Adding colour and texture to the garden
Winter evergreens
Adding colour and texture to the garden
There is nothing like a colourful winter garden to liven up this sleepy period of the year. Those perennials, shrubs and trees that do not shed their leaves every autumn add much-needed colour and texture to the garden and their lush foliage helps soften the edges of a wintry landscape. At RHS Rosemoor we have an ever-evolving winter garden that glows through the gloomier months and here are some examples of the lovely evergreens used to create it.
Shrubs and trees
Variegated types of common holly, Ilex aquifolium AGM, do an excellent job of lightening up dark corners. For example, silver hedgehog holly, Ilex ‘Ferox Argentea’ AGM, which is, as the name suggests, distinctly spiny and beautiful too! Being a male holly it has no berries but will serve to pollinate other female varieties you may have in the garden. Another different and eye-catching holly species is Ilex x altaclerensis ‘Lawsoniana’ AGM, which has big, almost spineless, green leaves with a splash of yellow in the centre and pretty red berries in the autumn.
Skimmias are another shrub with separate male and female varieties, some with attractive long-lasting berries and others with larger scented flowers. Skimmia japonica 'Rubella' (m) AGM is a popular example of a male plant with glowing red flower buds that form in the late winter ready to open in early spring. It is has a naturally small compact shape so would also work well planted in a container.
Sweet box, Sarcococca confusa AGM, is again a small and low maintenance shrub, inconspicuous in look but with small flowers that fill the air with an amazingly sweet scent over the winter months.
Evergreen perennials
Hellebores look stunning against a wintry backdrop. Plant them in groups of at least five to create a standout display. Some lovely newer varieties such as Helleborus x ericsmithii 'Maestro' have dark red-stemmed leaves and white flowers that fade to dusky pink. There are many other colours to choose from in the more commonly found ‘hybridus’ type and although quite expensive will readily self-seed in the right spot. Cutting the old leaves off in January makes the flowers more visible, reduces the spread of leaf spot diseases and stops small rodents sitting under them devouring the flower buds!
Acorus gramineus is a short tufted plant that gives attractive low-maintenance foliage and ground cover all year round. The green and white striped ‘Variegatus’ variety stands out from a distance and looks effective around the base of a shrub or even next to a building.
Similarly, Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Kokuryu’ AGM is another interesting grass-like plant whose stunning black foliage can create an unusual carpet effect in a semi-shady corner. It looks excellent with other rich purple and red foliage plants such as Heuchera ‘Sugar Frosting’ or Bergenia ‘Overture’.
Winter garden jobs
Check ponds containing fish have not frozen over and if they have, melt a hole on the surface with a hot pan.
Prune roses with clean sharp secateurs removing and dead, damaged and diseased material, aiming for an open framework. See RHS advice website for more information.
Mulch flowerbeds in February to lock in moisture for the warmer months ahead and suppress weeds.
Cut back and clear up deciduous grasses and other dead herbaceous material ready for spring.
Start chitting seed potatoes on a tray in a frost-free environment out of direct sunlight.
Prune wisteria in the winter to improve the flower display. Cut this year’s growth back to two-three buds.
Check to see if tree ties and stakes are still doing their job and replace or adjust if necessary.
Towards the end of February, many Cornus and willows can be stooled or pollarded (cut back hard to an original growing point). This keeps them a manageable size and promotes young stem growth for bright winter colour next year.
Keep houseplants dormant by continuing to restrict their watering until the growing season begins. Move gone over bulbs in pots to a shed or covered outdoor space and remove foliage once dead.
Top-dress or repot citrus plants in late February.
Sally Newbrook
Horticulturist