Creating Winter Interest in the Garden

Winter time is the perfect time to plan for the garden. Have you ever thought about plants that would be best for creating winter interest? These plants provide beautiful winter interest through exfoliating bark, unique foliage, and interesting berries, fruits, and even cones. In this episode, I am chatting with Dr. Win Dunwell, University of Kentucky Extension Horticulture Specialist who’s area of specialization is Nursery and Landscape. In our chat, he recommends several winter hardy plants that would make ideal candidates for providing winter interest in Kentucky’s garden and landscape. To listen to the full episode, stay with me right here on the Sunshine Gardening Podcast!















Plants with Winter Features:







Ilex species Winter Red Ilex verticillate- still one of the best







Aronia arbutifolia Brilliantissima







Hammamelis virginiana Sunglow







Pinus densiflora 'Oculus Draconis' / Dragon's Eye Japanese red pine.







Remontant azaleas – Autumn Royalty







Tulip tree the left over seeds heads after seed has blown away look like little candelabras can be cut for table settings







Edgeworthia chrysantia zone 7 blooms over long period white creamy fragrant blooms on bare coarse stems.







Barks – lighting trunks







Persimmon bark dark blocks Host plant to Luna Moth







Sycamore London Plane tree cultivars look great in the winter back yard with trunk lighting







Stewartia pseudocamellia







Hardy Camellias







Leave perennials and grasses foliage and seed heads







Rhodea japonica green leaves and fruit (later than Jack in the pulpit or Green Dragon)







Hellebores I have SunShine Selections from Barry Glick’s Sunshine Farm and Gardens in West VA







Yucca Color Guard







Pachysandra procumbens







Lycoris radiata foliage







Arbovitaes turn brown but Eastern Red Cedar cultivars like Greenpoint and Taylor along with Juniperus chinesis Trautman







Snowdrops







Rose Hips Rosa rugosa, Carefree series, even Knockouts







Tips for hips:







Select roses with single, semi-double, or otherwise cupped-bloom form.







Stop pruning around September 1st.







Provide adequate irrigation with good drainage.







Encourage pollinators, like bees and other insects, to visit your roses by creating a naturalized edge or hedgerow.







Allow blossoms to fade and fall off of the plant naturally.







Uses for hips:







Clip single or clusters of rose hips and use in floral arrangements, wreaths, and holiday garland.







Wash, remove stems and coarsely chop for use in recipes to make jams, jellies, juices, and more. (Never use rose petals or hips sprayed with chemicals in any food product.)







https://www.heirloomroses.com/info/care/roses/roses-with-hips/







Walk in the woods the leaves of spring flowering native orchids are showy on the brown leaves of the trees leaves especially the one with green top and purple underside to the leaf, Tipularia discolor, Cranefly orchid, Aplectrum hyemale, Putty-root.  The leaves are more showy than the flower stalks.