Winter shrubs masterclass: finest knowledgeable content material

Winter shrubs like Hamamelis flower fortunately in chilly temperatures
Picture: Hamamelis × intermedia ‘Böhlje’s Feuerzauber’ from Thompson & Morgan

Is your backyard in need of winter color? Take inspiration from these knowledgeable unbiased gardeners and learn the way to take pleasure in heady floral scent, garlands of berries, vibrant stems and attention-grabbing foliage all through the coldest and darkest months of the yr. 

In the event you’re planning a brand new scheme with wildlife in thoughts, browse our on-line assortment of shrubs with winter berries. Our winter flowering shrubs brighten the gloomiest of days, and for a strong, structural assertion, check out our fiery vary of cornus shrubs.

This text was reviewed by T&M’s horticultural workforce and up to date on thirtieth July 2024.

Select yellow flowers for winter cheer

Mahonia flowers convey sunshine yellow to the winter backyard
Picture: Mahonia x media ‘Winter Solar’ from Thompson & Morgan

“There’s nothing like a splash of vibrant yellow to cheer up a wintry day,” say the horticultural specialists at Thompson & Morgan’s weblog. Their favorite high winter shrubs with vibrant yellow flowers embody Coronilla valentina subsp. glauca ‘Citrina’, Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Arnold Promise’ and Mahonia x media. Learn the total article to search out out which different flowers, climbers, grasses and shrubs made their shortlist.

Assist wildlife with winter-flowering mahonias

Vibrant yellow mahonia flowers 
Picture: Nettles and Petals

Are you in search of an evergreen shrub that sustains birds and pollinators over the colder months? If that’s the case, mahonia is the right alternative, in line with Jamie from nettlesandpetals. Birds and pollinators love “its spiny vibrant leaves, spectacular clusters of vibrant yellow winter flowers and purple berries.” In the event you’ve by no means checked out a mahonia flower up shut earlier than, watch Jamie’s quick video to see how this extremely intelligent winter-flowering shrub ensures pollination.

Plant vibrant stems alongside darker evergreens

Cornus sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fireplace’ stems are a vibrant pink
Picture: @sarahpajwani at St Timotee

“Cornus shrubs and Salix, relying on the range chosen, present bark in tones from vibrant yellow, by all method of oranges, to deep pink,” says high backyard designer Richard Schmidt over at @greengenus. Plant cornus (dogwood) alongside darker evergreens for a placing distinction that actually reveals them off. Take a look at his Instagram web page for gorgeous pictures and intelligent backyard design recommendation.

Prune cornus in March for a fiery winter show

Lee retains his cornus shrubs wanting their finest with cautious pruning
Picture: Backyard Ninja

To ensure you get fiery stems every winter, you’ll want to present your cornus vegetation a tough prune in March, explains Lee over at Backyard Ninja. Simply ensure you depart the whippy younger development alone for 3 years after planting to permit it to ascertain itself, he says. Take a look at Lee’s implausible pruning information to see the place you might want to minimize.

Don’t overlook to incorporate winter shrubs in small gardens

Take pleasure in berries and blushing leaf color from Viburnum opulus in winter
Picture: The Middlesized Backyard

Small backyard? You’ll be able to nonetheless develop winter shrubs, says Alexandra over at The Middlesized Backyard. Select specifically bred varieties which might be smaller at maturity than their bigger counterparts, like Viburnum opulus ‘Compactum’. Take a look at Alexandra’s article to see which six winter shrubs head gardener Tom Coward of Gravetye Manor recommends for late season curiosity.

Plant skimmia japonica when you’ve got acid soil

Winter shrubs look even higher with a fragile coating of frost
Picture: @mrsblake2020

Skimmia japonica shrubs do higher in gardens with acidic soil, says Instagrammer @mrsblake2020. Her male skimmia bears engaging flower buds all through the colder months, and appears particularly fabulous with a lightweight dusting of frost! Head to her full submit to be taught extra fascinating details about this beautiful addition to any winter backyard.

Add scented sarcococca to winter borders

Sarcococca thrives in a container
Picture: Sarcococca hookeriana ‘Winter Gem’ from Thompson & Morgan (© Plantipp/Visions BV, Netherlands)

Sarcococca is the scent ‘must-have’ for backyard designer Bel Grierson. “I prefer to develop this in containers so I can transfer the vegetation nearer to the home in winter to profit from the heady perfume,” she says. Learn this knowledgeable plantswoman’s full article about evergreen shrubs for winter curiosity to discover a listing of the opposite specimens she recommends for “color, texture, flowers and a contemporary look throughout the gray winter months”.

Prepare winter-flowering climbing shrubs up vertical helps

The flower petals of Hamamelis are harking back to contemporary lemon peel
Picture: @dawns_gardening

A winter scent important in Daybreak’s enviable Leicestershire backyard is Hamamelis or witch hazel. “After we get a frosty morning I’ll cup my palms across the spidery flowers and breathe within the perfume,” she says. One other winter-flowering shrub she loves is honeysuckle – take a look at her attractive picture of Lonicera purpusii ‘Winter Magnificence’. “It has candy aromatic small creamy white flowers on naked stems,” she explains. Daybreak’s backyard is fastidiously planted to have loads of winter curiosity – comply with her over at @dawns_gardening to see extra.

Embrace winter berries for festive cheer

Winter berries make the backyard look additional festive in time for Christmas
Picture: @getplantinghort

“Plant your backyard for Christmas utilizing shrubs which have engaging berries,” says BBC Beechgrove presenter Kirsty Wilson. She recommends Cotoneaster shrubs for his or her festive vibrant pink berries and darkish shiny leaves. The berries present a welcome meals supply for winter wildlife too! Scroll by Kirsty’s Instagram web page over at @getplantinghort to search out heaps extra high gardening suggestions.

Present bird-friendly berries by the coldest months

The intense pink berries of this viburnum mature to deep black
Picture: Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum ‘Kilimanjaro Dawn’ from Thompson & Morgan

For a hardworking shrub that delivers many seasons of curiosity, attempt Viburnum ‘Kilimanjaro Dawn’ says @davetheplantman. This triangular-shaped shrub is “harking back to a mountain” he says, with elegant pink-tinged flowers in late spring that flip snow-white by summer time. In autumn, the heart-shaped foliage modifications to burnt orange, after which shiny pink berries seem in winter, ripening to black. Dave says that this low-maintenance, upright shrub retains birds completely satisfied by the coldest months. Watch his pleasant TikTok video for extra info.

Plant a pollination associate for holly

Holly ‘Argentea Marginata’ has shiny variegated leaves
Picture: Holly ‘Argentea Marginata’ from Thompson & Morgan

Holly is a implausible winter choice, and never only for Christmas, says Carol Bartlett at The Sunday Gardener. “An evergreen, gradual rising shrub, with vibrant variegated leaves and vibrant berries”, holly is a superb alternative for troublesome areas. It’s additionally extremely versatile, making an attention-grabbing addition to borders, a chic customary or a wind-resistant hedge. Simply be certain your feminine shrub has a male pollination associate to get loads of berries, she advises. Learn her full article on rising hollies for high suggestions and rising recommendation.

We hope our assortment of winter shrubs content material has given you loads of meals for thought. You’ll discover much more inspiration at our shrubs recommendation hub web page. Don’t hesitate to get in contact or share your individual favorite winter shrubs – tag us on social media utilizing #YourTMGarden.

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