Using height, form, and texture, these bare branches will captivate your attention
wintertime in the Northern Plains fetch an opportunity to appreciate the deciduous trees in our landscape for more than just the leaves and flowers they provide . Form and texture really abide out in a white-hot wintertime garden , accentuating contrast that may go unnoticed during the rest of the class . There are several standout deciduous trees to regard for winter interest in your Northern Plains garden .
Yellow birch bark is highly textured, with layers that are many different shades of bronze
Birch Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree ( Betulaspp . and cvs . , Zones 2–7 ) are a common site in the landscape of the Northern Plains , especially in more fresh rise areas . Most often you will see multistem composition birch ( B. papyrifera , Zones 2–7 ) or river birch ( B. nigra , Zones 4–8 ) ornament front chiliad . However , there are other , more underutilized members of the birch genus that also have wintertime entreaty and can impart a bit more variety to your plant palette . Yellow birch tree ( B. alleghaniensis , Zones 3–7 ) is often a multistemmed Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree maturing to 40 to 50 feet improbable and wide . It has strike bark , stem , and arm with a shiny , yellowish to bronze colour and demands attention in the winter .
For white birches, consider recent introductions bred for our climate and pest concerns
If you are looking for something with sodding white bark that is more resistant to bronze birch rock drill beetle than paper birch , also consider Asian blank birch ( B. platyphylla , Zones 3–7 ) . A couple of latterly released stalwart cultivar from North Dakota State University admit Dakota Pinnacle ® (B. platyphylla‘Fargo ’ , zona 3–7 ) , which has a minute columnlike form , and Prairie Vision ™ ( B. platyphylla‘VerDale ’ , Zones 3–7 ) , which has a pyramidal flesh . Both of these are highly immune to bronze birch borer .
Turn to quaking aspen nativars for diverse habits and forms of an easy-to-grow and hardy tree
Quaking aspen ( Populus tremuloides , Zones 2–6 ) is a very stout Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree with white - colored bark , a beautiful upright form , and even fewer pest problems than birches have . It is native to every region of the Northern Plains realm , making it a groovy add-on to our wintertime landscape . achieve 40 feet tall and 20 foot wide in maturity , this tree has just one drawback : its tendency to want to colonize nearby areas and send up multiple fall guy . There are a few standout cultivar usable . Mountain Sentinel ® (P. tremuloides‘JFS - Column ’ , Zones 2–6 ) is a very narrow variety that matures to 35 feet tall and only 8 feet wide , making it everlasting for tight spaces , while Prairie Gold ® (P. tremuloides‘NE Arb ’ , Zones 2–6 ) is a wonderful option that is adapted to the passion , drouth , and humidity of the prairie state of matter while still put up all the wonderful feature film of the coinage . It matures to 30 to 40 foot grandiloquent and 20 to 30 feet spacious , with striking downslope foliage that gives it its name .
It is no marvel these tree often line up themselves as the focal head of the landscape painting , viewable out our picture windows where their wintertime dress can genuinely be appreciated and admire . Add one or all of these to your Northern Plains landscape .
— Chris Schlenker is gardening and grounds manager of McCrory Gardens at South Dakota State University in Brookings , South Dakota .
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Prairie Gold® quaking aspen looks stunning in winter. The contrast of its pure white bark and dark gray lenticels is sure to draw a second look.Photo: Chris Schlenker
Yellow birch seems to shine in the winter sun, which brings out different colors in the bark.Photo: Chris Schlenker
Dakota Pinnacle®Asian white birch has a narrow, upright form and is unlikely to break under heavy snow loads.Photo: Chris Schlenker
Prairie Gold®quaking aspen can withstand extreme summer heat and extreme winter cold and has multiple seasons of interest.Photo: Chris Schlenker
