Trees With Interesting Bark - Using Exfoliating Bark On Trees For Seasonal Interest

In many parts of the country the cold weather brings with it a bare landscape. Just because the garden is dead or dormant though, does not mean that we cannot enjoy the visible parts of our plants. In particular, planting exfoliating bark trees can provide year-round seasonal interest. Trees with exfoliated bark are magnificent in the spring and summer and then become breathtaking sculptures out in the garden in the fall and winter. Using tree bark in winter to improve your winter views is a way to keep your garden lovely year-round.

What are Exfoliating Bark Trees?

Exfoliating bark trees are trees whose bark naturally peels away from the trunk. Some trees with exfoliated bark have exfoliating bark as soon as they grow. Other trees may not develop their exfoliating bark until they have reached full maturity after many years.

Trees with Interesting, Exfoliating Bark

Some exfoliating trees include:

• Amur Chokecherry
• Chinese Dogwood
• Common Bald Cypress
• Cornelian Cherry
• Crepe Myrtle
• Drake Elm
• Eastern Arborvitae
• Eastern Red Cedar
• Japanese Stewartia
• Lacebark Elm
• Lacebark Pine
• Paper Birch
• Paperbark Maple
• Paper Mulberry
• Persian Parrotia
• Red Maple
• River Birch
• Shagbark Hickory
• Silver Maple
• Sitka Spruce
• White Birch
• Wax Myrtles
• Yellow Birch
• Yellow Buckeye

Why Do Trees Have Exfoliating Bark?

While exfoliating tree bark in winter is lovely, most people are fairly certain that these trees did not develop this unique feature simply because humans liked it. There is actually an environmental advantage for trees with exfoliated bark. The theory goes that trees that shed their bark are better able to rid themselves of pests like scale and aphids, as well as harmful fungus and bacteria. It also helps reduce the amount of lichen and moss that grows on the tree. Whatever the reason that some trees have for shedding their bark, we can still enjoy the interesting patterns and designs that exfoliating bark trees have to offer in the winter.