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As winter approaches you could be fooled into thinking that there is nothing going on in your garden and very little colour or interest to get you through the cold months. Nothing could be further from the truth as there are plenty of plants that are looking at their best at this time of year. I find that I notice the small splashes of colour or form on grey days and it is nice to appreciate the small things at this time of year. The other good news is that any winter flowers attract pollinators who are very grateful for a meal in the colder months. Here are the top five hero plants for your Winter garden!
Hellebores
One of my favourite plants bringing me joy through the winter and giving me hope there's still life in my garden. Often known as Lenten or Christmas Roses with their luxurious blooms and evergreen leaves, hellebores are hardy plants that thrive in cold temperatures. Choose from a classic white or pinks through to beautiful dark burgundy and purples. Plant them under deciduous trees or shrubs which allow light through in Winter and provide shade in the Summer. Make sure to prune last years leaves back in Autumn to keep the flowers to looking their best. Every garden needs at least one Hellebore and if you don’t have much space a pot by the front door will look great!
Cornus (Dogwood)
This plant is celebrated for its vibrant, fiery bark that stands out in Winter gardens. Choose from burgundy, red, orange or lime green stems. I've planted big stripes of each colour in my front garden with some Hellebores underneath. They don’t look like much in the Summer but once the leaves fall in the autumn the stems are beautiful. Cornus is easy to grow, they prefer sun or partial shade, and like it reasonably moist although mine have survived some hot dry summers! For the best colour stems prune them back in February just as the leaves are starting to sprout. Look for Cornus Midwinter fire for stems that transition from red at the base to orange at the top.
Sarcococca (Sweet or Winter Box)
This shrub is valued for its glossy evergreen foliage and highly fragrant white winter flowers. After it’s finished flowering it will produce the prettiest berries too! It's perfect for containers or borders and thrives even in dry, shaded areas. I've planted it around my house in an area that gets no direct sunlight and very little water, and it's doing very well. I love the scent of the flowers on a cold January day and think this is an under rated and great addition to any garden.
Winter Jasmine (Jasminium nudiflorum)
With its bright yellow flowers on bare stems, winter jasmine brings a splash of much needed colour to Winter gardens. Thriving in full sun to part shade this is a hardy plant that can be grown on walls or trellises, but will need support as it doesn't naturally cling. Prune after it has flowered to remove the old wood and encourage new growth which will bear next seasons flowers. For year round interest you could plant with a Clematis which likes similar conditions but flowers at a different time of year.
Snowdrops
These early-flowering bulbs herald the end of Winter with their delicate white blooms. Snowdrops are easy to grow and can naturalize in grass or under trees. You can still plant bulbs through November. If you've missed this window, don’t worry as we will have them for sale – in the green – growing in pots from January. You will be rewarded year after year when their flowers appear, and it's worth getting down on your hands and knees to inspect the delicate lime green patterns on the petals. As the clumps expand you may want to divide and replant the bulbs. It’s best to do this just after they have flowered but are still in leaf. Gently lift the clump and separate the bulbs taking care not to damage them. Split into smaller groups and replant straight away at the same depth they were before. Over time you will rejuvenate your snowdrop clumps and encourage more vigorous growth and flowering in future seasons.
As well as helping you to combat the Winter blues, these 5 plants will add interest, structure and fragrance to your garden during the darker months. If you haven’t got much space a few pots filled with Hellebores and some Spring bulbs will do the trick just as well. Even in Winter we can celebrate new growth and life, thanks to the magic in our gardens.
Do you have a favourite Winter plant in your garden? Share your photos @millbrookgardencentre or on our facebook page.
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