Surrey Homes | SH61 | November 2019 | Gift supplement inside

Garden
of winter flowers is that they’re usually scented. Good
deciduous winter shrubs include: Viburnum bodnantense
‘Dawn’, Chimonanthes praecox (Winter sweet), Lonicera
fragrantissima, Hamamellis (witch hazel).The RHS garden
Wisley in Surrey – open all year (except Christmas day)
is a great place to visit for out of season inspiration.
They have a wonderful winter walk (near to the tea
room – essential part of any winter walk), where you can
experience the joys of winter plants all in one place.
It’s hard to play a supporting role; outshone by the
flowery divas in the summer, propping up lax companions
and generally being taken for granted, but when the fairweather
plants have given up and gone to ground, these
unsung plants can finally have their moment in the sun
(or shade). Reliable, stalwart and quietly beautiful, well
chosen structural shrubs will be an investment – and this
is the perfect time to plant them – or plant some more.
Join Jo in her garden in Woodchurch for
gardening courses starting in March 2020
01233 861149 hornbrookmanor.co.uk
5
good
structural
plants
Evergreens provide a constant look and will
ensure that the border looks good through the
seasons, even in the depths of winter, but there are
deciduous plants that look just as good naked…
Box – this is excellent for adding formality and
evergreen interest. Create low hedges, topiary
shapes and focal points – however, beware box
blight and box tree caterpillar, which is now
rife in London and surrounding areas.
Euphorbia ‘Wolfennii’ – an architectural plant
with handsome,grey/green foliage in winter
and long lasting lime green bracts in spring.
Miscanthus sinensis – a tall grass with attractive
seedbeds that will persist all through the winter.
Grosses are a good alternative to ‘blobby’
shrubs and bring movement to a border.
Osmanthus – small leaved evergreen with tiny
scented flowers in spring. It can be trimmed to a neat
shape to make a dark backdrop for other plants.
Cornus alba ‘Elegantissima’ – this dogwood has
pretty variegated foliage, good autumn colour
and once the leaves have fallen, dark red stems
on the young growth all through winter.
Top: Choisya ternata ‘Sundance’ as a hedge
Left: Spiraea ‘Goldflame’
133 surrey-homes.co.uk