return to garden design advice
Is your garden looking good at this time of year? Or is it a sea of uninspiring, squelchy mud? Winter seems to last for a long time so why not invest in some of the plants that will perform at this time of year? You can enjoy them through the window and when a pleasant day arrives you can go out with a steaming mug of hot chocolate and make a closer inspection.
One of my favourites for this time of year is the Cornus or dogwood. For most of the year they make a reliable contribution to the back of the border but in the winter they truly sparkle. Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’ is a deservedly popular choice. It has brilliant coral-crimson stems that make a cheerful contribution to the winter scene. I have the variegated version with deep red shoots and a broad creamy white margin on the leaves. This autumn, the leaves became flushed with pink and perfectly complemented the last flowers of a pink Penstemon that I had planted nearby.
My favourite is Cornus sanguinea ‘Winter Beauty’. Its stems are bright orange-yellow and red and from a distance they glow like a fire. There are several similar varieties e.g. ‘Midwinter Fire’. All will add warmth and magic to your garden. Cornus stolonifera ‘Flaviramea’ has yellow green stems that look most effective when underplanted with Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald Gaiety’. To get the best colour from your dogwoods cut them back to about 10-15cm each year. This results in them reaching about 1m in height in the following season. Dogwoods thrive in any soil and don’t mind sun or part shade. A single specimen will look attractive but if you have the space then three or more will make a stunning feature. You will often see dogwoods planted near a pond so that its stems will be reflected in the water.
Dogwoods are beautifully complemented by Bergenias. Commonly known as ‘elephant’s ears’, these perennials have large, evergreen leaves, which make a bold contrast to the upright form of the dogwood. Bergenias have the added advantage of spring flowers. They are tough plants and will grow in any soil conditions in sun or shade. Bergenia crassifolia has pinkish, purple flowers in March and April but its chief attraction for me is the way its mid green leaves become red tinged in winter. Imagine the picture it would make under a red-stemmed dogwood. Stunning.
Another favourite of mine is Bergenia cordifolia ‘Purpurea’ with magenta purple flowers. The deep green leaves assume a rich glossy purple in winter. I have seen these combined with snowdrops for a sparkling effect. As with most small plants be bold and plant them in large drifts.
One of the jewels of the winter garden is the hellebore. This year I have promised myself that I will invest in more of these fabulous plants. They come in luxurious shades of deep red, blush pink, royal purple, snow white and various tints of green. Most hellebores are tolerant of a range of soils and will grow in sun or shade. Although excellent plants for the front of the border, do be aware that they are poisonous if ingested and the sap may irritate the skin on contact. Helleborus niger or the Christmas rose is widely available. It bears white flowers, sometimes strongly pink-flushed with greenish white centres. It flowers from early winter to early spring. It can be a fussy plant though needing a humus-rich, chalky soil in partial shade.
In my heavy clay soil I have had more luck with Helleborus foetidus ‘Wester Flisk’. It has reddish green stems, leaf stalks and flower stalks with dark green leaves. The flowers are bell shaped and green with a purple margin from midwinter to spring. Its chief attraction though is very attractive foliage that will contribute to the garden all year round. The many varieties of Hellebore x hybridus are my favourites. Their flower colours are truly sumptuous. These are the stars of the winter garden – a real taste of summer delights to come. Hellebores can be fairly expensive though and as the colours can vary greatly they are best bought in flower. Team them with spring-flowering bulbs or hardy cyclamens. Choose other plants to take over later in the season.
Hellebores look good around the shrub Mahonia. My early experience of this shrub was a massed collection next to the drive at the front of my house where it always seemed to scratch me as I got in and out of the car. Frankly I was unimpressed. Then a few years later I walked passed a Mahonia and was stunned by its beautiful perfume. I was surprised that a single shrub of Mahonia could evoke such strong thoughts of midsummer. Since designing gardens I have come to appreciate them more and more. Mahonias are magnificently architectural shrubs. Their form makes them a valuable year round addition to the garden and in winter and spring they are a great asset. As well as their handsome evergreen foliage and fragrant flowers they also bear decorative purple/black berries after flowering.
Mahonia japonica has highly scented, pendulous flowers of lemon yellow from November to March. Mahonia x media ‘Charity’ is a good variety with slightly fragrant flowers from November to January. Mahonia x media ‘Winter Sun’ bears its fragrant flowers from January to March. Plant Mahonias at the back of the border. They will succeed in a wide range of conditions. One of the saddest sights in the garden is to see a poor, straggly specimen of this magnificent plant. To prevent it becoming leggy prune it in the early years. Cut out one stem in three in early summer and each year cut off the flower heads as soon as flowering is over. This will ensure that your plant remains a valuable addition to your garden.
The garden in winter has the potential to be just as inspiring as the summer garden. Visit your local garden centre and see what’s on offer. Prepare to enjoy the view from your garden all year round.