Beautiful Plantings for the Winter Landscape

Photo: Lacebark Pine Pinus bungeana. Photo by Lisa DiNardo.

The growing season is behind us, and the abundant foliage of deciduous trees and shrubs are dormant. Now is the time when the fine and bold textures of plants in fall and winter landscapes reveal their stunning brilliance!

The soft silhouettes, bold bark colors and stunning architecture of trees, shrubs, and ornamental grasses are prominent. Incorporating these gems within a landscape is a thoughtful and fun process, adding months of interest and elegance to the garden and landscape.

Read on to see our 16 hardy plant recommendations (4 trees, 4 shrubs, 4 ornamental grasses and 4 bulb species) to add colorful vertical interest, majestic form, and sweeping graceful textures to your landscape.

Trees (with beautifully textured bark)

1. Lacebark Pine Pinus bungeana

A handsome, tall-stature conifer that grows 30′-50′ ht. x 20′-35′ spread and is either single, or more often, multi-stemmed. Full sun. Zones 4-8. Outstanding winter characteristic: Colorful exfoliating bark that peels to reveal an underlying patchwork of olive, deep green, white, light purple, and silver inner bark. Refer to the lead photo in this article.

2. Paper Birch Betula papyrifera

Tall-stature deciduous Colorado native that grows 50′-70′ ht. x 25′-50′ spread. In spring, male and female catkins create a dancing display within the canopy. The beautifully triangular and serrated dark green leaves turn bright golden in autumn. Prefers part shade in well-drained, acidic loamy soils with ample moisture. It is intolerant of drought conditions. Mulch tree with a small bark mulch, 3 inches thick to retain soil moisture. Zones 2-6. Outstanding winter characteristic: Beautiful exfoliating snow-white bark sheds in papery strips. Our local native, Water Birch Betula occidentalis is indigenous to Garfield and Eagle counties. This handsome multi-stemmed tree of riparian woodlands grows to 20′ tall along riverbanks and other moist sites. The beautiful cinnamon bark with the creamy white lenticels is stunning to see. (Lenticels are porous tissues used in plant respiration). Follow this link for more info on Water Birch.

Photo: Quaking Aspen. Photo by Lisa DiNardo

3. Quaking Aspen Populus tremuloides

A medium to tall stature Colorado native that grows 20′-50′ ht. x 10′-30′ spread. The finely toothed deep green foliage turns bright golden yellow in the fall. We can thank the long and flattened leaf stem (petiole) for giving us the shimmering leaf effect. Aspens have the widest geographical distribution of any North American tree, being indigenous to Alaska and most of Canada, the Pacific Northwest, New England, the Great Lakes and south in the Rockies to Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona. Prefers full sun. Zones 1-6. Outstanding winter characteristic: Smooth, bright white bark. The bark is one identifying feature of this tree, but it is special for more than just its unique appearance. The bark layer of quaking aspens carries out photosynthesis, a task usually reserved for tree leaves. In winter, when other deciduous trees are mostly dormant, quaking aspens can keep producing sugar for energy. During hard winters, the green, sugary layer provides necessary nutrients for deer and elk. National Wildlife Federation.

4. Manchurian (Amur) Cherry Prunus maackii

A small to medium-stature ornamental tree that grows 20′-30′ ht. x 15′-28′ spread. Fragrant white flowers appear in April-May and are followed by small, glossy black cherries. Fruits are used to make jams, jellies, and juices. Full sun to part shade. Zones 2-6. Outstanding winter characteristic: Attractive exfoliating golden brown to maroon bark. The Manchurian Cherry benefits hugely from being in a community of plants as do other plants that share and rely on the important and broad networks of mycorrhizal resources. Too often we plant trees individually and in a sea of turf grass where resources are limited, and the landscape is over-watered. A healthy landscape with strong mycorrhizal connections begins with a diverse plant palette that includes trees, shrubs, and a perennial layer. Mulch plantings with a small bark mulch, three inches thick (no weed fabric) and irrigate sufficiently, three days a week for a half hour.

Shrubs (with stunning stem and bark features)

1. Yellow Twig Dogwood Cornus sericea ‘Flaviramea’

A deciduous shrub that grows 5′-6′ tall and as wide. Fragrant white flowers appear in spring, and in summer the fruit clusters turn white with a bluish hue and are attractive to wildlife. Deeply veined green foliage turns hues of orangey-red, then fading to purple in autumn. Full sun to part shade, zones 3-8. Outstanding winter characteristic: Bright yellow stems add a beautiful vertical element in the landscape. To retain the vibrant stem color, in early spring before the stems begin to bud, remove a third of the oldest stems to encourage new colorful growth.

2. Red Twig Dogwood Cornus sericea ‘Farrow’ Arctic Fire

A deciduous shrub that grows to 3′-5’ tall and as wide and is a clump-forming, not spreading variety. Deeply veined green foliage turns hues of orangey-red, then fading to purple in autumn. Fragrant white flowers appear in spring, and in summer the fruit clusters turn white to a tie-die blue and are attractive to wildlife. Full sun to part shade, zones 3-7.  Outstanding winter characteristic: Bright red stems. To retain the vibrant stem color, in early spring before the stems begin to bud, remove a third of the oldest stems to encourage new colorful growth. There are numerous varieties of dogwood available with varying heights and attractive bark color.

3. Ninebark Physocarpus opulifolius

A deciduous Colorado native that grows 5′-8′ ht. x 4′-6′ spread. In late spring, pink-white flowers densely cover the shrub. Ninebarks are noted for their exfoliating bark that peels in strips to reveal several layers of reddish to light brown inner bark (thus the common name of ninebark). Full sun to part shade, zones 2-8. Outstanding winter characteristic: Showy seed heads and beautiful hues of exfoliating mahogany bark. Another Colorado native is the Mountain Ninebark. Follow this link below for more information.

4. Common Snowberry Symphoricarpos albus

A deciduous rounded Colorado native that grows 3′-6′ tall and as wide. Small pink bell-shaped flowers appear in June and are followed by clusters of pale green berries that ripen to pure white by late summer to early autumn. Full sun to part shade, zones 3-7. Outstanding winter characteristic: Clusters of plump white berries. Another Colorado Snowberry is the Mountain Snowberry Symphoricarpos oreophilus. Follow this link for description.

Ornamental Grasses (fine textures and graceful form – cut back in early spring)

1. Little Bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium

An upright warm season grass with fine textured colorful foliage. Grows 2′-4′ ht. x 18”-30” spread. Blooms in late summer-early fall. The handsome fall/winter foliage turns hues of red, blue-gray, and deep purple. Prefers full sun. Zones 3-9. Outstanding winter characteristic: Colorful foliage and handsome columnar form.

2. Big Bluestem Andropogon gerardii

A tall-stature warm season Colorado native that grows 4′-6′ ht. x 2′-3′ spread with attractive foliage that emerges gray to blue green in spring and matures to green with red tinges in summer, then turning reddish bronze after frost. The flower stem rises tall above the foliage. Prefers full sun. Zones 4-9. Outstanding winter characteristic: Colorful and graceful with an upright form.

3. Blond Ambition Blue Grama Grass Bouteloua gracilis

A warm-season native grass that grows 12”-30” ht. x 12”-18” spread. Chartreuse seed heads sit atop strong golden stems summer through winter. Prefers full sun. Zones 3-10. Outstanding winter characteristic: Golden stems with distinctively angled seedheads.

4. Korean Feather Reed Grass Calamagrostis brachytricha

A highly ornamental warm season grass that grows 30”-40” ht. x 20”-24” spread A densely tufted grass with slender green foliage that turns a yellowish to orangey gold in the fall. Rose colored flower plumes rise above the foliage in late summer through winter. Seedheads mature to a light tan, offering a fine textured element in the garden. Zones 4-9. Outstanding winter characteristic: Rustic foliage and stunning seedheads.

Perennials (attractive winter structure and valuable forage for birds)

1. Aster Symphyotrichum spp.
2. Blanket Flower Gaillardia spp.
3. Coneflower Echinacea spp.
4. Black-Eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta

Early Blooming Bulbs (numerous colorful varieties)

Early flowering bulbs provide gardeners a sneak preview of colorful spring flowers in the winter landscape and when grouped or massed, are showstoppers.

Photo: Firefly Crocus Crocus sieberi subsp. atticus. Photo by Lisa DiNardo

1. Firefly Crocus Crocus sieberi subsp. atticus

4”-6” ht. x 3-4” spread, violet flowers with a vibrant golden throat in late winter to early spring. Linear dark green foliage with a center white band adds a lovely contrast to the flowers. Blooms in March. Full sun to part shade. Zones 3-8.

2. Glory of the Snow Chindoxia forbesii

6”-12” ht. x 4”-6” spread, a starburst of creamy violet-blue flowers with a center white throat rises above the narrow deep green foliage. Blooms late winter to early spring. Full sun to part shade. Zones 3-8.

3. Siberian Squill or Scilla Scilla siberica

4-6″ ht. and spread, beautifully textured deep blue flowers and emerald-green foliage delight the landscape. Blooms late winter – spring. Full sun to part shade. Zones 2-8.

4. Snowdrop Galanthus nivalis

6-9” ht. x 6”spread, sweetly nodding, lightly fragrant white flowers  beautifully contrast gray-green foliage. Blooms in February. Full sun to part shade. Zones 3-7.