Horticulture

 

 

Sometimes January can seem like a blah month for color in the landscape with mostly a panorama of browns, greens, grays, and lots of white if there is snow cover. However, there are a few colorful and interesting plants that are quite eye-catching this time of year.

Red Twig Dogwood

(Cornus Alba ‘Elegantissima’), Zone3-8

The Red Twig Dogwood is an attractive plant for landscaping with its deep red stems and twigs for winter color. It is an upright shrub that produces white, flat clusters of flowers in May followed by white berries that provide food for birds throughout the winter. The fall foliage isn’t as significant once the leaves fall and exposes its beautiful red branches. Red Twig Dogwoods should be planted in an area of the yard where they can be viewed from a window to show off their winter display. They can be grown as a specimen but look best when they are grouped together in masses of 3’s, 5’s or 7’s. Although red twig dogwood shrubs will tolerate partial shade, their red bark will be brightest if they are planted in full sun. Twig color is most vibrant on the newest growth. To maintain nice red color, renew the plant by removing the oldest growth at ground level in late winter.

Paperbark Maple

(Acer griseum), Zone 4-7

The Paperbark Maple is an excellent specimen tree that gives visual interest to the landscape year round. The cinnamon brown to bronze, papery, peeling bark makes this tree unique from other maples. The tree is hardy to zone 4 and grows very slowly, 15-25 feet tall and 15-25 feet wide. Paperbark Maple is not particularly drought tolerant and requires supplemental irrigation, especially during dry summers to help alleviate leaf scorch. It will grow in either part shade to full sun and will tolerate clay to slightly alkaline soils. The unusual leaves and admirable bark makes the Paperbark Maple a prize choice for specimen planting in any commercial landscape or residential setting.