top 10 plants for winter 2024
top 10 plants for winter 2024
Winter is time of beautiful frosty, crisp mornings. A time of tingling skin and bright, shiny cheeks. There is a joy in this time of year that can not only come from the ever-changing seasons - enjoyment can also come from working hard and creating foundations for a beautiful garden when you least think of your outdoor spaces as a place of interest. Just because the leaves have fallen and many of your plants have gone to sleep does not mean winter is a time of rest for all. There are some sensational plants for almost every corner of your plot – allowing you to add foliage interest, structural intrigue and even a sprinkling of floriferous wonder. With this in mind we have compiled our top 10 plants for winter 2024.
Edgeworthia
You are sure to be tempted outside into the winter air with the mouth-watering scent of Edgeworthia. Silky buds adorn bare branches in late autumn and winter, each bursting open to create rounded clusters of highly scented blooms, truly a sight to behold.
Loropetalum
A little-known cousin of the Witch Hazel family, the stunning evergreen foliage makes the perfect backdrop for the fluffy fragrant lowers that smother the plant in winter and spring. Ideal for small town gardens and happy in both containers and borders.
Sarcococca
Producing perfume in abundance, highly fragrant flowers smother the glossy evergreen foliage of this low maintenance shrub during the winter months. A perfect sized shrub for containers or in borders for low hedging.
Skimmia Rubella
When it comes to winter colour, ‘Rubella’ is all about the buds rather than the flowers. In autumn and throughout winter, this shrub’s deep green elliptical leaves are crowned by purple-red panicles, busy with flower buds which eventually open to reveal tiny white flowers in early spring. ‘Rubella’ is a delight in part-shady areas of the garden, or equally at home in an attractive pot as a lovely winter feature.
Lonicera Winter Beauty
As the queen of the winter-flowering honeysuckle varieties, from November to February, ‘Winter Beauty’ produces a mass of tubular ivory blossoms, dramatically strewn across bare branches. Whether you train this honeysuckle against a sunny wall, or simply let it meander as it chooses, this hardy shrub will delight you with its delicious fragrance.
Camellia sasanqua
Camellia are such a coveted, low maintenance and extremely hardy shrub perfect for planting in a pot or a border. 'Sasanqua' types provides your garden with extravagant autumn & winter blooms that the bees and butterflies love. Their evergreen foliage also ensures that there is always something to look at in the garden. (Pictured Camellia Yuletide)
Hellebores
Here at Hayloft, we absolutely love our Hellebores. Whilst other plants slumber, bring a magical touch to your garden with their luxuriant blousy blooms and abundant evergreen foliage. They may look dainty in appearance but don’t be fooled as they are sturdy plants that will survive the cold temperatures of winter and remain awe-inspiring.
Coronilla
During spells of winter sunshine, the sweet fragrance and lemon-yellow blooms of Coronilla will remind you of bright spring days. The very best choice if you live in coastal areas or you have a particularly windy garden.
Witch Hazel (Hamamelis)
Much like outrageously colourful fireworks, the tassel-like blossoms fringing the stark branches of a late-winter witch hazel are blatant attention seekers. Amongst the many varieties available, there are plenty with sunshine-coloured blossoms to marvel over.
Clematis cirrhosa Christmas Surprise
At a notoriously sparse time of year, the evergreen foliage and beautiful floral display of winter-flowering Clematis is sure to impress. Wonderful trained up a trellis, obelisk or through shrubs where they can climb and entwine.
