Winter Is for Color....

Flowering quince, Chaenomeles japonica. Photo by Leslie Finical Halleck.

For most gardeners, winter presents challenges when it comes to color in the garden. In addition to pansies, violas, Iceland poppies and other annuals employed for winter color, we shouldn’t forget about incorporating unique woody plants that provide color this time of year. Winter is a great time to plant trees and shrubs, giving them time to start growing new root systems before the onset of summer heat. At a time when most shrubs and trees are dormant and bare, the following plants get to shine. 

Flowering Quince, Chaenomeles speciosa  
Flowering quince is a drought-tolerant, easy-to-grow shrub that thrives in heavy soils. Flowering quince has brightly colored flowers that appear from mid-winter through early spring. Flower color depends on the variety grown. Many flowering quince varieties can grow to 8 feet tall, while Japanese varieties are much smaller. Grow plants in full sun for best results. The stems make great cut flowers in winter. 

Heavenly bamboo, Nandina domestica. Photo by Carolyn Skei.

Heavenly Bamboo, Nandina domestica 
This is one of the toughest and most adaptable of our evergreen landscape plants. Heavenly bamboo will thrive in just about any soil, and is heat- and drought-tolerant. While it may seem overused at times, fall and winter is when this plant really stands out. Plants develop multicolored foliage and bright red berries in the fall, which hold through winter. I often trim foliage and berries for use in vases indoors.

Chinese Fringe Flower, Loropetalum chinense  
This finely textured, spreading shrub can grow to 8 feet, but there are several smaller varieties. The flowers hang from the branches in small clusters. On green-leafed varieties the flowers are white or yellow, and on burgundy-leafed varieties the flowers are magenta. Blooms are prolific in late winter and early spring, but will also appear sporadically throughout the year. Loropetalum prefers rich soil, but is adaptable to heavy clay. Plants are drought-tolerant once well established, but must be well watered for the first six months after planting. Prune only if you wish to maintain a smaller height. My favorite new dwarf variety is called ‘Purple Diamond’. It has deep purple foliage and bright pink blooms.

Possum Haw Holly, Ilex decidua
Possum haw is a large shrub or small tree that is deciduous in winter. Female plants bear bright-red, orange, or yellow fruit during late fall and winter, which makes for a striking contrast to its bare branches. Plants typically reach 12 feet, but may grow taller. Possum haw is highly heat and drought tolerant, and is the most adaptable of all the Texas native hollies. It can be grown in shade, but it fruits best in partial shade to full sun. The berries not only attract birds to your garden, but also make long-lasting cut stems for holiday arrangements.

Winter Honeysuckle, Lonicera fragrantissima 
White blossoms appear on winter honeysuckle from January until March, and their fragrance is unmistakable. This large shrub is best left unpruned unless it is absolutely necessary, so give it room to grow. Plants typically reach 6 feet, and can spread from 8 to 10 feet. Winter honeysuckle blooms on wood grown the previous year, so be careful to prune only when the blooming season finishes. It is adaptable to both sun and shade and almost any type of soil.

About the author: Leslie Finical Halleck is a horticulturist and general manager for North Haven Gardens in Dallas, Texas.

Upcoming special events at North Haven Gardens include a Feb. 6 program on rose pruning. Visit www.nhg.com for details.