We often think of trees mostly for their spring, fall and summer characteristics, but winter brings another dimension to the landscape where deciduous trees, devoid of their foliage, become a focal point in the garden. This is the perfect reason to consider choosing trees that have interesting bark. The color and texture of the bark can make an otherwise dull winter landscape sparkle.

Bark can be smooth or rough, flaky and peeling, shiny, ridged, or striped. Introduce these wonderful characteristics to your Massachusetts landscape by planting a tree known for its interesting bark attributes. Images and detailed plant specifications of many of the following trees are available at www.virtualplanttags.com.

Many varieties of dogwood trees make excellent choices including Tatarian Dogwood (Cornus alba), Bloodtwig Dogwood (Cornus sanguinea), and Redosier Dogwood (Cornus sericea). Cultivars have orange, yellow or reddish barks. Kousa Dogwood (Cornus kousa) features a beautiful mottled bark.

White or Paperback Birch (Betula papyrifera) and the Native American River Birch (Betula nigra) are two additional trees worthy of consideration for the value that their bark will add to your Massachusetts garden. Many varieties of Cherry (Prunus) add value to the landscape value with their distinctive bark.

For trees with beautiful bark that peels or exfoliates, consider River Birch (Betula nigra) or Paperbark Maple (Acer griseum). Paperbark Cherry (Prunus Serrula) adds a touch of elegance to the landscape with its rich, silky auburn-colored sheen. A tree characterized by brilliant coral-colored bark is Coralbark Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum Sango Kaku ‘Senkaki).

Japanese Stewartia (Stewartia pseudocamelia) features an outstanding exfoliating bark. Tall Stewartia (Stewartia monadelpha) has a rich, smooth cinnamon-brown bark. Stripe or Snakebark Maple (Acer pensylvanicum) has silver-toned vertical white stripes set on a bright green background. The bark of the Trident Maple (Acer Buergerianum) has a grayish-brown peeling bark with a hint of orange.

Hopefully these examples will give you a place to start in your search for trees with bark that will add beauty to your Massachusetts landscape.