Winter garden

by Julian Brandram

Winter need not be a dull time in your garden. There are lots of shrubs which flower then and you notice them more because the leaves are off the trees.

Winter jasmine is already in flower as I write this, it’s an easy shrub which loves to grow against a wall and makes a splash of cheerful yellow. A common shrub which is also out now is Viburnum bodnantense. As it’s name suggests, it originated at Bodnant Gardens in North Wales. The flowers are scented and hang in small pink clusters, they are good to pick and bring indoors.

A small cherry tree which has dainty, pinky white flowers, is called Prunus subhirtella autumnalis, it flowers all through the winter in the mild spells. It has a more subtle appeal than some of the spring flowering varieties. The Daphnes are also something to look forward in winter. Most people know Daphne mezereum, this is small shrub which grows wild in limestone areas like. the Peak district. These small, slow growing plants are evergreen and give off a heady scent which fills the air. They have small red berries which sometimes germinate to give you some useful seedlings. 

A less well known one is Daphne bholua, this is a more upright plant with an equally intoxicating perfume. The only problem with Daphnes is that garden centres charge utterly outrageous prices for them! Most people think of honeysuckle as being a climbing plant but there are some shrubs too. Lonicera fragrans is an easy shrub with little white scented flowers. It’s a good one to pick and bring indoors and it grows easily from cuttings. 

To see some of these plants, try the Sheffield Botanic Gardens or if you want a day out go to the Ness gardens on the Wirral, overlooking the Dee estuary.