Colorful Winter Plants at Seattle's Witt Winter Garden

While waiting for spring, I visited the Joseph A. Witt Winter Garden in Seattle's Washington Park Arboretum. Tucked in a deep green wooded area, this "winter feast" offers striking bloom and bark colors, gorgeous textures, and surprising fragrances—all the more admirable with little competition in gray, cold months.

Designed by Ian Roberson, professor at the University of Washington's School of Landscape Architecture, the garden is a "woodland room" celebrating winter-interest plants' architecture, color, and form. Here are favorite specimens to inspire your own landscape.

Midwinter Fire Twig Dogwood

(Cornus stolonifera 'Midwinter Fire')
Colorful stems blaze orange, brightening a dark border.

Coast Silktassel

(Garrya elliptica)
Elegantly draped tassels appear in winter, resembling crystal drops on a chandelier. Appreciate long, silvery tassels up close.

Chinese Red Birch

(Betula albo-sinensis var. septentrionalis)
Admire peeling, bright pinkish-white bark against evergreen backdrop.

Beautiful Witch Hazels

(Hamamelis x intermedia 'Orange Beauty', right; Hamamelis x intermedia 'Pallida', left, light yellow)
Two shades of yellow-gold create a stunning visual corridor for a woodland path. Take a deep breath—you'll love their fragrance.

Hamamelis x intermedia 'Ruby Glow'
When backlit, this witch hazel is a brilliant gem.

Hamamelis x intermedia 'Westerstede'
Delicate, vaselike form creates a sculptural effect.

Hamamelis x intermedia 'Winter Beauty' + Mahonia 'Arthur Menzies'
Layering colors and textures is an effective design technique.

Stewartia monadelpha with a carpet of Cyclamen coum
Tall Stewartia has cinnamon-hue bark glowing against bright pink hardy cyclamen.

Purple-Leaf Contorted Filbert

(Corylus maxima 'Atropurpurea Superba')
When leaves are absent, you can truly appreciate the contorted form of this superb ornamental filbert.

More great design plants
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Chinese Witch Hazel
8 Sunny Yellow Spring Flowers