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by Tom Ewing

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — For most of us, thoughts of winter conjure visions of landscapes void of color, filled with deciduous trees and semi-dormant shrubs. We also think winter is the time to relax about landscaping. While this may be true in the east, winter is actually a very important time for the Southern California landscape. Homeowners associations and commercial properties should consider this a time to perform a variety of important maintenance tasks, including dormant spraying and pre-emergent control of weeds, turf fungus control and disease prevention. Winter is also the time to add unique combinations and varieties to the landscaping plan.

In Southern California, we’re fortunate to have mild weather, so winter is no excuse for a drab landscape. In fact, many plant varieties are at their best this time of year, and enhance winter landscapes with beautiful texture and color.

Perennials
If cared for properly, perennials offer long-lasting color year after year. Many popular perennials, such as Coreopsis, are grown especially for flower color, yet many also feature beautiful foliage colors which are effective additions to your winter landscape. Here are a few you might try:

• ‘Angel’s Hair’ (Artemisia schmidtiana) is a one- to two-foot tall dome that boasts an outstanding silvery white foliage. Used as a border edging or for foreground foliage color, ‘Angel’s Hair’ should be planted in the fall and allowed to establish prior to winter.
• Many newly introduced perennials offer considerable winter color during our mild season. ‘Ultra’ (Brachycome) is a compact grower with extra blue daisy-like flowers. It is an excellent addition to mixed plantings, as foreground color, or as a striking filler among other foliage.
• One of the most popular recent introductions to Southern California landscapes is ‘New Wonder’ (Scaevola aemula), another prolific, blue flowering trailer that provides a nice carpet effect (particularly as a filler with other foliage), and is striking when planted in mass. For a more compact effect, try ‘Petite Wonder,’ an improved small-flowering Scaevola. Both are also impressive in baskets, window boxes and pots.

Groundcover
Winter is a dormant or semi-dormant time for most groundcovers, but these few offer year-round color and coverage.

• Osteospermum fruiticosum (best known as the ‘Freeway Daisy’) seems to be happiest in our winters, and blooms most heavily from November to March. ‘Sparkler,’ the latest Southern California introduction, offers prolific, longer season color.
• One of the most striking displays of groundcover color comes from the new Verbena hybrid ‘Tapien,’ which is available in an array of vibrant colors. Although most Verbenas are typically warm season bloomers, ‘Tapien’ shows considerable color through mild winters.
• For something different, try Bacopa ‘Snowflake’ (white) or ‘Pink Domino’ (lavender-pink). These compact groundcovers love well-lighted areas, are effective as filler among broad-leafs, and are known to retain color in mild winters.

Vines
Selecting vines for your landscape can lend color and fragrance.

• Hardenbergia violacea features abundant lilac-colored flowers, is wind-tolerant and offers prolific displays of late winter color.
• Jasminum polyanthemum is a fast growing, evergreen vine that combines lots of white flowers with an attractive jasmine fragrance guaranteed to waft throughout your property.
• Also remember that Pyracantha graberi, the old standby, is a reliable accent of red berry color during the winter months.

Annuals
Color beds are a staple for many homeowners and commercial properties. Now is the time to plan for replacing color beds with annual color for winter.

• Snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus), [Trade name] (Calendula officinalis), English Primroses (Primula X polyanthus) and Fairy Primroses (Primula malacoides) provide reliable splashes of winter color.
• Good foliage color options for the winter months include ornamental cabbage (Brassica oleracea) and Dusty Miller (Centaurea cineraria).
• If you’re looking for fragrant color, try Stock (Matthiola incana).

Shrubs
It’s important to plan for winter shrubs early, while soil still retains summer warmth.

• You only have to see a blooming Kafir Lily (Clivia miniata) once to be convinced that should be part of your propertyÕs shady landscape. The vibrant orange-red flowers against deep green foliage add welcome color.
• Argyranthemums and related Euryops daisies are prolific cool-season bloomers. The gray foliage of the yellow-flowering Euryops pectinatus has been a hardy staple in landscapes. However, the green variety offers a nice highlight to the yellow daisy flowers. New Argyranthemums, such as ‘Butterfly’ (yellow) and ‘Sugar Baby’ (white), provide enhanced color from a compact, three- to five-foot bushy shrub.
• Azaleas and Camellias can display overwhelming color in cooler climes, but southern California’s alkaline soils and water work against them. Successful performance is possible, however, by preparing soils with acidifying amendments and grouping plants with other acid-loving varieties. Now that summer’s dryness and warm temperatures are past, Azaleas and Camellias should be planted to establish themselves prior to winter.
• Some of winter’s most beautiful landscapes boast non-traditional plants. Recent popularity of flax (Phormium hybrid) has led to the introduction of varieties in varying colors and heights. ‘Maori Queen’ (olive green with red margins fading to cream), Sundowner (bronze-green with pink margins) and ‘Apricot Queen’ (yellow with green margins that flush with apricot in the fall) are just a few that add distinctive color and texture to any landscape.

Trees
Proper planning to include trees that perform well in winter can offer a welcome contrast to other bare, deciduous trees.

• The Purple Orchid Tree (Bauhinia purpurea) is partially to wholly deciduous, but displays spectacular orchid-like flowers from January to April. This tree is ideally suited to our mild winters and its manageable root system is a good fit for small areas near streets and sidewalks.
• The Coral Tree (Erythrina caffra) is a more aggressive variety that offers a striking display of winter color, but should be given plenty of room when planted.
• Another versatile favorite is the Pink Melaleuca (Melaleuca nesophylla). Its pinkish flowers bloom throughout the year and, properly pruned, its spongy bark is a unique and attractive feature. This hardy evergreen tolerates wind, heat, rocky soils and variable watering.

As you can see, there is much to be done with winter landscaping! Important maintenance, coupled with diverse plant selection and planning can make your winter season landscape presentation as strong as any other time of year. Now is the time to plan. Call your landscape architect, contractor or local wholesale nursery for assistance.

Miramar Wholesale Nurseries (MWN) is San Diego’s leading supplier of landscape plant materials and supplies. With the addition of two new facilities in San Juan Capistrano and the Irvine/Lake Forest area, MWN continually custom grows shrubs, trees, seasonal color, and groundcovers for projects throughout California. Most of San Diego’s commercial properties, institutions, property managers, and commercial landscapers are clients of MWN. In addition, the fully stocked will-call facilities at each location serve the immediate needs of customers throughout the state. In an acquisition in early 1999, MWN became a member of the San Diego region of TruGreen-LandCare, a ServiceMaster company.

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