While lots of other plants are hunkering down for the winter, there are many tree varieties that are just beginning to burst into life, bringing a wonderful splash of colour and a hint of magic to a winter garden scene.One of our most sought after trees for winter is the Winter Flowering Cherry tree aka Prunus Subhirtella Autumnalis. With flowers appearing intermittently from now until March, the Winter Flowering Cherry Tree is a delightful addition to any garden and really brings a garden to life during these cold, grey months!
Prunus Subhirtella Autumnalis[/caption]Another way of adding interest to a winter garden is by planting a tree with unusual coloured bark. We have a great range of Japanese Maples but my favourite has to be the Acer Palmatum Winter Flame. Even when the snow starts to fall, this beautiful tree will add a bit of heat! This exotic tree has coral coloured bark and its bright green leaves turn golden yellow in autumn.
The ever popular Silver Birch Tree creates an elegant feature. Most people will recognise the peeling white bark of this tree but the Betula Pendula tree also boasts an airy canopy that casts a speckled shadow on the ground, whilst the graceful foliage moves beautifully in the wind. For a winter garden scene, there is nothing more magical than a Silver Birch Tree standing tall against the snow. Silver Birch Trees in Winter[/caption]Steeped in history, the Silver Birch also brings with it a sense of magic. According to folklore, these beautiful trees were thought to protect against evil spirits. And perhaps, even more interestingly, Silver Birch Trees are now thought to have great health benefits. Whilst it is the unusual white bark that interests us in winter, it is the lovely green foliage during the rest of the year that will (hopefully) improve our health!
A recent study showed that Silver Birch Trees can reduce air pollution by 50-60%. The leaves of the Silver Birch tree are covered with tiny hairs that trap the air pollution particles. Once it rains, the leaves are cleaned and free to begin trapping air pollution particles again, and the cycle continues. For houses situated on busy roads, it would be beneficial to people’s health to plant a row of Silver Birch Trees in between the houses and the road. The reduction in air pollution is most beneficial as air particle pollution has been linked to bronchitis and emphysema. Not only do these elegant trees bring natural beauty to more urban areas, they also help clean the air too!
(http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01dgd9c/features/pollutionexperiment)
These trees are only a very small sample of our favourite Ornamental Trees for winter interest! Every garden can look glorious year round with the right Ornamental Tree!
