Bark that doesn’t Bite: Plant profiles of trees that offer spectacular winter interest for small yards

Evergreens aren’t the only star performers in the winter garden. Many deciduous trees have four seasons of interest, offering a big impact in limited space. Their spring and fall leaf color are attractive and the bonus:  their bark is their best attribute. As you plan for fall planting and save your money for spring purchases, consider adding trees that offer winter interest with their bark, branches and shape.  Here are a few of the brightest and the best:

Coral Bark Maple
​Acer palmate 'Sango-kaku'

Zone: 5-8
Height: 15-20’
Width: 15-20’
A tree with four seasons of interest. Light green summer leaves turn to salmon in fall.  Yearly pruning encourages the red branches.

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Paperbark Maple
​Acer Griseum

Zone: 4 to 8
Height: 20-30’
Width: 15’
A true specimen, this small ornamental tree has unrivaled aesthetic qualities. It is somewhat expensive but revered for its year-round splendor. The cinnamon-colored bark is visually striking because it naturally exfoliates into the most interesting layers. The contrast of its late autumn red leaves against the peeling bark makes this tree an outstanding specimen. Have patience with its slow growth; it’s worth the wait!

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Striped Maple (aka Snake Bark Maple, Moosewood) 
​Acer pensylvanicum

Zone: 3-7
Height: 15’-25’
Width: 15’-25’
A lovely small tree that should be pruned as needed to show off the beautiful bark. It does not tolerate afternoon sun, typical of an understory tree. The young branches are green with conspicuously long, vertical white stripes and the clear yellow to golden fall color is a real head-turner. Recommended cultivars include ‘Erythrocladum’, which has twigs that have a beautiful bright coral-red winter color and ‘White Tigress’, which has green bark with pronounced white striations and is more heat tolerant.

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Persian Parrotia (Ironwood) 
​Parrotia persica

Zone: 4 to 8
Height: 30
Width: 20
This is one of the best specimen trees known for foliage, bark and pest resistance. Persian Ironwood is an outstanding small ornamental tree with few rivals. It is typically a low- branched shrub, but also can be found in tree form. Bark exfoliates on older trunks exposing a mosaic of gray, brown, white and green. Fall colors of yellow to orange to scarlet are outstanding. Recommended cultivars include: ‘Biltmore’, which has a low-branching, rounded form with fabulous bark, and ‘Vanessa’, which has an upright, columnar form with vivid yellow fall color.

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Lacebark Pine 
​Pinus bungeana

Zone: 4 to 7
Can be pruned smaller.
Height: 30-40
Width: 20-30
Though a slow grower, this specimen tree is valued for its showy, striking bark. It must be steadily limbed up (pruning back a tree’s lower branches) from a young age for its trunk and larger branches to receive proper sunlight. This develops the handsome mottled bark of exfoliating patches of green, white, gray, orange and brown. Beware that some damage may occur under heavy snowfall and ice loads.

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Japanese Stewartia 

Zone: 5 to 7
Height: 25’-40’
Width: 10’-20’
One of the nicest multi-season ornamental trees for the garden. It offers magnificent camouflage-hued exfoliating bark with flaky, but smooth, patches of gray, brown and rust. Additionally, it has beautiful orange-red fall color along with the lovely white flowers in midsummer. Avoid placing this Japanese native in hot spots because it prefers morning sun. It performs best in light shade, especially in the hottest part of summer.

Specimen trees with interesting bark accent the garden with four season interest.  Consider planting the tree where you can enjoy its beauty in the winter. Locate as a lawn tree or within a bed and be sure there are no other plants fighting for center stage. Many nurseries only order specimen trees at the request of the customer. If these trees have inspired you, place an order this fall with your nursery for spring delivery.  As we've mentioned in previous blogs, always site the tree according to its growing requirements (soil, sun, wind, & moisture.)  

Incorporating a specimen tree with an unusual bark adds a lovely layer of dimension to your garden.  Your eyes will be drawn to it year-round. But you will be especially thankful you made the investment during the long, dreary days of winter.  When flowers are gone and deciduous trees have lost their leaves, the bark on these trees stands out magnificently.