The Himalayan birch, B. utilis jacquemontii is probably the whitest, with even the smallest branch being milky white. The native north american paper birch, B. papgrifera , is more cream colored. A native north american snakeskin maple, Acer pensylvanicum has jade green bark striped with silver and white. The smallest branches are green, slightly larger ones are reddish brown, and then the largest branches and the trunk have the snakeskin pattern. Silk Tassel Bush Garrya elliptica is an evergreen shrub that forms silvery jade green catkins in winter.
Male plants have larger catkins than the females.
Holly There are many Ilex species, and these are thought of as a traditional winter plants. Skimmia Skimmia japonica has bright red berries all winter, which the birds won't eat, and the variety 'Rubella' will form pink flower buds in winter. False Castor-oil Plant Fatsia japonica has white flowers late in autumn, which may last into winter, but in late winter form clusters of black berries. The Arum italicum varieties have lovely marbled leaves which appear in late autumn and last all winter, and early in winter they are complemented by spikes of bright orange-red fruits. Bergenia These are semi-evergreen plants with leathery leaves.