The bark club

At this time of year, after the leaves have fallen, trees with textured bark come into their own. Camilla Phelps reveals some great examples that you can plant now

- Camilla Phelps

FROM the ghostly pallor of white-stemmed birches to the sumptuous silkiness of Tibetan cherries gleaming in the low wintry sunshine, there are many trees and shrubs that come into their own after the last autumn leaves have fallen.

Leafless silhouettes with coloured and textured bark are perfectly designed to shine through the grey gloom and sing out loud on those brilliant, cold, blue-sky days. In smaller gardens a single tree with feature bark makes a great focal point – with a multi-stem for maximum impact. In a bigger space, why not plant several trees in a woodland style grouping that highlights the colours of the stems and branches?

Bring on the birches

Birches are a mainstay of winter garden design. The brilliant white of popular but overused Betula utilis subsp. jacquemontii is probably the most familiar. An elegant choice, it’s a highimpact, reliable option, but it’s worth looking at others in the birch family. With barks ranging from the nobbly textures of classic silver birch to the more muted tones of the B. albosinsensis varieties, you can explore more subtle alternatives that look equally beautiful in winter light.

While coloured barks are great for instant glamour, it’s also a good time for texture and pattern to come to the fore. The snake-bark maples are fascinating up close, and Juglans regia has the kind of textured bark that almost mirrors the intricate bumps of its walnut offspring.

Coloured stems