Beginner Gardening: winter interest planting, 0 by ViburnumValley

ViburnumValley wrote:
I didn't register to look at your plans, so I'll only offer opinions on winter interest plants.

It's hard to imagine any evergreen holly that would NOT be useful. You just have to winnow down the choices to ones that you like, and that will fit in the places that you would like to use them. There are hundreds to choose from, and all with withstand a winter nip-and-tuck of sprigs for interior decoration. This will be the best time for this - you'll get double the value, since you'll enjoy using the branches and the plant will have a denser growth pattern in the following season.

'Sparkleberry' and some of the other larger winterberry types might make the best small trees. These can be grown as multistem small trees, too.

Another deciduous species that brightens the winter landscape (and perfumes it, too) is Witch Hazel. Look for the hybrids Hamamelis x intermedia or Chinese form (Hamamelis mollis) for winter color and fragrance. These can also make nice small trees, and will bring yellow, gold, red, and orange flowers - which make fine cut branches - to your garden in those months when not much else blooms.

Here's a witch hazel blooming with an American Holly in full fruit in the background. Not a bad combo.