Regional Picks: Late-Winter Interest – Southeast

1. Japanese Forest Grass

Name:Hakonechloa macraand cvs.

USDA Hardiness Zones:5 to 9

Size:12 to 18 inches tall and wide

status : fond shade ; systematically moist , hummus - rich soil

This beautiful , low - growing grass is available in many foliation colors , including green , chartreuse , and variegated . It will turn a unanimous suntan for the winter and remain kempt , full , and weather resistant until you chop it to the earth in belated February . Nipponese woodland grass is refined and impressive in massive sweep and may be used in effect as an emphasis . It also works well in containers and thrives for years if well watered ; no supererogatory winter protection is need when grow it in a pot . This grass holds up well in our hot and humid climate . cervid have not ( yet ) eaten it , but rabbits will nibble it a trivial .

2. Heritage®River Birch

Name:Betula nigra‘Cully’

Zones:3 to 9

Size:40 feet improbable and 25 feet wide

stipulation : Full Dominicus to fond shade ; consistently moist dirt

inheritance ® , a cultivar of our native river birch , is an fantabulous , often multistem Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree for filth that are systematically moist . This small tree is noted for its exfoliate cinnamon- to emollient - colored barque . It is astonishingly fast develop when happy and has only a few issues of business to the nurseryman : It care soil that is dampish , not marshy , it does not appreciate prolong drought , and it drops twigs every 24-hour interval . Limb up the lower branch to reveal more of that fantastic winter barque . Site the tree where the dropping twigs are of no consequence , and you will be delighted with your winter aspect .

3. ‘Goshiki’ False Holly

Name:Osmanthus heterophyllus‘Goshiki’

Zones:6 to 9

Size:4 to 10 foot marvelous and wide

circumstance : Full sun to fond shade ; average grunge

‘ Goshiki ’ is slow growing and , therefore , surprisingly expensive but worth every centime . It grows into a dumb , handsome shrub and is best sited where it can be admired up tight . The hollylike leaves are not too burred and are clearly but subtly variegate with cream , pallid icteric , and green swirls . Goshiki has a neat winter mien , providing an essential evergreen plant accent to punctuate gardens filled with torpid grasses and perennial . I have it off its small height and that it requires almost no maintenance — just a clip or two each class to remove a wintertime - damage sprig . It is deer - proof , drought liberal , and has no pests . The cut foliage is great for utilization indoors during the wintertime season .

4. Sugar Tyme™Crabapple

Name:Malus‘Sutyzam’

Zones:4 to 8

Size:18 foot tall and 12 to 15 feet wide

condition : Full Sunday ; well - drained soil

This flowering wild apple is a pleasure , with four calendar month of winter yield and a spectacular spring display of embonpoint pink buds open up to cushion of white flowers . The vivid red-faced apples fade slowly to a obscure Robert Brown as wintertime progresses , and some will mill around until pushed from the twigs by early spring bud . Birds and squirrels enjoy them as winter forage . In our neighborhood , even during snow-white winters , the tree are never undress bare . I find that I must dress suckers from the understructure of the tree trunk about three time each summertime and I watch for collapsible shelter Caterpillar in spring and murder any nests with pole trimmer . Otherwise , this is an excellent scurvy - sustainment tree diagram for winter ravisher and for attracting wildlife .

Tom Mannion have Tom Mannion Landscape Design , a design / build business firm in Northern Virginia .

pic : ( 1 ) , Adrian Bloom / gapphotos.com ; ( 2 ) , millettephotomedia.com ; ( 3 ) , Nancy J. Ondra ; ( 4 ) , Doreen Wynja

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Goshiki False Holly

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