that can compare to
this! You really have to see this one to appreciate it. The
Contorted Hardy Orange, Poncirus trifoliata, is a medium growing,
twisted and contorted tangle of fruit and spikes. It has tiny
white blooms in mid-summer that eventually give way to small, ornamental
fruit - tiny oranges - that stay on the plant for a better part of the
winter. Its contorted shape and green bark make it really
stand out once winter exposes its true form. Full to part
sun and well drained soil is what makes this plant happy. 'Flying
Dragon' only reaches about 6-7 feet, so you won't need to give this one
much space. But be sure though to place it in a location
where it won't be brushed against or bumped into. One look at it's
1-3 inch gnarled spikes should tell you why! |
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BACK TO WINTER
INTEREST MAIN PAGE |
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