Christmas is over and spring hasn’t quite spring yet but there are lots of plants that you can add to your garden to provide some much-needed colour!
Dwarf daffodils - (Narcissus tete a tete)
A wonderfully cheery yellow flower with heads about 7 inches or 20 cm high. A favourite that gives us an early look at the dream that is spring to come.
Skimmia japonica rubella
This plant comes into its own in spring – throughout late Autumn and Winter it will give you beautiful green foliage and bright red flowers and in the spring it will burst into fragrant white blooms. It’s a great one to fill in gaps in your borders.
British bluebells (hyacinthoides non-scripta)
A classic and nothing is better in the early spring than going for a woodland walk amidst a carpet of bluebells (I recommend Hole Park in Rolvenden for such an experience), but naturalising an area of bluebells in your garden will add so much beautiful colour and class.
Sarcococca hookerania or Sarcococca confusa
These plants provide lovely glossy green leaves, black berries and wonderful delicate white flowers with a highly intoxicating scent this time of year. They are most prized for this scent as it’s a rare thing in these cold months.
Cornus Alba Baton Rouge & Cornus Sericea Flaviramea
Cornus
Cornus, and their are many varieties, are classic source of Winter colour during most of the year. They will have a lovely green or variegated leaf but in the winter they come into their own with bright orange, green or scarlet stems – cut these back in late March to mid April as as this vivid colour comes from new growth.
Cornus Sanguinea Midwinter Fire
Hamamelis intermedia
Witch Hazel as we know it by its common name, has wonderful delicate ribbon like flowers in this very early part of spring. Classy yet understated, hamamelis can make a big impact within beds or as a “full stop” at the beginning or end of a border.
Daphne odora "aureomarginata"
Lastly, Daphne odora “aureomarginata” is a favourite amongst seasoned horticulturalists for its clusters of small, sweetly scented, pale pink flowers, opening from purple-pink buds in January within dark green leaves with yellow margins. The flowers are followed by colourful round red fruit.
This evergreen shrub thrives in a sunny, sheltered position where its attractive, variegated foliage will brighten the winter garden. Try it at the edge of a mixed border or next to a path where its intoxicating fragrance can be appreciated.
We also stocking an interesting alternative Daphne x transatlantica “eternal fragrance”, which flowers much later than Daphne odora – from April to October.
We hope to see you soon here at Bumbles!
