Winter Plants For A Cornish Garden

At this time of year it can be a bit bleak in the garden. The summer plants have all died back and the bright colours of dahlias and the strong scent of sweet peas have faded away. But with a little strategic planting we can add some colour and scent back into your garden! We've rounded up our favourite winter plants for a Cornish garden...

Mahonias 

Mahonias will give a burst of colour all through the winter months with their vibrant yellow flowers. We love them as they remind us of the gorse all along the Cornish coastline too! The shiny evergreen leaves bring a lovely vibrant green and the sunny yellow flowers continue all winter before developing into purple berries. Try 'Soft Caress' for its slender foliage and compact growing or for a larger burst of colour try 'Charity' which will produce a large winter hardy plant with scented flowers from November.

Rhododendron 'Midwinter'

In the winter months when the garden is sleeping, this plant comes awake with bright lilac flowers. Up to 1.5m tall, it has glossy green leaves and saucer-shaped lilac flowers from mid - late winter.

Camellia 'Christmas Daffodil'

For colour from February through to early spring this Camellia brings dark evergreen leaves and pale pink flowers with a daffodil like trumpet. 

Cornus 'Midwinter Fire'

If you need to add height and colour to your garden to fill in some gaps then Cornus 'Midwinter Fire is for you! Once the summer leaves have fallen from this plant then you are left with the most magnificent bright stems that vary in colour from orange-yellow to bold red.

Daphne bholua 'Jacqueline Postill'

If you miss the scented summer flowers then this is your winter saviour! The pink-purple flowers appear in late winter and are intensely scented - getting you out into the garden on the dullest of winter days to inhale the intoxicating fragrance. Once the flowers have finished then you'll get some gorgeous colourful berries.

Clematis cirrhosa 'Freckles'

This plant will reliably be in flower on Christmas Day and will add colour and scent to your festive outdoor displays. An evergreen flowering climber, it will reach a height of around 3m and spread over about 1.5m giving a great show of winter colour. The fragrant creamy white flowers are freckled with bright red streaks, creating the perfect festive look.

Stay warm while you're gardening this winter with our range of winter coats and cosy knitted accessories!