We Hoosiers know that winter in the Midwest can be dreary. Grays and dull tones dominate the landscape. However, quite a few plants can cheer up a landscape, adding great colors and providing visual interest during bleak months. We have a few favorites here at Eagleson that we use to keep yards and landscapes looking beautiful all year round:

Holly (ilex) is an evergreen with red berries. We like it for its full form and its year-round great color. Hollies also come in a variety of species, so we have options for different yards and designs. In winter, the deep green color of its leaves and red berries will pop out brightly, especially against a backdrop of snow.

The Red Twig Dogwood (cornus sericea) is a shrub that, like its name suggests, has red stems. We use this shrub in more natural-looking landscapes. It tolerates moist soils, stands up well to deer damage, and attracts birds and butterflies. Another positive is its roots can help prevent soil erosion. The Red Twig Dogwood provides great year-round color with white blossoms blooming in spring, and leaves changing to red or reddish purple in fall. In winter, its vibrant red, coral-like stems give the landscape a warm color, while still looking natural.

The Paperbark Maple (acer griseum) is a tree with beautiful cinnamon-colored bark. It is low maintenance, with no notable insect or disease problems, and looks beautiful in fall and winter. The peeling red and brown bark contrasts with the lighter tan of the inner bark, showing up particular well in winter when the tree has no leaves.

Winterberry (ilex verticillata) is a species of holly. It is a low maintenance plant, attractive to birds, and tolerates wet soils. We like to use it in locations that have little drainage. In winter, the leaves fall off and its cheerful red berries light up the landscape.

Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick (corylus avellana) is a small tree with complex, contorted branches. This tree has a few disease and insect-related problems, and it takes a bit of pruning to keep it looking nice. However, its twisting branches provide a fascinating aspect of interest to a landscape throughout the year, though the branches are best seen in winter when the tree has no leaves.

The Snowdrop (galanthus nivalis) is a white flower that blooms in the first 2-3 months of the year! Who doesn’t want to see a flower after two bleak months of winter? Though it blooms so early, it is low maintenance, has no notable disease or insect problems, and is deer resistant. It’s the perfect flower! It looks best planted in a mass, or along a wood line, though on certain occasions it will look good in lawns. The Snowdrop’s white blossom goes well with other early-blooming flowers.

We’d be happy to create a landscape design for you that looks great in every season! Send us an email or give us a call at (317) 997-4803.