paper bark maple (Acer griseum)

Paperbark maples are slender, graceful trees with exfoliating reddish to copper-colored bark. They stand out beautifully against a winter landscape, where they seem to shimmer golden-red against the snow.

Persian ironwood (Parrotia persica)

Persian ironwood is a slow-growing tree with slender branching native to the southern edge of the Caspian Sea in Azerbaijan and Northern Iran. In winter, ironwood is notable for its smooth, almost pearlescent bark exfoliating to reveal patches of cream, olive, silver, or tan underneath.

winterberry holly (Ilex verticillata)

Winterberry holly is a deciduous holly native to eastern North America. These medium-sized shrubs are stunning in the winter landscape, displaying clusters of small, bright red fruits showing vibrantly against a snowy background.

Chinese elm (Ulmus parvifolia)

Chinese elms have an attractive vase-shaped habit and create a striking winter silhouette. Also called “lacebark elms” because of their lovely exfoliating bark with patches of shimmery silver, copper, cinnamon, and brown, these trees add significant visual interest and texture to campus.

green hawthorn (Crataegus viridis)

In autumn, green hawthorne’s small, crabapple-like fruits ripen to a vivid red, persisting long into the winter. The fruit, stark against the snowy landscape, hangs in tight clusters on delicate silvery branches. Older specimens display exfoliating, orange to cinnamon-toned bark.

stewartia species (Stewartia sp.)

Stewartia is a medium-sized tree maturing to 40 feet tall with a strongly pyramidal habit. Slender, smooth branches with mottled patches of silver, cream, and brown add significant winter interest.

London planetree (Platanus × hispanica)

Mature London planetrees display white, olive, and grey exfoliating bark and a large, spreading canopy. Their globular, hanging fruits often persist into winter, while their sinuous branching and subtle texture create a dynamic addition to the urban landscape.

atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica)

Atlas cedar is an evergreen conifer native to the Atlas Mountains of northern Africa. This tree makes a gorgeous spectacle in the winter, displaying a loose pyramidal form with spreading tiers of layered branching and silvery, blue-green needles.

dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides)

The dawn redwood is a rare example of a deciduous conifer, shedding its leaves in fall to reveal its deeply fissured trunk and reddish-brown exfoliating bark in winter. This tree’s tall, upright conical habit and interesting form is a lovely addition to a winter landscape.