Hot Winter Color in the Midwest with Willows and Dogwoods

Add a dash of fire to your off-season landscape with the red, orange, and yellow stems of these trees and shrubs

Winter in the Midwest does n’t have to mean an absence seizure of promising color . Of naturally we should be enjoying texture provide by our cosmetic weed , dormant perennials , and other plantings while the vividness and form ofconifersbecomes increasingly more impactful in the dormant landscape painting . The colourful fruit of many woody plant , include crabapples ( Malusspp . and cvs . , Zones 2–8 ) , hawthorn ( Crataegusspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–9 ) and great deal ashes ( Sorbusspp . and cvs . , Zones 2–6 ) offer momentary encroachment until they fade or are consumed by local wildlife . Ornamental bark from many of our larger bush and trees can also offer some active grain and colouration over the long winter months . However , brightly colored stems of some select bush can enliven any landscape by providing lovesome colouring material throughout the cold month . These flora are also dynamic workhorses during the growing season when blend with other plantings and combinations . Some varieties also have ornamental foliage . In all shell , the winter bow coloration intensifies after leaves have dropped in autumn and the stems receive the combination of more sunshine and dropping temperature .

This article focuses on some of the most colourful of dogwoods ( Cornusspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–9 ) and willows ( Salixspp . and cvs . , Zones 4–9 ) . These selections are render and reliable not only for their solid stem coloration in wintertime but also for their hardiness , broad adaptability , and time value in the domicile landscape painting . It is important to note that in regard to all of these selections , it is the young growth and newer stem that offer the best coloration . This means that a frequent rejuvenation approach of remove older stems ( typically 1/3 per year ) of dogwood in early spring will encourage new growth to sprout and take over the show of color in clock time . The willows require a more substantial approach , with exceedingly severe annual cutting in very early spring both to boost straightaway new growth with intense coloration the following wintertime and to keep the plants in scale of measurement with the landscape . willow endeavor to be large and aggressive , so an annual approach to pruning will keep them in check and encourage as much as 6 to 8 groundwork of marque - new growth per season that will be intensely colorful .

Ivory Halo®tatarian dogwood

Cornus alba‘Bailhalo ’ , Zones 3–7

This dogwood is one of my personal deary . The deep , maroon - red stems are certainly beautiful in the winter landscape painting , in particular when come out from fresh snow . Aside from the compact nature and durability of this selection , strongly variegate leaves extend pastime throughout the growing season . Ivory Halo ® will develop 6 feet tall and wide-cut .

‘Britzensis’ coral bark willow

Salix albasubsp.vitellina‘Britzensis ’ , geographical zone 4–8

I was first introduced to this variety over 10 year ago in a snowy Wisconsin landscape where multiple specimen glow with orange - red stems . After realize it was technically a white willow tree , I did more inquiry on this amazing plant . It ’s important to bring up that this selection gets big—15 feet tall and 10 foot wide if take into account . to boot , the elder stems will start to lose the intensity of wintertime coloration . To countervail this , a dangerous cutback in early springtime ( after enjoy the wintertime stem colour , of course of instruction ) is recommended . This will boost vigorous Modern emergence , a more quiet size , and squeamish stem color the following wintertime .

‘Prairie Fire’ tatarian dogwood

Cornus alba‘Prairie Fire ’ , zone 3–7

The bright red winter stem alone make this selection of dogwood deserving imbed . The foliage colour is a undimmed yellowish - amber from spring emergence all the way of life through autumn . This variety is a golden beacon in the landscape painting until the leave drop in fall and stem colouration intensifies . ‘ Prairie Fire ’ will develop 8 fundament grandiloquent and panoptic .

‘Winter Beauty’ bloodtwig dogwood

Cornus sanguinea‘Winter Beauty ’ , Zones 4–7

This dramatic dogwood is vigorous during the acquire season and comes into the most beautiful stem colour in winter . Stems are lily-livered and orange with more acute bolshy at the ends . This tricolour issue is not subtle and capture attention quick . At maturity , ‘ Winter Beauty ’ reaches 6 feet marvelous and wide .

‘Flame’ willow

Salix‘Flame ’ , Zones 3–7

Of all the plant life in this clause for wintertime stem color , I would argue that ‘ Flame ’ willow tree is the most intense . standardized to ‘ Britzensis ’ , this variety wants to get fairly marvelous . It will grow 15 feet marvellous and 8 feet or wide if allow . In doing so , it will only show the best stem coloration at the stem tips ( newest growth ) . A spartan cutback is recommend for this selection as well , which can lead in 6 feet or more of unexampled , quickly sprouting increment . Once the leaves ( nice yellow autumn colour ) drop , the stems changeover to a torrid orange tree - red .

‘Silver and Gold’ yellow-twig dogwood

Cornus sericea‘Silver and Gold ’ , zone 3–8

This selection of redosier dogwood feature brilliant yellow stems in the wintertime months . Prior to this showy stalk effect , ‘ Silver and Gold ’ has variegated leaf that is quite showy from spring emergence to come down foliage drop . The intensity of the yellow stems increase in wintertime . Other excellent yellow stem selections admit ‘ Flaviramea ’ and ‘ Bud ’s Yellow ’ . ‘ Silver and Gold ’ will grow 7 feet improbable and 8 feet wide at adulthood .

‘Bergeson Compact’ redtwig dogwood

Cornus sericea‘Bergeson Compact ’ , Zones 3–8

I ’m a self-aggrandising fan of this extract for two reasons . The winter root word coloration is a very copious wine - red that really smooth in a snow-clad or sombre landscape painting . This is also one of the best thick forms on the market and necessitate less work to preserve in terms of mince overall size . However , as with the other cornel selections , it will need some rejuvenation pruning . At maturity , ‘ Bergeson Compact ’ will get through 6 feet tall and encompassing .

‘Swizzle Stick’ willow

Salix‘Swizzle Stick ’ , Zones 3–8

This is a relatively fresh willow for me , although I first play it in winter . I immediately noticed its jaundiced - orange stems and the contorted nature of every fore . The line of this willow is up for debate , but do note that this selection would like to grow into a small tree ( 20 feet tall and 8 feet panoptic or larger if leave to grow ) , so periodic greening pruning or severe cut back will lead in a more manageable size if hope . The overall material body of this willow tree is quite columnar , so the ultimate desired size may be quite a bit tall to appreciate the unequaled contortion of individual stem as well as the wintertime stem coloration .

All of the dogwood in this article take full to fond sun , and the willows take full sun . For other recommendations for wintertime colour in your landscape painting , read on here :

Mark Dwyer , former director of horticulture at Rotary Botanical Gardens in Janesville , Wisconsin , operates Landscape Prescriptions by MD .

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