Julie WeisenhornJulie WeisenhornExtension EducatorExtension Educator

Director, Master Gardener ProgramDirector, Master Gardener Program

University of MinnesotaUniversity of Minnesota

Winter Winter Interest in the Interest in the LandscapeLandscape

Plant Elements of DesignSelecting plants for sustainable design

• Type• Size – mature plant• Texture• Form• Seasonal interest

• Cold hardiness• Light requirements• Moisture requirements• Soil requirements• Disease / insect

resistance

Elements specific to winter interest

• Plant type

• Cold tolerance – snow removal, salt, winter burn

• Size

• Texture

• Form / structure

• Seasonal interest specifics

Plant type

• Woody plant– Tree, shrub, evergreen, deciduous, vine– Location: snow removal, salt– Winter burn

• Herbaceous plant– Dies back to the ground– Can survive under snow– Salt / sand tolerance– Some interest from persistent flower heads

Woody plants

Herbaceous plants

Snow removal

Salt damage

Photo credit: http://www.ppdl.purdue.edu/PPDL/images/saltdamage.jpg

Winter burn

Size

Plant texture

Coarse

Medium

Fine

Plant Form

• Structure• Branching habit

– Weeping– Upright– Prostrate– Spreading– Rounded– Mound– Contorted

Winter specimens

• Flower head, bud

• Leaves

• Bark

• Fruit, seed