These are the best plants for a vibrant winter garden
Gardens can often look a little dull and lifeless during winter. No one expects borders and baskets to be bursting with colour, but you'll be surprised to learn that many early-flowering varieties make the most beautiful winter bloomers.
"Throughout autumn, you can focus on flowers, scents, berries, and dramatic evergreen foliage to bring colour and warmth to your garden, which at times can feel bare and frosty as the weather gets colder," says James Ewens, a garden design expert from Alexander Francis.
While Hannah Rowson, Assistant Garden Centre Manager at J.Parker's, adds: "Plant beautiful pots of snowdrops, scilla and eranthis and watch your pots come to life.
"You could also plant these winter bulbs in the top layer of a bulb lasagne, with layers of crocus, tulips and daffodils ready to take over once winter has passed."
Wondering what plants can bring a burst of much-needed colour? Keep reading for the top ones below...
Early-flowering clematis
Add structure and colour to your garden during the winter months with the beautiful clematis plant. The queen of climbers, these are ideal for covering walls and fences with an explosion of winter colour.
"The cirrhosa family of clematis are an early flowering, evergreen climbing clematis that usually has single, bell-shaped pale yellow to cream flowers flowering from November through to March," Hannah tells Country Living.
"Varieties such as 'Jingle Bells' or 'Freckles' really add something special to a garden, providing colour and interest to walls and trellis."
Scilla mischtschenkoana
With its porcelain blue flowers, this early-flowering bulb is invaluable as a pot topper.
"This bulb has the award of garden merit for a reason with its lovely pale blue star-shaped flowers with subtle stripes, and is something a little bit different to add to pots or borders," adds Hannah.
"It's another favourite of mine for winter interest flowering a bit later from February to March."
Winter Iris
Pretty winter irises are ideal for borders, rock gardens, containers and pots. Perfect for the not-so-green-fingered, they are relatively low-maintenance and will offer beautiful lilac and pale purple blooms from October to March.
Elaeagnus pungens 'Maculata'
Evergreen shrubs really do stand out in the winter when their glossy leaves shine in the low winter sun. If you're looking for one to plant, Elaeagnus pungens 'Maculata' is one of the best to consider.
"Elaeagnus is another evergreen shrub known for its large leathery leaves with bright yellow centres, which make them a great choice for adding autumn colour to the garden," says James.
"In autumn, they grow delicate silvery white flowers that are highly fragrant and attract pollinators too. As the Maculata is very weather resistant, it works well as a standalone feature, in mixed borders, or as a hedge too."
Christmas rose
Bring a festive feel to your garden with the much-loved Christmas rose.
Hannah tells us: "This variety of hellebore is widely known and loved for its pale winter blooms.
"They can flower from as early as December all the way through to March, through rain and snow and as they are an evergreen perennial they will bloom every year. You can buy these as loose root plants online."
Snowdrops
Clusters of snowdrops are a common sight across UK woodlands in winter. The ideal time to plant your snowdrop bulbs for January flowering is between September and November.
"There are plenty of bulb varieties to choose from that flower from late autumn through to winter. The most common and a favourite among many gardeners is Galanthus, commonly known as Snowdrops," explains Hannah.
"These flower from January through to early March, giving you months of pearly white blooms."
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