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edlincoln

What Trees in Your Yard Look Prettiest Now?

11 years ago

We tend to fixate on Spring blooms. What trees in your yard look prettiest right now? By all means, include pictures and species identifications.

Comments (5)

  • 11 years ago

    I was kind of hoping there would be more responses to this, as I think much of a tree's beauty is revealed in winter, especially just after a snowfall.

    Sadly, I only have a bunch of average, run-of-the-mill oaks, so nothing really photo worthy, although I do appreciate my plain old trees on those nights with a full moon and a snowy landscape, when the branches are outlined against a starry sky.

  • 11 years ago

    I am a bit of a sucker for trees, so most well-grown trees look good to me in winter. I love many of the evergreens (and you could ask for suggestions for your area on the conifer forum once all the brouhaha of the format change has died down):

    Hemlocks, though I wouldn't suggest them for anyone in warmer areas - go for evergreens that aren't insect prone.

    Spruce of various kinds come in all sizes though this one is quite large and still growing rapidly:

    Many of the pines are nice, though I grow only the native white pine. There is a Japanese lacebark pine that has interesting gray patterned bark as it ages and short needles that I pass in a demonstration garden near where I work that is quite lovely.

    Dogwoods - This is a C. kousa branch, but pagoda dogwood (Cornus alternifolia) are nice in winter as well.


    Other trees with particularly nice branching structure and color include many of the Japanese maples and weeping trees. Many of the birches have interesting bark: river (especially Heritage - look at coronum/Jane's photos of hers as it features in many of her bird photos on the mobile features threads), black, yellow and white/paper, and though many aren't suitable for suburban yards and aren't readily available in nurseries, there are some smaller selections that are available. Stewartia is really nice in winter to my eye, with interesting mottled bark and delicate twigs.

    In a few weeks, the red maples will be high on my list as their young bark and swelling buds create a reddish haze.


  • 11 years ago

    "...In a few weeks.... swelling buds...." Wow, babs, does that sound nice, lol! I guess there is hope after all! :)

  • 11 years ago

    I can't say which trees look nice now because I can't find them! If the snow ever melts, I'm sure some of them will look nice again.


  • 11 years ago

    When folks talk about winter interest, for me mostly plants need to be head height or higher to be of true WINTER interest (I miss being able to use html to emphasize!) as it's not uncommon for us to have more than 3' of snow on the ground. Smaller plants are fine for late fall, but disappear after the first snowfall and rarely reappear before March. But those of you in MA and RI definitely have us beat for snow totals this winter!

    Dee, I truly enjoy the buds swelling with the lilacs, willows, and red maples being my favorite because they are the earliest and remind me that spring will eventually arrive even though there may still be snow coming down.