I wanted to share some wonderful winter interest plants to brighten up your garden if you think it is looking a bit dull.
There are lots to showcase but here are two to cheer up long January particularly if part of your garden is in partial shade or you have clay soil that holds water.
COLOURED DOGWOODS PRIZED FOR THEIR VIBRANT WINTER STEMS
Cornus or coloured dogwoods are just so versatile. Plant in groups to create the best look or if you haven’t the space in threes. if you have an area in the garden that is damp and difficult choose Cornus. These plants thrive in wet soil – not waterlogged –and with an evergreen backdrop will really pop through the garden during long January.
There are lots to choose from – some with red or orange or acid green stems and some even with black. The leaves during the spring and summer can be lush green or variegated and in the autumn turn yellows and reds.
Key Features:
The standout feature are the colorful winter stems, which come in bright red, orange, yellow, or acid green.
I love to plant them against an evergreen backdrop and this makes the colour really pop particularly when they are placed a bit further away in the garden.
In summer, the leaves are lush green, sometimes with variegation. Many varieties have fabulous autumn colour turning shades of red, butter yellow or purple.
One of my favourite to place near the house are the variegated - Cornus Alba Elegantissima has a pink edge around the perimeter of the leaf and can look so pretty planted in a small group around a tree for example, your new silver birch tree!
They are good for wildlife too and after flowering, they often produce small white or blue-black berries that attract birds.
Popular Varieties:
Cornus alba 'Sibirica' – Bright red stems.
Cornus sanguinea 'Midwinter Fire' – A fiery gradient of orange, yellow, and red stems with butter yellow leaves in the autumn.
Cornus stolonifera 'Flaviramea' – Vibrant lime-yellow stems.
Cornus alba 'Elegantissima' – Variegated leaves with a pink edge and then red stems in the autumn and winter.
Growing Conditions:
Prefers moist soil but tolerates a wide range of conditions, including heavy clay. Choose a partial shade location or full sun as long as the plants don't dry out they aren't fussy.
Pruning: This is really important to maintain the vibrant stem color. As soon as you see new growth emerging, cut back hard (to about 20 cm above ground) - usually in the early spring. This encourages new growth, which has the brightest color. I would avoid doing this for the first year but when the plants are established then you could do it every alternate one to keep taller plants and then every year if you want smaller.
If you don't prune back the plant will become woody.
TREE TRUNKS THAT HAVE COLOUR OR TEXTURE
The common Silver Birch otherwise known as Betula Pendula, has a grey/white bark with notches that are so distinctive. I love to plant in groups quite close together to really make an impact using the trunks as a feature. The canopies will merge so that the early spring leaves are all the more vibrant.
In the autumn the leaves turn butter yellow and enrich the tapestry for the season.
I love to underplant with hydrangeas to really show off the white or with evergreen grasses to give the plant that ethereal look. Or use masses of Cornus so that the winter look is vamped up to max!
The image above is actually Betula albosinensis another favourite of mine because of its pink shaggy bark.
Comments