Every year the Winter interest aspect of the garden fills out a little more to the point where there is now something looking good in every bed, border or large tub. I love the way their colours and shapes become so noticeable when all else is dormant. I think I finally have the balance right so that there is a good amount of evergreens but they have enough range that they fit well with the plants that grow in other seasons and don’t dominate.
I was out the other day and noticed one daffodil already forming a blower bud, several cyclamen doing the same, small daisies, and violas in flower and more flowers on the Claire Austin rose than it had during Summer!
The snowdrops have started to push up and should be in flower soon. By far the most reliable performer this year has been Lamium Roseum which has literally flowered non stop since late Spring last year, it must be a blessing for all manner of insects. Actually, Erysimum ‘Bowles Mauve’ has also flowered no stop since March. Great value, even though they are short lived they do well from cuttings so I should have lots bushing out this year.
Shown below are just some of the many plants I grow to keep the garden from being bald through winter.
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Day 862
Heather - Erica carnea 'Aurea'
Growing
Fairly sure this is ‘Aurea’ but mixed up the labels. Gets even brighter in Summer |
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Day 971
Lonicera henryi (Evergreen Honeysuckle) Lonicera henryi
Growing
Very bushy this winter and actively growing through with the mild weather. |
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Day 1289
Choisya 'Aztec Pearl' (Mexican orange 'Aztec Pearl') Choisya ternata
Budding
Noticed flower buds even in December. The leaves are a darker green in Winter. |
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Day 497
Cyclamen hederifolium
Growing
Has been increasing it’s Winter leaves for some time |
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Day 294
Erysimum 'Bowles Mauve' (Wallflower 'Bowles' Mauve') Erysimum bicolor too windy for clear shot but this is still flowering, non-stop since March 2011 |
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Day 291
Sedum sediforme |
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Day 5323
Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary) Rosmarinus officinalis |
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Day 111
X heucherella To windy to get image focussed. Great Winter colour on this young plug plant. |
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Day 111
Heuchera To windy to get image focussed. Great Winter colour on this young plug plant. |
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Day 848
Heuchera americana 'Dale's Strain' Heuchera americana Mostly stays green but a little colour creeps in each season on older leaves. |
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Day 302
Lamium maculatum 'Roseum' (Spotted dead nettle 'Roseum' ) (divided) Lamium maculatum Non stop flowers |
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Day 302
Lamium maculatum 'Roseum' (Spotted dead nettle 'Roseum' ) (divided) Lamium maculatum Leaves hug the ground in WInter |
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Day 1366
Skimmia japonica several colours through the winter leaves |
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Day 910
Akebia Quinata - Chocolate vine Akebia quinata Bit battered by wind but still nice |
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Day 1350
Epimedium Unknown - pale yellow Epimedium old leaves are red, young one are green |
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Day 222
Rainbow Chard - Organic - *Suitable for tubs* Beta vulgaris var. cicla Jolly all Winter long |
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Day 1319
Brachyglottis dunedin group Senecio above young box hedge edging |
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Day 985
Clematis 'Early Sensation' - no prune Clematis Lovely leaf shape |
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Day 1057
Eucalyptus The stems become redder in Winter |
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Day 1415
Helichrysum 'Ruby Cluster' (Straw flower 'Ruby Cluster') Helichrysum A bold bunch of winter foliage on the end of the smaller raised bed |
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Day 483
Erysimum linifolium 'Variegatum' (Variegated wallflower) Erysimum linifolium Foliage is appreciating the mild temperatures |
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Day 5123
Camellia - Unknown white and pink flowers Camellia japonica shiny winter foliage |
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Day 2827
Rhododendron - unkown, pink flowers
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Day 1366
Skimmia japonica buds already |
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Day 971
Pieris japonica 'Valley Valentine' Pieris japonica Bright winter leaves on this ever changing Pieris. |
Previous Journals
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Large Raised Bed in Winter Silver Greys
Stipa tenuissima (Mexican feather grass) , Santolina , Lavender 'Silver Edge' , Senecio cineraria...
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Houseplants garden , Enkianthus campanulatus Changing Colour, Cotoneaster horizontalis (Wall coto...
Later Journals
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Houseplants garden
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Aster 'Tonga' (Island Series) , Helichrysum 'Ruby Cluster' (Straw flower 'Ruby Cluster') Budding,...
Comments
Bernieh wrote:
I know I made a similar comment on your blog, but I’ll say it again … lovely evergreens and that Cyclamen foliage is just terrific.
Posted on 11 Jan 12 (over 1 year ago)
CDfolia wrote:
Thanks B, I can’t sleep because the gale is so loud and shaking the house so I’ve been updating with lots more of the winter plants. It’s just a shame that so many of the photos are blurry because of the wind.
Posted on 11 Jan 12 (over 1 year ago)
SneIrish wrote:
Beautiful! Great plant choices. I picked up a ‘Bowles Mauve’ the end of last summer and had it in a container. I do hope it comes back again. And isn’t Pieris wonderful! One of my favorites here.
Posted on 12 Jan 12 (over 1 year ago)
orientallily wrote:
That cyclamen foliage is lovely. Really, really nice.
Posted on 12 Jan 12 (over 1 year ago)
seeingreen wrote:
A lovely, lovely mix of greenery (and silver). Where do you grow your cyclamen and what soil conditions?
Posted on 13 Jan 12 (over 1 year ago)
CDfolia wrote:
I’ve got several cyclamen in different places but that particular one, which is the best one, is growing in a shady spot that is open but gets almost no direct sun. The soil has a lot of organic matter and is mulched yearly so it’s fairly good at holding moisture in the drier months but it’s also on a slight slope which helps with drainage so it doesn’t sit in water in wet spells. The cheaper ones I bought (in garden centre multi-pack) nearly all died or performed badly in similar situations so I definitely think it was worth paying for a better quality plant in this instance.
Posted on 13 Jan 12 (over 1 year ago)
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