Sundance Landscaping News
06/29/2006 |
Springtime Renewal
By: Arcadia Schultz
Landscape Architecture, Washington State University
Here in the Northwest we are privileged to have relatively mild winters. However, in terms of the life cycle of a plant, we still have distinct seasons allowing us to see this process unfold throughout the year. Due to our mild climate we are able to plant all year round, but it is in the spring and summer when gardens are in their prime. This is the peak of the growing season for plants, when they flush with color and new foliage. Perennials add splashes of color during this exciting time. Come fall we see brilliant changes of color, but in the winter most go dormant and stop their rapid rates of growth. The perennials that once bloomed with vigor appear to be dead. We find that some people mistake the natural life cycle of their perennial plants for death. This misconception is the reason for this article, and for the review of a few common plant lifecycle definitions.
“
Evergreen - (of plants and shrubs) bearing foliage throughout the year�. Washington is called the “Evergreen State� for good reason. On the west side of the mountains we see a lot of green all year round. While they are green, they go dormant in the winter. There are two main types of evergreens. Included in the needled varieties are the Douglas Fir - Psuedotsuga menziesii, Western Red Cedar – Thuja plicata, and Western Hemlock – Tsuga heterophylla. Common plants in the broadleaf evergreen group include the Rhododendron – Rhododendron sp., Andromeda – Pieris japonica, and Oregon Grape – Mahonia sp.
“
Deciduous - (of plants and shrubs) shedding foliage at the end of the growing season.� Deciduous plants are identifiable by their bare branching structure in the winter. They are not dead, just dormant like evergreens, and will leaf out again in the spring. Some deciduous plants can be quite interesting in the winter due to textured or colored trunks and branches. Deciduous trees/shrubs known for winter interest include: Red Twig Dogwood – Cornus sericia, Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick – Corylus avellana ‘Contorta’, and Paperbark Maple – Acer griseum.
“
Annual - anything, especially a plant, that lasts but one year or season.� Annuals are known for their showy colors and last through the spring and summer. Common annuals include: Impatiens, Marigolds, and Begonias.
“
Perennial - a plant which lives or continues more than two years, whether it retains its leaves in winter or not.� All evergreen and deciduous plants fall into the perennial category as they continue more than two years. However, we typically categorize perennials as those plants known for showy, seasonal color, which die back in the winter and come again in the spring. While the perennial possibilities are endless here are a few noteworthy examples - Astilbe, Brunnera 'Jack Frost', Diascia vigilis, Lavendula angustifolia 'Hidcote'.
Though we are lucky to have a very green winter full of evergreens, it is the perennial bursts of color we miss most during the winter. Be assured that while their tops may die back for a season, they will come back again. The spring will bring with it not only warmer and hopefully less rainy weather, but also new growth and color for the summer months.
