Let’s face it; your garden in winter can look pretty dull. Aside from the charm of having a covering of snow (and the new gardening techniques we can use) everything looks bleak, with plants having retreated underground to shelter from the cold and flowers yet to bloom into their full colourful variety. However, all is not lost! There are certain garden plants that can brighten up your winter garden and are hardy enough to take the cold. Here’s five of the best!
5 of the Best Winter Plants
Skimmia ‘Kew Green’
While the flowers of the Asian plant Skimmia won’t burst into life until the spring, bringing with it some charming greenish-white flowers, the green shade of the buds are just as attractive. This plant also thrives in the shade, as too much sun can turn the leaves yellow – meaning it’s perfect for the short days of winter with minimal daylight!
Euonymus Fortunei ‘Emerald ‘n’ Gold’
One of the most versatile evergreen shrubs you can have in your garden, the Euonymus Fortunei ‘Emerald ‘n’ Gold’ brings a lovely bright gold-tip leaves look to your garden during most of the year. However, as the colder months roll round the colour of the leaves turns to a pinkish-red that brings some much needed colour to that dreary winter garden. It can also grow as a vine if you provide it with enough support. I wouldn’t use the hedge trimmer on this plant, I much prefer secateurs or shears or shrub trimmers when it comes to pruning this shrub.
Cornus Sanguinea ‘Winter Flame’
This one is perfectly named; as you could be forgiven for thinking someone has set fire to your garden from a distance. This beautiful plant looks best during winter, when fiery shade of autumn red falls away to leave a radiant clash of orange, yellow and red stems. It’s pretty robust too, so if you have toddlers then it’s a good choice, it’s definitely safe children. Outside winter it takes on small white flowers and black berries, making it a wonderful addition no matter the season.
Helleborus Niger ‘Christmas Rose’
Despite being called ‘Christmas Rose’ the Hellebore isn’t actually a rose, although its appearance suggests otherwise. Surprisingly frost resistant, its large bowl-shaped white flowers and lime green centre lend a snowy air to your garden if you haven’t had any of the white stuff that year. The Christmas Rose grows wonderfully in a plant pot.
Hamamelis Mollis ‘Chinese Witch Hazel’
A deciduous shrub, up until autumn the ‘Chinese Witch Hazel’ holds green ovate or rounded leaves, but it’s not until winter where its best look explodes. During the gloomy months the plant blooms with fragrant yellow and red flowers that have four narrow petals, bringing a touch of brightness to the short days.
As for planting all these? Well, you could always check out the superb offers from www.gardentoolbox.co.uk
