Spice Up the Winter Landscape

         Look at that drab corner in the backyard or that dreary privacy fence.  Why not consider adding some winter interest to those otherwise uninspiring areas of the yard. 

          The most sought after shrub for winter
effect is the Red Twig Dogwood.  While it does flower in the spring, its real beauty is revealed after all the leaves have dropped and the color in the stems develops.  Against a dark evergreen back drop or over a pure white snow, the red twig dogwood stands out spectacularly.  Furthermore, it can be potted in containers to adorn a front door or spice up a patio.  Red Twigs can also be used in mass to hold a severe slope or as a sound/sight buffer.  We offer the Missouri Botanical Garden Plant of Merit variety 'Cardinal,' selected for its especially bright red colored stems.

         The other highly sought after landscape shrub with winter interest is the winterberry.  There are many varieties of this holly species available and we offer two of them as well as their male pollinators.  Winter Red and Red Sprite are the regular and dwarf varieties, respectively, that we offer.  Both of these shrubs will be covered with bright red berries from leaf drop until well past the holidays.  They are incredibly hardy and are reliable berry producers, provided the correct male pollinator is planted within close proximity.  The berries also attract and feed many backyard songbirds.

        Find a spot for either of these hardy shrubs to stretch the vitality of your landscape throughout the year.  We carry a nice stock of each of these and they can be planted anytime you can dig the hole.  Come in and take a look.