Winter colour
The strength of a garden can be measured by what it looks like in the winter.
It’s fairly straightforward getting spring, summer or autumn colour but the winter interest is the backbone. This structure can be created with a number of evergreen shrubs, some of which will also flower in the winter too.
These include Mahonia ‘Charity’ with its powerful foliage and beautiful yellow scented flowers, the colour being highlighted by the winter sun. Another is the Sarcococca or Christmas Box, which isn’t much to look at in the summer but its tiny white flowers produce a glorious scent for many weeks and even months through the winter.
Good choice
Other features that are worth introducing include the stems of shrubs such as Cornus ‘Elegantissima’, which has variegated leaves in the summer and bright red stems in the winter. Cornus ‘Midwinter Fire’ is another good choice. The lime green leaves start to change colour in the autumn eventually becoming butter yellow while the stems below become more and more powerful orange/red, the contrast changing every day. Through the winter these stems really glow.
There are a number of bedding plants that offer colour from early autumn through the winter such as the winter pansy. Available in more than 30 colours this fabulous plant will flower all winter and keep going until Easter and beyond. With smaller flowers, but in fact more robust, are the violas available in a similar range of tones.
Evergreen foliage
Strictly not a bedding plant but one that can be used in baskets and tubs is the winter heather. This superb winter flowering plant will brighten any container or border with its evergreen foliage and flowers.
For trailing interest through the winter the best plants are the small ivies, especially the variegated forms that will hang down the side of baskets and tubs. Other trailers include Lamium, the variegated dead nettle in silver and gold, Ajuga, the bugle in purple or a variegated pink and white and Alyssum saxatile, which provides an early splash of golden yellow flowers as it trails over the edge.
To add a touch of surprise to your basket or container add some dwarf bulbs. Dwarf daffodils such as ‘February Gold’ and ‘Tête-à-Tête’ need to be planted below the pansies.
Don’t worry about covering them as they will find a way through and make a stunning centrepiece.
Containers
For the edge of the container try crocus, dwarf iris, muscari (grape hyacinth), snowdrops or chinodoxa. It is important to group these in threes or fives to give an impact.
Combinations of the plants mentioned can give you colour right the way through the dark months and are very straightforward to plant and look after.
Watering & feeding
Although it’s winter don’t forget to water. These plants in baskets or tubs won’t need the attention of the summer versions but they can get surprisingly dry through the winter.
Feed once a month with a high potash feed such as Tomorite to promote flowers and should the weather become extremely harsh then they would benefit from being taken down and placed on the ground in a sheltered spot. And then just sit back and enjoy being cheered up.
For more advice & to buy plants
Please visit your nearest GCA garden centre member, find one here.