In autumn after the trees have shed their foliage, other, often overlooked, plant characteristics begin to emerge and add character to the winter landscape. Seed pods which droop from a tree’s limbs or seed heads which sit atop a perennial flower or ornamental grass provide interest to a winter landscape.
Both the Thornless Honey Locust (Gledetsia tricanthos) and the Catalpa (Catalpa bignonioides) trees produce striking foot long seed pods which droop from their branches during the fall and winter months.
Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) produces green prickly round seed pods in the summer which mature to hard brown shells. Each seed pod will eventually open to reveal up to 50 winged seeds which attract birds and other wildlife.
The crimson colored fruit clusters of Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina) which form in the fall attracts birds and are a prominent feature in the barren winter landscape.
Golden Rain Tree (Koelreuteria paniculata) produces golden blossoms which hang elegantly from its branches. Long colorful seed pods form in the fall. The unique look of the golden rain tree makes it ideal to plant as a specimen tree in the landscapes.
Many perennials and ornamental grasses provide the gardener with interesting seed heads.
Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ is one of the last perennials in the garden to bloom. Its red to bronze colored flowers bloom in September and turn into brown seed heads later in the fall. Allowed to dry, their colorful fall flowers turn shades of brown and are a welcome feature in the winter landscape.
Other late summer blooming perennials such as the Coneflowers (Rudbeckia spp.) and Echinacea (Echinacea spp.) lose their flower petals revealing beautiful dried seed heads which, like those of the sedum, can last throughout the winter months.
Some of the best plants for the winter garden include ornamental grasses. Most produce interesting seed heads in late fall that can be left standing through the winter months. Miscanthus, Panicum and Pennisetum species are wonderful grasses which form colorful seed heads in the fall.
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