In a recent article by Marianne Willburn in the “American Gardener” magazine, she discusses the winter garden and expresses her distaste for the term “winter interest:
‘Fundamentally, “winter interest” is a statement of absence and comparison. We do not use or need its equivalent in spring or summer. No one their right mind terms a tulip “spring interest” or adds “summer interest” to a four-season catalog description of a Southern magnolia. To term a garden element winter interest – be it a leaf, berry, bark, or twig – is to reject the capacity of the winter garden to charm on its own terms.’
Even the use of the word “interest” is a something like a back-handed compliment. Yes, here in Northern Michigan, where most of our annuals are dormant during the wintertime we will never have lush, colorful displays in our gardens during the cold months, but that doesn’t need to be an excuse to ignore our garden space in the winter.
During the period when deciduous plants lose their leaves, we can appreciate their structure and form. The long shadows and conifers in the snow create a unique winter beauty. Without the distraction of the abundant foliage of summer the garden can take on the artistry of a black and white photograph.
Color is available in winter – in fruit, bark, and evergreen trees and shrubs. Many native plants not only bring beauty to the garden but also provide important ecological benefits, such as shelter and food for overwintering songbirds.
Among the best plants for winter fruiting displays are winterberry hollies. Ilex verticillata, commonly known as winterberry, is a deciduous shrub native to the entire eastern US. It is laden with vibrant fruits throughout the winter. Outstanding cultivars include ‘Winter Red,’ with bright red berries, and ‘Winter Gold,’ with orange fruits. To ensure fruiting, a male plant like ‘Southern Gentleman’ is needed for pollination.
The bright stems of redosier dogwood (Cornus sericea) are magnificent in winter. This plant is native to our area and tolerant of wet soil – making it a great plant to protect shorelines from erosion and ice damage. The berries provide winter food source for birds, and the spring flowers attract beneficial pollinators. Both red and yellow stemmed cultivars are available.
Native grasses can look showy in winter with their beautiful gold-colored foliage. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) features upright, narrow leaves that grow 4–6 feet tall, adding striking vertical interest to the garden. In contrast, prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis) is a clumping grass with slender leaves that form attractive mounds of foliage.
As winter days grow longer, and the snow begins to melt, the delicate flowers from minor bulbs appear. It is delightful to see snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis) and glory of the snow (Chionodoxas) – as they tell us that spring is on its way. These small blooms would be lost among the plants in a summer garden, but in late winter and early spring we can truly appreciate their beauty.
Lenten Rose (helleborus) is a deer-resistant, shade-loving, perennial that will start to show its colors in late winter – some varieties blooming earlier than others. The “blooms” (which are actually sepals that protect the true flowers) last for several months (March until June) and the foliage is a wonderful summer ground-cover.
No one can blame a gardener for taking it easy during the winter months, there certainly isn’t the same level of work in the garden (no deadheading, weeding, watering, harvesting), although winter is the best time to do pruning of deciduous trees and shrubs. By doing some creative planting, the winter garden does not need to feel barren – and winter becomes another season for the garden not just a time for "winter interest" placeholders.