Gardening Topic for November 2003
Pizzaz in the Winter Garden

Provided by the Western Massachusetts Master Gardener Association
www.wmassmastergardeners.org.

While zooming along the Mass. Turnpike on a fall day and taking in the display of shimmering, garnet sumac leaves, the connection between plants and seasons hit home. As we all know, each season holds a “focus”. A different aspect of the plant comes into perspective. In spring and summer we—and many other creatures—go for the flowers; in fall, we’re enticed by leaves and berries and during winter, we appreciate the texture and color of bark.

Designing a garden that will hold its own throughout the year is the ultimate challenge. How does one pack it all in? Is there space for a crabapple and an Acer palmatum with its tropical coral bark?  Fortunately, one can sometimes enjoy both in the same plant: the “common” crabapple will offer both its flowers and then its fruit in the fall. A red osier dogwood can display variegated leaves come spring.

Still, winter will remain always the greatest of challenges. On these shorter days we are left with the architecture of the garden: stone walls, boulders, paths, and finally, our shrubs and trees. Fortunately, many offer tantalizing visual interest as the months grow colder. From falls’ crimson winterberries and Aronia’s or chokecherries’ elegant black berries, one can then be greeted by redosier dogwoods or Cornus sericea  set against sparkling white snow. As Michael Dirr states: “it is a great plant for the winter garden, especially mixed or contrasted with various needle evergreens.” Displayed on a bank en masse  they not only look terrific but they prevent erosion.

For the winter palette, red is not the only color however. Mixing a scarlet Cornus  ‘Cardinal’ with the very cool looking greens and bright yellows of Cornus stolonifera  ‘Flaviramea' and ‘Lutea’ is another way to go. Or, one can be brave and choose just one of these less well-known dogwoods. And, with some research, many will offer a variegated leaf with a cream border come summer.

If you are a purist though and happen to have a wetland area, consider the native varieties of Cornus that reward with their fast-growing, colonizing qualities. With stems that almost glow red, orange, and yellow, they would be the rival of any sugar maple in autumn. If neutral colors appeal to you more, the more subtle gray dogwood will also reward birds with its prolific white berries, offering a safe home for their nests thanks to their multi-stemmed stands.

Other trees and shrubs with attractive barks include native exfoliating Physocarpus or common ninebarks, sleek ironwoods that look like they’ve been working out in a gym, and Korean or Japanese Stewartias. With a bark that, as Dirr states, resembles a “mosaic of gray, brown and cinnamon flakes”, the Stewartias will hold their own in the winter landscape. Still, when it comes to texture, the native, exfoliating shaggy bark hickory and common ninebark never fail to entice me. Finally, having found a corner to recently plant two Acer griseums or paper bark maples, with their peeling bark that reveals a deep bronze color, I am looking forward to an artistic season in my backyard.

All of the shrubs and trees mentioned above are appropriate for Zone 5; some might be appropriate for Zone 4. And, if you plant winterberries, make sure to include at least one male shrub with the berry producing females.

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Provided by the Western Massachusetts Master Gardener Association
www.wmassmastergardeners.org.