#winterinterest

Plant of the Day

Friday 13 January 2023

The stems of Corylus avellana 'Contorta' (corkscrew hazel, Harry Lauder's walking stick) provide dynamic winter interest. The branches are strongly twisted and create a large shrub which is even more impressive if the finer stems are pruned to reveal the structure. The leaves have a slightly twisted and contorted appearance with catkins being produced on bare twigs in the spring.

Plant of the Day

Thursday 15 December 2022

Flowering from late autumn through to the spring Viburnum farreri (Farrer viburnum) fills the air with scent. This is a large, upright deciduous shrub which provides a display of autumn colour before the clusters of flowers open.

Plant of the Day

Wednesday 2 March 2022

Later flowering than some cultivars Hamamelis × intermedia 'Aphrodite' (witch hazel) has orange blooms with a wonderful scent. It always looks stunning backlit by the low, late winter sunshine.

Plant of the Day

Friday 21 January 2022

A traditional part of January is enjoying the fragrant flowers of Hamamelis mollis (Chinese witch hazel) which despite their delicate appearance easily survive the frosts and snow. This spreading deciduous shrub has broad, oval leaves which provide yellow autumn colour.

Plant of the Day

Tuesday 8 February 2022

The winter flowering Iris lazica (Lazistan iris) is closely related to Iris unguicularis but has deeper blue flowers and glossy, wider green leaves. Iris lazica thrives in part shade and does well in heavier soils, so there is a winter flowering Iris species for most sites.

Plant of the Day

Sunday 23 January 2022

Here the coloured stems of Salix alba var. vitellina 'Britzensis' (coral bark willow, scarlet willow) have become a winter sculpture. These vigorous medium-sized deciduous tree are here being grown as a shrub which is being ‘stooled’ (coppiced) on top of a short stem known as a ‘leg’. Pruning will be carried out in early spring before bud burst removing last years stems to encourage regrowth with the colourful red bark.

Plant of the Day

Monday 7 February 2022

It is always great to see the fragrant flowers of Iris unguicularis (Algerian iris, winter iris) which keep appearing from late winter with buds like a furled umbrella. This is a vigorous evergreen rhizomatous perennial that does well with free drainage and a sunny location.

Plant of the Day

Tuesday 11 January 2022

The Cornus sanguinea 'Midwinter Fire' (dogwood) has orange-red and yellow young shoots which provide a colourful winter display. Once established this deciduous shrub is best pruned to promote young stems by cutting back about a third of the stems to ground level each spring.