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best for winter interest?
Well, it's been a long and miserable winter in the garden. Even
the grass has lost its green. I wandered around last week admiring the overlap of the late winter and early spring: crocuses, snowdrops still full, witch-hazel going strong. My basic conclusion is that winter can't be over soon enough. Still, I'm worried about next year, and so I'd like to brighten it up a bit. What's your favourite plant/shrub/tree for winter interest? I enjoy the usual Cornus alba cultivars, various red or snakebark maples, twisted hazel, some willows. But it's not enough, what more can I plant to brighten up the dim winter days? -E |
best for winter interest?
The message
from Emery Davis contains these words: Well, it's been a long and miserable winter in the garden. Even the grass has lost its green. I wandered around last week admiring the overlap of the late winter and early spring: crocuses, snowdrops still full, witch-hazel going strong. My basic conclusion is that winter can't be over soon enough. Still, I'm worried about next year, and so I'd like to brighten it up a bit. What's your favourite plant/shrub/tree for winter interest? Christmas rose, winter viburnum, aconites, and I have little irises and anemones in bloom - but this is due to buying the bulbs at knock-down prices well after their planting time. I enjoy the usual Cornus alba cultivars, various red or snakebark maples, twisted hazel, some willows. But it's not enough, what more can I plant to brighten up the dim winter days? Horsetail, couch grass, ground elder, convolvulus, oh, the list is endless - hours of honest fun digging them up again. Unfortunately, I can't recommend Japanese knotweed, as propagating it is illegal. -- Rusty Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional. Direct reply to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co period uk |
best for winter interest?
Rusty_Hinge wrote:
The message from Emery Davis contains these words: Well, it's been a long and miserable winter in the garden. Even the grass has lost its green. I wandered around last week admiring the overlap of the late winter and early spring: crocuses, snowdrops still full, witch-hazel going strong. My basic conclusion is that winter can't be over soon enough. Still, I'm worried about next year, and so I'd like to brighten it up a bit. What's your favourite plant/shrub/tree for winter interest? Christmas rose, winter viburnum, aconites, and I have little irises and anemones in bloom - but this is due to buying the bulbs at knock-down prices well after their planting time. well yes, I do have some Hellebores going now, the problem is that they were really late this year. No where near Christmas! Also winter viburnum, I've got one that has a very sweet scent and blooms occasionally during the winter thaws. Can't remember what it's called. Viburnum tinus is a nice shrub for winter, I could probably find a place for one. I enjoy the usual Cornus alba cultivars, various red or snakebark maples, twisted hazel, some willows. But it's not enough, what more can I plant to brighten up the dim winter days? Horsetail, couch grass, ground elder, convolvulus, oh, the list is endless - hours of honest fun digging them up again. Unfortunately, I can't recommend Japanese knotweed, as propagating it is illegal. LOL, thanks so much. Don't have horsetail, I'd better get some in. ;) Bindweed is nice because of the big fat roots, but too breakable when the soil is heavy. I prefer digging it in dryer weather. Don't forget creeping buttercup; we have acid soil. ;) Not to mention nettle and bramble! (Nettle is good fun to dig, very satisfying.) -E |
best for winter interest?
The message
from Emery Davis contains these words: well yes, I do have some Hellebores going now, the problem is that they were really late this year. No where near Christmas! Also winter viburnum, I've got one that has a very sweet scent and blooms occasionally during the winter thaws. Can't remember what it's called. Viburnum tinus is a nice shrub for winter, I could probably find a place for one. When I were a lad we 'ad eacres of the stuff, 'appen. It was known as Laurus tinus in the olden days, but it seems to have mutated. I enjoy the usual Cornus alba cultivars, various red or snakebark maples, twisted hazel, some willows. But it's not enough, what more can I plant to brighten up the dim winter days? Horsetail, couch grass, ground elder, convolvulus, oh, the list is endless - hours of honest fun digging them up again. Unfortunately, I can't recommend Japanese knotweed, as propagating it is illegal. LOL, thanks so much. Don't have horsetail, I'd better get some in. ;) Bindweed is nice because of the big fat roots, but too breakable when the soil is heavy. I prefer digging it in dryer weather. Don't forget creeping buttercup; we have acid soil. ;) Not to mention nettle and bramble! (Nettle is good fun to dig, very satisfying.) note to self Must get some. /note Where do you get it? Garden centre, or online? D&RFC -- Rusty Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional. Direct reply to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co period uk |
best for winter interest?
"Emery Davis" wrote in message ... Well, it's been a long and miserable winter in the garden. Even the grass has lost its green. I wandered around last week admiring the overlap of the late winter and early spring: crocuses, snowdrops still full, witch-hazel going strong. My basic conclusion is that winter can't be over soon enough. Still, I'm worried about next year, and so I'd like to brighten it up a bit. What's your favourite plant/shrub/tree for winter interest? I enjoy the usual Cornus alba cultivars, various red or snakebark maples, twisted hazel, some willows. But it's not enough, what more can I plant to brighten up the dim winter days? -E I like to add Winter Aconite (Eranthis Hyemalis) and Cyclmen coum to my winter-flowering bulbs; and I have the lovely blue Anemone blanda coming on just now, plus some of the better behaved celandines. Hellebores are good, although they're late winter into spring; even when the flowers have finished, the foliage is still good. In a mild winter (not this one, then!), Pulmonarias can make an early start and are excellent early bee plants. The same can be said for primroses (Primula vulgaris). As for shrubs, I grow Mahonia japonica, Jasminum nudiflorum, Sarcococca hookeriana, Chaenomeles spp (late winter flowering, but excellent - nice to get away from all yellow flowers!). Sadly, I lost my Hamemelis, but intend to replace it. For bark, I have birch (take your pick!) and Cornus sibirica alba. On my wish list are Prunus subhirtella 'Autumnalis' rosea and one of the winter honeysuckles (Lonicera sp.). I also have many berrying shrubs and trees; the berries may not last all winter, but they're good while they last and good for the birds when they don't! Favourite all-round tree (May blossom, autumn foliage colour, red berries) is Crataegus x persimilis Prunifolia. Spider |
best for winter interest?
Emery Davis writes
What's your favourite plant/shrub/tree for winter interest? I enjoy the usual Cornus alba cultivars, various red or snakebark maples, twisted hazel, some willows. But it's not enough, what more can I plant to brighten up the dim winter days? Depends what you mean by 'winter' - is it Dec/Jan which is the problem, or is it Feb/Mar/April where it all seems to be dragging on too far. Some of the obvious things are good - winter jasmine, which starts late November and keeps going to Feb, Viburnum bodnantense again flowers all through the season and with perfume. Prunus subhirtella is later to start - mine are now in full bloom. Hamamelis are cheerful and uplifting. Cornus mas is a bit too understated. Betula jaquemontii is white almost to the end of the new shoots so looks really good in summer. I find it's nice too to have smaller things around - eg cyclamen - as it gives a reason to go and walk round the garden even on a miserable day. -- Kay |
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