97.9 The Hill and Chapelboro.com have partnered with NC State Extension Master Gardener℠ volunteers of Orange County for “Playing in the Dirt,” a monthly column providing information and inspiration to gardeners of all skill levels! Check back on Chapelboro each month for a new subject – from our gardens to yours!
Winter Landscapes
By Margaret Alford Cloud, Orange County Master GardenerSM volunteer
In winter, we can see intricate patterns of tree growth that are hidden by leaves in warmer weather. Photo by Margaret A. Cloud.
A winter landscape can seem stark and muted. But look carefully and you’ll find beauty: Curves of tree limbs and zig-zags of twigs that are hidden by foliage in warm seasons. Evergreens that shine when deciduous plants are bare. Tiny buds that sprout on dormant shrubs. Acorns, moss and pine needles that carpet the ground.
Winter might seem like a quiet season but there’s so much to see and appreciate in the landscape.
Our climate is friendly to plants that bloom in cold weather or have beautiful winter foliage. When you add plants to your yard, think about winter interest: Bark texture; berries, blooms or seed heads that support wildlife and add color to your yard; or evergreen foliage that provides cover for birds or other animals.
Here are a few plants to consider. Some are not native plants but all are well-adapted to our climate.
Camellias. Photos by Margaret A. Cloud.
Camellias (Camellia japonica) are evergreen shrubs that bloom from fall to early spring, depending on the variety. They provide shelter for birds and their blooms support insects. Fall-blooming camellias include Camellia sasanqua and Camellia sinensis. Leaves of Camellia sinensis are harvested to make teas. Blooms can be white, pink or red; each bloom can last several weeks.
Crossvine (Bignonia capreolata). Photo by Camelia TWU, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.
Crossvine (Bignonia capreolata) is a native vine that blooms in late winter or early spring. The blooms provide food for hummingbirds and butterflies; its leaves are food for other wildlife. It likes shade to full sun. It has a high flammability rating – don’t plant it close to your home. To keep it from spreading, pull up root suckers.
Daphne odora ‘Aureomarginata’ in bloom in Orange County. Photo by Scott Zona, CC BY-NC 2.0.
Daphne (Daphne odora), a medium-sized evergreen shrub, does well in sun to part shade and moist, well-drained soil; it likes woodland areas. It produces fragrant pink blooms in winter. Its pollen and nectar attract bees, butterflies, moths and flies. It is poisonous; be careful if you have pets or small children. It can be grown in a container or in the ground.
Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana). Illustrations by John Tobe, CC BY-NC 4.0. Courtesy of the NC Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox.
Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) is a native evergreen that grows large (up to 40 feet high), although some cultivars are more compact. Red cedars grow in almost any soil and are drought resistant. The reddish-brown bark looks like it is peeling. The foliage turns bronze or brownish green in winter. Red cedars provide food and cover for wildlife in winter. Female trees produce blue cones in fall that are eaten by cedar waxwings. Red cedars are also hosts for some moth larvae.
Flowering apricot (Prunus mume). Photo by Koi Zumi, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
Flowering apricot (Prunus mume) is small tree that has pink blooms in January and February. It is a larval host plant for the Eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly. Its fruits, which are sour, attract birds; its flowers attract pollinating insects. Flowering apricot is native to Asia; in the United States, cultivars grow successfully in sunny, protected locations.
Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) with fall/winter copper color. Photo by Tom Potterfield, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.
Native ornamental grasses can provide winter food and shelter for insects and other wildlife:
Little bluestem(Schizachyrium scoparium) thrives in sun, high heat, drought or humidity. Blue leaves and stems change to a copper color in fall and winter. It’s a host for butterfly and moth larvae. Muhly grass(Muhlenbergia capillaris) likes sun and doesn’t mind poor soil. It is resistant to deer. In fall it produces a mass of airy pink blooms; in winter, the plant holds its shape, with tan seed plumes. Switchgrass(Panicum virgatum) likes full sun. In summer, its foliage is blue-green and it develops pinkish flower panicles. The leaves turn tan or brown in winter and are a food source for birds and small animals.Yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria). Photo by Scott Zona, CC BY-NC 2.0.
Hollies (Ilex). About 14 species of hollies are native to North Carolina. Most of them like sun or part shade and are easy to grow. They provide habitat and food for birds and other wildlife; spring flowers support bees. Avoid the Chinese holly (Ilex cornuta) and Japanese holly (Ilex crenata) – both are non-natives and are listed as invasive by the North Carolina Native Plant Society. A few hollies to consider:
American holly (Ilex opaca), an evergreen, can reach 40 to 60 feet in height. Birds and mammals eat the berries; insects are attracted to its flowers. Inkberry(Ilex glabra) is an evergreen that grows 5 to 10 feet tall. It has small, dark leaves and black berries. Pollinators love its flowers. Possumhaw(Ilex decidua), a deciduous plant, is a host for butterflies. It grows in sun or partial shade and can be a shrub or a small tree. It has red-orange berries. Winterberry(Ilex verticillata), a deciduous shrub with beautiful clusters of red berries in fall and winter. It likes moist, well-drained soil. Yaupon holly(Ilex vomitoria), an evergreen, is heat and drought tolerant and it grows well in shade.Paper bush (Edgeworthia chrysantha). Photo by Cathy Dewitt, CC BY 4.0.
Red maple (Acer rubrum) flowers. Photo by Cathy DeWitt, CC BY-NC 4.0..
Red maple (Acer rubrum), a native tree, produces clusters of red flowers in late winter. Maples support moth larvae, bees and other pollinators. The flowers are followed by fruits; birds and small animals like to eat the seeds.
Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana). Photo by Kurt Wagner, CC BY NC-ND 2.0.
Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) is a native host plant for moth and butterfly larvae. Its yellow flowers bloom in late fall to early winter. It likes full sun to part shade (the more sun, the better it blooms) and can be grown as a shrub or a small tree. Its bark and leaves produce an anti-inflammatory astringent. It is rarely bothered by pests or disease and it is resistant to deer.
For more information:
Winter blooming native plants (filtered list). North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Plants for the winter landscape. John Murphy with Lia Beddingfield, NC Cooperative Extension, Henderson County Center. Winter plant startlements. Robert Carter, NC Native Plant Society. Winter interest in the landscape. Barbara H. Smith, Home & Garden Information Center, Clemson Cooperative Extension. Winter gardening. Clara Curtis, North Carolina Arboretum.More from the Master Gardener Volunteers of Orange County:
Join us for our next Dig Deeper presentation, on prescribed burns (intentional fires for forest health), on Feb. 8, 2-3:30 p.m., at the Orange County Southern Branch Library (Drakeford Library Complex, 203 S. Greensboro St., Carrboro). Free! Have a plant or garden question?Email us at ocmgardeners@gmail.com or phone 919-245-2061 (leave message). Visit our website: org Subscribe to our monthly newsletter: The Garden Buzz. Read past issues of The Buzz. Follow us on Facebook: Our page isNC State Extension Master Gardener volunteers, Orange County. Follow us on Instagram:@orangencmastergardenersChapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.
Playing in the Dirt: Winter Landscapes Chapelboro.com.
Hence then, the article about playing in the dirt winter landscapes was published today ( ) and is available on chapelboro ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Playing in the Dirt: Winter Landscapes )
Also on site :