While the temperatures may be rising above freezing this week, it can still be hard to find colorful landscapes. Horticulturists with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach say while the natural life cycles of plants can lead to some boring colors in winter, compared to the other three seasons, it doesn’t have to be all drab. Many cultivars of crabapples produce colorful fruit that is red, orange or yellow. Also, hawthorns possess attractive red fruit in the winter and white flowers in the spring. Shrubs that fall into the same category include red chokeberry, winterberry, snowberries and coralberries. While all of these produce brightly colored fruit, much of the fruit doesn’t last through the winter due to birds and squirrels eating them. Dogwood, the ‘Flame’ willow and river birch all have bright twigs or bark. Also, intermedia witch hazels flower from early February to late March. The plant have strap-like petals that unfurl in warm weather and can range in color from yellow to orange to red to purple.