This shrub has deep pink flowers which are on show during mild periods throughout the winter. It also has a wonderful fragrance and so is a great shrub to plant close to the house or near garden paths. Bring the garden indoors and add some colour to a dark windowsill. Viburnum x bodnantense, when cut, will last for a long … Read More

In recent years this moderately vigorous, evergreen shrub has become unfashionable but that’s probably only because it’s such a useful plant. A good choice if you want a loose informal hedge which flowers over a long period of time. The dark, evergreen leaves look attractive all year round, although it is susceptible to the Viburnum Beetle, making unsightly holes in … Read More

The snakeshead fritillary is an upright, slender, bulbous perennial, probably best seen naturalised in grass. For me, the beauty of this plant is its elegant simplicity and I often use it when creating a wildflower border in gardens. At the beginning of the 20th century, meadows of fritillaries were commonplace around Britain but many of these areas were seriously affected … Read More

Sarcococca confusa, also known as Christmas box or sweet box, is a must if you like scent in the garden. Any plant that flowers in the winter must work very hard to attract the few insects that are around, hence winter flowering shrubs are particularly fragrant. The Christmas box is a very unassuming, unfussy little plant with small white flowers … Read More

Viburnum plicatum ‘Mariesii’, or the Japanese snowball bush, has wonderful white lacecap-like flowers on horizontally tiered branches in May-June. The dark green leaves turn red-purple in autumn and I always think plants that give two seasons of interest are good value. This beautiful, deciduous shrub makes an excellent specimen plant for a sunny spot or mixed border. Give it plenty … Read More

This shrub has deep pink flowers which are on show during mild periods throughout the winter. It also has a wonderful fragrance and so is a great shrub to plant close to the house or near garden paths. Bring the garden indoors and add some colour to a dark windowsill; Viburnum x bodnantense, when cut, will last for a long … Read More

In recent years this moderately vigorous, evergreen shrub has become unfashionable but that’s probably only because it’s such a useful plant. Viburnum Tinus is a good choice if you want a loose informal hedge that flowers over a long period of time. The dark, evergreen leaves look attractive all year round, although it is susceptible to the Viburnum Beetle, which … Read More

A versatile, small-sized tree with a softly arching, sometimes spreading habit, Amelanchier is valued for its subtle blossom in spring, its light dappled shade in summer, and its attractive autumn tints. Leaves emerge bronze, with the flowers, phasing to green in summer. Ideal as a specimen in a small garden, after ten years it will grow to 4-5m. An amelanchier’s … Read More

Hydrangea paniculata ‘Grandiflora’ is a vigorous, deciduous shrub that does well in a shady spot. The large white conical heads flush pink with age and make a magnificent display. The flower heads can be used for drying and I think they look good all winter so don’t be in a hurry to prune.

Early-flowering clematis will bloom with the first mild spell and give the gloomiest garden a lift and the Clematis Montana grandiflora are great for covering an ugly eyesore quickly – very quickly indeed. They can be a little vigorous but are easily controlled by serious pruning straight after flowering. As with all clematis, they require their roots to be in shade … Read More