Tag Archives: Plants for Winter Interest

Horticulture Report: Christmas Fern

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Plant Name:  Polystichum acrostichoides Common name: Christmas Fern Plant Type: Evergreen Fern Plant Height: 1’ – 2’ Spread: 1’ – 2’ Bloom Time: N/A Flower Color:  N/A Exposure:  Part Shade to Full Shade Soil Requirements:  Organically Rich, Well-Drained; does not tolerate clay soil. Water Needs: Dry to Medium Attributes:  Winter Interest; Deer Resistant; Young fiddleheads are silvery & scaled in spring. Note: Plant Rhizomes at angle to avoid crown rot. Uses: Borders; Ground Cover, but plant next to each other as does not spread; massing on slopes to control erosion. Native to: Eastern North America Oregon Native:  NO USDA Hardiness Zone:  3 – 9 Report by: Viki Ashford, AGC member & Master Gardener Photo credit: Wiki Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Christmas_Fern_(6928030406).jpg Author: Virginia State Parks staff / CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)

Horticulture Report: Mountain Mint

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Plant Name: Pycnanthemum muticum
Common name: Mountain Mint
Plant Type: Perennial
Plant Height: 1’ – 3’
Spread: 1’ – 3’
Bloom Time: July – September
Flower Color:  Pink, White, Red, Purple, Blue
Exposure:  Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil Requirements:  Fertile, Well-Drained.
Water Needs: Medium
Attributes: Attracts Butterflies & Bees, Wasps; Drought Tolerant; Spearmint Aroma.
Note:  Aggressively Spreads by Rhizomes.
Uses: Naturalize in Native Plant Gardens, Cottage Gardens; Border Perimeter’ Vertical Structure in Winter Garden.
Native to: Midwest to South to Eastern North America & California
Oregon Native:  NO
USDA Hardiness Zone:  4 – 8

Report by: Viki Ashford

Photo from: The Day –Green and Growing: Some native plants get aggressive, and that’s why we love them Author: Kathy Connolly https://www.theday.com/storyimage/NL/20190718/NWS01/190719660/EP/1/1/EP-190719660.jpg&MaxW=800&q=62

Horticulture Report: Polystichum setiferum (Soft Shield Fern)

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Plant Name:  Polystichum setiferum
Common name: Soft Shield Fern
Plant Type:  Evergreen Fern
Plant Height: 2’ – 3’
Spread: 2’ – 3’
Bloom Time: N/A
Flower Color: N/A
Exposure: Part Shade to Full Shade
Soil Requirements:  Fertile, Humusy, Well-Draining Soil.
Water Needs: Dry to Medium
Attributes:  Winter Interest; Stalks & Mid Ribs are covered with Cinnamon Color; Brown Scales; Deer Resistant.
Note: Plant Rhizome at Angel to Prevent Crown Rot; Cut Back Spent Fronds in late February or March.
Uses: Shaded Borders; Rock Gardens; Woodland Gardens; Wild Gardens; Containers
Native to:  Southwestern & Central Europe
Oregon Native:   NO
USDA Hardiness Zone:  6 – 8

Report by: Viki Ashford, AGC Member & Master Gardener

Photo Credit: Monrovia https://www.monrovia.com/plant-catalog/plants/1244/soft-shield-fern/

Horticulture Report: Diabolo® Ninebark

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Plant Name:  Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Diabolo®’
Common name: Ninebark ‘Diabolo®’
Plant Type: Deciduous Shrub
Plant Height: 4’ – 8’
Spread: 4’ – 8’
Bloom Time: May – June
Flower Color:  Pinkish White with Purple Leaves and Reddish Fruit.
Exposure:  Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil Requirements:  Tolerates many soil types.
Water Needs: Dry to Medium
Attributes:  Drought Tolerant; Bird Friendly
Note:  Prune immediately after bloom.
Uses: Hedge; Exfoliating Bark provides Winter Interest; Shrub Border.
Native to: North America
Oregon Native:  NO
USDA Hardiness Zone:  2 – 7

Report by: Viki Ashford, AGC Member & Master Gardener

Photo from: Monrovia  https://www.monrovia.com/plant-catalog/plants/1926/diabolo-ninebark/

Pieris Japonica

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This is a Pieris Japonica I bought at the Jackson County Master Garden Fair in a one gallon container about 7 or 8 years ago. The new growth is always this stunning pink color. At first, when I saw it I thought it was a cross between a Pieris and an Azalea. ~ Jeanne Arago, AGC Member

Pieris Japonica

Horticulture Report: 
 
Plant Name: Pieris Japonica, Japanese Andromeda, Japanese Pieris 
Type: Broadleaf evergreen
Height: 4 -8 feet
Spread: 3 to 6 feet
Bloom Time: April
Bloom Color: White
Exposure: Full sun (in northern climates)  Part to Full Shade (elsewhere)
Water: Medium
Attributes: Showy Flowers, Colorful Foliage, Evergreen, Winter Interest
Tolerates: Deer, Heavy Shade
USDA Zone: 5 to 8
 
Best grown in organically rich, slightly acidic, medium moisture, well-drained soil in full sun (see above) to part or full shade. Weakened plants due to hot summer stress may cause to to succumb to a harsh winter. It grows best in locations sheltered from wind with some afternoon shade. Remove spent flowers immediately after bloom.

Oregon Native: Tufted Hairgrass

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Plant Name:  Deschampsia cespitosa
Common name:  Tufted Hairgrass
Plant Type:  Ornamental Grass
Plant Height:  2’ – 3’
Spread:  1’ – 2’
Bloom Time: July – September
Flower Color:  Tones of Gold, Silver, Purple, Green
Exposure:  Part Shade
Soil Requirements: Average, Medium, Moist, Well-Drained Soil;
Water Needs: Medium
Attributes:  Showy Flowers; Attracts Birds; Winter Interest; Airy Panicles of Variably-Color form a cloud that is attractive when backlit; Deer Resistant.
Note:  Cut Foliage to Ground in Late Winter
Uses: Ground Cover; Rock Gardens; Mixes well with Shade Loving Perennials; Butterfly Gardens, Woodland Gardens.
Native to:  Most of North America
Oregon Native:   YES
USDA Hardiness Zone:  4 – 9

Report by: Viki Ashford