Today’s photos come from Barbara Cain.
Hello and happy spring! I’d like to share some photos of the plants I have incorporated into my garden for winter interest. Normally the New England winter is long and dull, so I have added plants that have interesting bark or leaves and that are showy this time of year.
Japanese stewartia (Stewartia pseudocamellia, Zones 5–8) has a lot going for it—showy white flowers in the summer and red fall color, but the intricately patterned and colored bark lasts throughout the year and may be the most beautiful feature of this small tree.
Paperbark maple (Acer griseum, Zones 4–8) has warm brown bark that peels away in delicate sheets.
Pines and other conifers bring winter interest as evergreens, of course, but the lacebark pine (Pinus bungeana, Zones 5–8) also boasts colorful, patterned bark.
Dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides, Zones 4–8) is an unusual conifer that is actually deciduous. The species was first described from the fossil record, and 150 million years ago it was common across the northern hemisphere, but it was thought to be extinct until a small population was discovered in central China. Now it is widely grown in gardens, where we can enjoy its textured bark and unusually shaped trunks.
Winter interest doesn’t just come trees. Sasa veitchii (Zones 6–9) is a bamboo with broad green leaves that develop distinctive light tan margins during the winter. Like most bamboos, though, this plant can spread aggressively, so plant with care.
Witch hazels are always one of the first plants to begin blooming in late winter and early spring. This is the variety ‘Arnold Promise’ (Hamamelis × intermedia ‘Arnold Promise’, Zones 5–8), which has profuse, fragrant, yellow blossoms.
Cornelian cherry dogwood (Cornus mas, Zones 4–8) has clusters of tiny, bright yellow blooms early in the spring. The flowers will be followed by edible red fruits later in the year.
Weeping katsura (Cercidiphyllum japonicum ‘Pendula’, Zones 4–8) is always a beautiful tree, but with the leaves gone during the winter, you can enjoy the intricate pattern created by the weeping limbs.
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Comments
You have an amazing collection of unusual and beautiful plants. Great work.
Loved your photos...esp. of the various tree barks...all are so fascinating and worthy of having their very own centerstage close up. The foliage of Sasa veitchii is truly striking and I'm curious about how tall it gets, etc.
Love all the trees but especially the katsura.
Very interesting - trees add so much in so many ways and seasons . Thanks.
I spotted the unique leaves of Sasa veitchii right away! I grow Sasa Palmata, just fine in zone 6b in Pittsburgh. I could not ge the vietchii to survive for some reason.
Your photos capture garden interest in winter...a time to see the garden a different way than a gardener sees it in spring or summer...thanks for sharing.
Barbara, your photos could make a lovely atlas of plants with winter interest! What a fabulous variety you have, several of which I only know from photos. Thanks for sharing!
Barbara, I have always wanted to plant Pinus bungeana. How long since you planted it?
A good reminder to think beyond summer's flowers. The tree bark photos show a lot of variety.
Beautiful photos of your awesome trees! Love them all.
What a lovely collection you have. Great to share them with us. I have been wanting a Lacebark Pine and a J. Stewartia for some time now...
Wonderful reminder of how beautiful tree bark and winter looks can be. We often forget to think that far in advance when doing our plantings. I'm still learning and I've been gardening for almost 20 years now.
Such a nice collection of trees. Beautiful
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