EVERGREENS THAT KEEP GREEN IN WINTER 



HENRY WILD 



Landscape Gardener and Planter 



[ME was, and that not so very 

 long ago either, that nobody, 

 except the sure enough crank, 

 planted the garden with a view 

 to anything other than the mid-summer 

 effect. Then came the spring glory idea, 

 and later the autumn foliage color, and 

 berried shrubs and evergreens for winter 

 brighteners. 



All well and good, but the fact is 

 that all evergreens are not really green 

 in winter. They may hold their leaves, and so justify 

 their being spoken of generally as "evergreens," but they 

 may be purple and brown, or bronze — not green. And so, as 

 there is yet time for planting to be done for effects this winter, 

 let us consider what evergreens are green in winter and order 

 for ourselves accordingly. 1 would not decry the beauties nor 

 the values of those plants that do change color, for the pro- 

 cessional changes of tone are all desirable; but always green 

 evergreens do add greatly to the brightness of the picture and 

 near the home seem to extend to the outdoors some of that 

 indoor cheer that bids us welcome. 



Change of color in winter is nature's general mood so there 

 are only a few plants that depart from the rule and from which 

 to choose. At the same time the list will be found to embrace 

 several very interesting forms, while the majority are of a 

 hardiness and beauty that afford quality in place of quantity. 



Most of the varieties here discussed have been under observa- 

 tion for many years, while a few have been noted during visits 



to private grounds and nurseries during 

 winter and early spring. The best time 

 to select varieties that retain their green 

 foliage is, of course, April, before the 

 new growth starts, and the winter dress 

 is unchanged. 



fi 



HE Arborvitaes or Thuyas provide 

 several forms that retain their green 

 foliage during winter. The variety pyra- 

 midalis is perhaps the best known; of 

 dense compact habit, it resembles our native Cedar more 

 closely in form than any other variety of Arborvitae, but 

 keeps a better color. It needs a good soil with moisture for 

 its best. 



The variety known as Hill 's Pyramidal Arborvitae retains its 

 green color the year through. This is in direct contrast to the 

 Western variety which turns brown in early winter. The 

 Siberian Arborvitae has large, dark green foliage, is extremely 

 hardy, and retains its clear green color through the winter. Of 

 pyramidal form it is a type that requires very little attention, 

 owing to its compact habit, and it is adapted to most soils. 



In a planting of Thuya Vervaeneana I once noticed a distinct 

 variation of a beautifully green form that retained its color 

 through each winter, specially noticeable among the true Vervae- 

 neana type as that turns bronzy during winter. Plants propa- 

 gated from this form also remain green all winter. I have been 

 unable to identify it under any recorded name. 



Thuya Rosenthali has dark green foliage and has been a great 



A GREEN AND WHITE STUDY 



Henry Troth, Photo. 



When snow falls and covers the earth in its mantle of white the relieving tones of foliage on the evergreens are doubly welcomed. The bold 

 stiffness of the Spruce is "all spruced up" indeed, and keeps its fresh color at all seasons. Rhododendrons with old White Pine in rear 



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