Plants can steal the show in the garden in spring and summer, but in winter the bare bark of trees can be truly beautiful - if you choose wisely when designing your landscape.
"The bright colors of the tree, from yellow to orange to red, play with the purple dogwood (Cornus alba)," says German landscape designer Daniela Thomann.
Some barks are white, the most famous example is birch (Betula).
Other plants rely more on their structure to attract attention: "Even in winter, you can quickly identify a cherry tree by its horizontal cork cells, called lenticels," explains garden designer and author Peter Berg.
Her suggestion for beautifying the winter garden is the birchbark cherry (Prunus cerula), a jewel with shiny red-brown bark adorned with paper-thin horizontal bands before falling.
Similar in color and texture, the paperbark maple (Acer griseum), like the cinnamon tree, sheds its bark in thin rolls.
For a small garden, Toman recommends the snake maple (Acer capylips): “As the name suggests, this tree is attractive with white vertical striped bark.
The tree is small and even grows a few trunks like bushes. Other examples of good ornamental bark include cork (Unimus alatus) and old maple specimens (Acer campestre).
The structures of the branches themselves can be particularly impressive, for example the twisted growth of the corkscrew hazel (Corylus avellana 'Contorta') which resembles a human head in winter.
Another winner in a small garden is Medusa. With a maximum height of two meters, this root-growing beauty is relatively small and can even be planted in pots on the balcony. Try to give plants with decorative bark in front of the windows or in the yard.
And create an ideal environment in a very simple way: "The features of the bark stand out against the calm, dark green background of conifers such as yew and rhododendron," says Toman.
Berg likes to make the most of the color combinations of the plants around him. Red-leaved bergenia (Bergenia hybrid) and purple bell (Heuchera hybrid) red buds come into their own, especially in the winter months.
White-flowered hollyhocks (Helleborus niger) pair well with birch trees and add a sense of vibrancy as they bloom year-round in winter. You can use groups of plants to make a statement in an otherwise empty garden. Also, to give your garden a Scandinavian feel, plant birch trees with heather (erica) and grasses, says Berg.
Light can suddenly highlight the characteristics of plants. The flat light of the winter sun shines through the stems of the large thorny roses, enhancing their protective appearance. A wild species of Rosa omens, native to China, is particularly notable for its red thorns.
But plants may need more care from us to improve their performance. Berg recommends making a break in the structure of the branch to draw the eye directly to the trunk. The umbrella-shaped crown is suitable for serving the pear (Amelanchier), because it emphasizes the structure of the multi-stemmed tree.
The dogwood should be pruned regularly in the spring to encourage new growth and strengthen the bark, preferably a year or two after planting, Toman says. After cutting, cover the soil around the plant with nutrient-rich compost to ensure it has enough nutrients for healthy new growth.
However, sometimes this requires more patience, even a few years. "The bark usually only becomes attractive as it ages," explains Berg, referring to sweetgum (Liquidumber styrasiflua), ironwood (Parrotia persica) and yew (Taxus baccata).
