The ugly ducklings of the garden, boring green during the summer it all changes in the autumn when the leaves change into a blaze of colour. When they drop, the brightly coloured stems appear.
Easy to grow they are like a beacon of fire in the depths of winter, the best colour is on the new wood, the secret is to make sure you cut them back regularly.
Make sure you plant them so they can be seen from the house during the winter.
Cornus or dogwoods are perhaps the most well known, they prefer the sun, but are very easy to grow. Regularly pruning will improve the colour of the stems and reduce the height.
Easy to grow, attractive autumn leaves, they provide vital winter colour
A bit boring in the summer, can grow too big, needs annual pruning
Salix or willows have colourful winter stems, they have the potential to grow bigger than the dogwoods, but regular pruning will control them. You can use the cut stems for natural plant supports
Easy to grow, they provide vital winter colour. You can use the stems as replacement canes
Faster and more vigorous than dogwoods, they are prone to aphids and leaf or stem diseases.
Fancy twisted stems are best seen in the winter, perhaps the most popular is the twisted witch hazel but there is also the twisted willow.
