Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Brighten up the winter landscape
If your winter landscape just feels brown and bleak, you might consider adding some color. While it’s too late to plant for many of those in my listening area, keep these options on your wish list this winter.
Evergreens certainly come to mind but I’m thinking more broadly.
Red-twigged dogwood comes to mind right away.
I saw a winterberry holly from Proven Winners that would definitely put a smile on your face! ‘Berry Heavy’ is aptly named as it’s loaded with bright red berries that really show off when the leaves are gone, so long as you have a male to pollinate it. This shrub is hardy to zone 3, grows 6 to 8 ft. tall and wide and flowers in late spring.
‘Mr. Poppins’ is a perfect pollinator for ‘Berry Heavy’. The birds also love those berries!
The American Highbush Cranberry is hardy to zone 2, hello Alaska! The cultivar ‘Bailey Compact’ grows 6 ft. tall and 5 ft wide.
This one has many attributes including an abundance of magnificent scarlet berries from late summer to late winter. Dark green foliage which emerges brick red in spring. The serrated lobed leaves turn an outstanding orange in the fall and, did I mention, the smooth gray bark and gold branches add yet another interesting dimension.
I also like my hedge cotoneaster. I will point out that the berries are toxic to pets but NOT to birds. So if your pet is curious and likes to taste everything, don’t plant this one. That said, this shrub grows to about 8 ft tall and 5 ft wide and makes a great hedge with black berries that persist into late winter!
