Garden Gate – October 2019

22 GARDEN GATE | OCTOBER 2019 | ISSUE 149

‘Variegata’ giant dogwood

Cornus controversa ‘Variegata’

Strong horizontal branching gives ‘Variegata’ giant dogwood, also called

wedding cake tree, a unique tiered look in the garden. Young specimens are

particularly pronounced. Used as a focal point, this tree will draw your eye,

then encourage it to move across the landscape. A long bed of low-growing

perennials beneath will repeat that pattern and direct you where to go.

‘Variegata’ giant dogwood has more going for it than just layered

branching habit, though: Leaves are green with creamy white variegation

that can brighten a shady location. In fact, it’s best to plant in the shade

of larger trees because in hot weather the leaves can scorch in full sun. In

late spring it’s covered with white fl ower clusters followed by blue-black

berries that will attract birds to your garden in the fall.

Tree Blooms: White flower clusters in late spring mature to blue-black fruits in fall

Light: Full sun to part shade Soil: Moist, well-drained Size: 35 to 40 ft. tall and wide

Cold hardy: USDA zones 5 to 8 Source: Gossler Farms Nursery, gosslerfarms.com,

541-746-3922

A

statement plant has a certain “wow” factor: It may be glorious

color—an unusual shade or something shockingly bright. Or maybe

it is the plant’s form—architectural lines or soft fl owing shapes that

set the tone for a landscape or container. The size of a plant can be so

enormous it makes your jaw drop, or delicate and diminutive to cause

you to pause and look closely to appreciate its attributes. Even texture

can speak volumes—velvety foliage creates a cozy, laid-back feel in the

garden while sharp, stiff leaves generate excitement.

DEMANDING ATTENTION It can be diffi cult to use plants that make

such a show of themselves. Sometimes they just need a spot to stand alone.

But if you take their top attribute into consideration, be it color, shape, size

or texture, and play it up with other plants in your garden that accentuate

or contrast with it, you’ll be able to fi nd a way to utilize all those “wow”

plants. Here are a few of my favorites that make a statement.

— Jennifer Howell

Make a Statement

with These Plants

TOP PICKS

Show us your favorite fall plants! We’ll be sharing them in a future story.

Email [email protected] and list “Fall Favorites” in the subject line.

22 GARDEN GATE | OCTOBER 2019 | ISSUE 149

‘Variegata’ giant dogwood

Cornus controversa ‘Variegata’

Strong horizontal branching gives ‘Variegata’ giant dogwood, also called

wedding cake tree, a unique tiered look in the garden. Young specimens are

particularly pronounced. Used as a focal point, this tree will draw your eye,

then encourage it to move across the landscape. A long bed of low-growing

perennials beneath will repeat that pattern and direct you where to go.

‘Variegata’ giant dogwood has more going for it than just layered

branching habit, though: Leaves are green with creamy white variegation

that can brighten a shady location. In fact, it’s best to plant in the shade

of larger trees because in hot weather the leaves can scorch in full sun. In

late spring it’s covered with white fl ower clusters followed by blue-black

berries that will attract birds to your garden in the fall.

Tree Blooms: White flower clusters in late spring mature to blue-black fruits in fall

Light: Full sun to part shade Soil: Moist, well-drained Size: 35 to 40 ft. tall and wide

Cold hardy: USDA zones 5 to 8 Source: Gossler Farms Nursery, gosslerfarms.com,

541-746-3922

A

statementplanthasa certain“wow”factor:It maybeglorious

color—anunusualshadeorsomethingshockinglybright.Ormaybe

it istheplant’sform—architecturallinesorsoftflowingshapesthat

setthetonefora landscapeorcontainer.Thesizeofa plantcanbeso

enormousit makesyourjawdrop,ordelicateanddiminutivetocause

youtopauseandlookcloselytoappreciateitsattributes.Eventexture

canspeakvolumes—velvetyfoliagecreatesa cozy,laid-backfeelinthe

gardenwhilesharp,stiffleavesgenerateexcitement.

DEMANDINGATTENTION It canbedifficulttouseplantsthatmake

sucha showofthemselves.Sometimestheyjustneeda spottostandalone.

Butif youtaketheirtopattributeintoconsideration,beit color,shape,size

or texture,andplayit upwithotherplantsinyourgardenthataccentuate

or contrastwithit,you’llbeabletofinda waytoutilizeallthose“wow”

plants.Herearea fewofmyfavoritesthatmakea statement.

— Jennifer Howell

Make a Statement

with These Plants

TOP PICKS

Show us your favorite fall plants! We’ll be sharing them in a future story.

Email [email protected] and list “Fall Favorites” in the subject line.