Fantastic plants for winter interest

Taken in the winter garden at RHS Rosemoor, Torrington, Devon, UK.

Have you a dull and gloomy garden during the winter months?

It’s easy to focus on spring and summer when designing your garden and many of us often forget about winter interest. Most are hibernating indoors over the cold period forgetting the garden until the emergence of spring bulbs to lift our spirits.

Well you’d be pleased to know, you need not wait until spring for the entertainment of nature. There are lots of fantastic plants that will enhance your garden to give interest all year round, even in winter!

This month I visited RHS Rosemoor in Torrington, Devon to learn how winter interest plants could be used together for maximum effect. I really loved the combinations of Cornus alba and Cornus sanguina (Dogwood) with underplantings of Galanthus nivalis (Snowdrops). I also discovered that scent plays a key part in winter gardens. I found that I was being lead by the scents of Mahonia’s, Daphne’s and Sarcococca’s.

So heres my top winter interest must haves for colour, scent and texture.

1. Hellebores (Winter Rose)

2. Galanthus sp. (Snowdrops)

3. Cornus sanguina ‘Midwinter Fire’ (Dogwood)

4. Daphne bholua ‘Jacqueline Postil’ AGM

5. Sarcococca confusa (Sweet Box) AGM

6. iris unguiclaris (Algerian Iris)

Hellebores

Pictured left Harvington Double Lilac Speckled

Hellebores are a great addition to any garden with their showy flowers borne in the depths of winter. There are a huge variety to choose from with single a double flowering varieties of all different colours.

Hellebores are fully hardy, evergreen perennials, flowering year after year. They prefer well drained soil in dappled shade with shelter from cold icy winds.
For more information on hellebores and the wide range available visit www.twelvenunns.co.uk

Snowdrops

Pictured right Galanthus ‘Ermine Lace’

When you see the dainty little white heads of snowdrops, you know spring is not too far away. Snowdrops have a great impact in the garden when planted en masse in naturalistic situations imitating their natural environment. If you can’t replicate their natural environment why not be creative and plant them near strong vibrant contrasting colours like Cornus alba or Ophiopogon planiscapus.

Galanthus sp. are bulbous perennials which thrive in well draining soil in partial shade.

For more information on Galanthus and the varieties available visit www.avonbulbs.co.uk

Dog wood

Pictured left Cornus sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fire’

If your garden is dull and unattractive over the winter this is certainly the plant to add a warm splash of colour. Appropriately named ‘Midwinter Fire’ sure does give the impression of fire in the coldest of winters. Dog woods can be used effectively as backdrops to contrasting plants or as architectural focal point dotted around the garden. On my visit to RHS Rosemoor I discovered dogwoods were used next to the white trunks of birch or in amongst snowdrops.

Other dogwoods you could use is Cornus alba (red stems) or Cornus servicea (yellow stems).

Cornus will grow in a range of well-drained moisture retentive soil in sun or partial shade. The intensity of the colour is due to the juvenility of the stems and for this interest in mind, pruning for this is desired. ‘Midwinter Fire’ has oval leaves and insignificant white flowers in summer.

For more information to the care and guidance to pruning for young stem colour visit www.rhs.org.uk

Daphne

Pictured right Daphne bholua ‘Jacqueline Postill’ AGM

Daphne is a fantastic shrub for it’s showy clusters of highly fragrant flowers. The sweet intoxicating scent that this plant gives is irresistible and a firm favourite among many. ‘Jacqueline Postil’ is one of the most popular of the Daphne’s for good reason. The flower buds open in January and February followed by purple-black berries.

Daphne bholua will thrive in a sunny, sheltered spot however, try to find a spot near the house or near a footpath to enjoy the sent every time you walk past!

Daphne is pretty hard to propagate and is somewhat slow growing, and this will be reflected in the price. That being said, it will be a worthwhile investment to any garden.

If you can’t find one in your local garden centre check out www.crocus.co.uk

Sweet Box

Pictured left Sarcococca confusa AGM

Sarcococca is perfect for a shady spot in the garden. Evergreen with dark glossy leaves and flowers from December to March giving off the loveliest vanilla-like fragrance. When the flowers fade black berries are produced, which can last to the following winter. Like the Daphne above it’s best positioned near the house or next to a garden path to really get the most from its fragrance.

Sacrcococca copes well with dry shade in most soils. It has also been awarded the prestigious RHS Award of Garden merit.

If you can’t find Sarcococca confusa in your local garden centre visit www.suttons.co.uk

Algerian Iris

Pictured right Iris unguicularis

I love this plant and was lucky enough to be given a division from one of my lovely customers. Iris unguicularis hides within the garden throughout the year appearing as a grass-like clump. From December to March the grass-like mass explodes with buds of purple-blue flowers each sweetly scented. I believe the Algerian iris has it all. It has a delicate beauty and incredible fragrance and at a time when other plants are restoring their energy for the following year.

This iris will thrive in well-drained or sharply drained neutral or slightly alkaline soil, Ideally at the base of a sunny wall.

If you would like an Algerian Iris for your garden visit www.dejager.co.uk

So there you have it, some of my favourites for winter interest. There are so many amazing plants you can use to transform your outside space in those cold winter months. If ever your stuck for ideas why not visit RHS Gardens or RHS Partner gardens or just ask for advise at your reputable garden centres.

Stay Warm and Happy Gardening!