Striking branching patterns really come into their own in winter. Probably the best-known is Harry Lauder's walking stick, but others to think about are the corkscrew willow, the cutleaf stephanandra, doublefile viburnum, and the lower growing cotoneasters. To get the full effect of a contorted plant, isolate one and locate it as a focal point to be seen in winter. When crowded into a border with plants of the same size, or set against a busy background, the odd outlines become lost. Snow-catchers transform a bland winter landscape into an architectural marvel.
Snow paints white edged outlines.
Dogwoods take on a lovely tiered branching when lightly crusted with snow. Evergreens can add many different greens - blue, green, rust, and gold to the garden. Some evergreens, such as some of the azaleas, the red flowering andromeda, and the purple-leafed PJM rhododendron, even add reds and purples. Yes, they are more subdued, but with careful selection you can intensify nature's palette with a careful selection of four-season plants.