Winter aconite (Eranthis hyemalis<\/em>)<\/h3>\n ![\""Yellow\"]( "\\"\"Winter\\"")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> Add yellow to your garden with winter aconite\/Credit: weisschr, Getty<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nThe first bulb of the year pops up all over woodland and wilder gardens around January. The flowers are as bright as neon egg yolks with a frill of green foliage. Once they have finished flowering they disappear back into the ground for the summer.<\/p>\n You may also like:<\/p>\n
- Garden pond guide: how to look after your pond and wildlife to spot<\/a><\/li>\n
- How to make a fairy lantern for your garden<\/a><\/li>\n
- Guide to slugs and snails: how to identify common species and protect your plants<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>
<\/p><\/div> <\/section>
Japanese skimmia (Skimmia japonica<\/i>)<\/h3>\n ![\""Plants\"]( "\\"\"Skimmia\\"")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> A burst of pink with Japanese skimmia\/Credit: unknown, Getty<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nEvergreen shrubs that look good on the edge of borders or in pots. They are best with a bit of acidity in the soil but are pretty sure to flower reliably and produce good red berries. Excellent for flower arrangements.<\/p>\n
Heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica<\/em>)<\/h3>\n ![\""Heavenly\"]( "\\"\"Heavenly\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> Reds and greens with heavenly bamboo\/Credit: seven75,\u00a0Getty<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nAn evergreen shrub sometimes called the Heavenly bamboo even though it is nothing like a true bamboo. If you have a garden ravaged by hungry deer or bunnies then they are pretty much guaranteed to leave this alone. Pictured: Nandina domestica<\/em> \u2018Fire Power\u2019.<\/p>\nScarlet willow (Salix alba<\/em> var. vitellina<\/em> \u2018Britzensis\u2019)<\/h3>\n ![\""Scarlet\"]( "\\"\"Scarlet\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> Why not try the burnt-orange branches of scarlet willow?\/Credit: unknown, Getty<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nAnother plant grown for its stems: this time the colour of a squeezed blood orange. There\u2019s also one called golden willow (Salix alba<\/em> var. vitellina<\/em>) if you are looking for yellow, or Salix <\/em>myrsinifolia<\/em> for stems of purply black. There\u2019s lots of choice, but they are big shrubs that need hard pruning.<\/p>\nRosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis<\/em>)<\/h3>\n ![\""Rosemary\"]( "\\"\"Rosemary\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> Rosemary offers reliable greenery to your winter garden\/Credit: unknown, Getty<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nPossibly an odd choice for a winter plant but it is an evergreen shrub that is hardy in most gardens. Every time you brush or stroke the foliage the smell will remind you that the cold will end and summer will come again.<\/p>\n
Red-barked dogwood (Cornus alba<\/em>)<\/h3>\n ![\""Red-barked\"]( "\\"\"Red-barked\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> Red-barked dogwood (Cornus alba sibirica)\/ Credit: unknown, Getty<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nIn the summer this is a bit of a dull fish. The leaves are unremarkable and the flowers are tiny. However, once the leaves have fallen, the new stems are as red as Santa\u2019s coat and sparkle in the watery winter light.<\/p>\n
Ghost bramble (Rubus thibetanus<\/em>)<\/h3>\n ![\""Winter\"]( "\\"\"Ghost\\"")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> Ghost bramble (Rubus thibetanus)\/Credit:\u00a0ukgardenphotos, Flickr<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nYou do not usually associate brambles with winter. The blackberries are long gone and all that is left are the prickles. However, Rubus thibetanus<\/em> has wonderful white stems that stand out well amid the gloom.<\/p>\nTibetan cherry (Prunus serrula<\/em>)<\/h3>\n ![\""Tibetan\"]( "\\"\"Tibetan\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> Tibetan cherry offers a copper trunk for winter colour\/Credit: unknown, Getty<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nIf a plant has no leaves, berries or flowers then what else is left to make it stand out in a crowd? Bark, of course: this small tree has the most beautiful conker brown bark that looks as if it has been buffed by an energetic drill sergeant.<\/p>\n
Witch hazel (Hamamelis mollis<\/em>)<\/h3>\n ![\""Witch\"]( "\\"\"Witch\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> Witch hazel\u2019s yellow flowers appear before its leaves\/Credit: unknown, Getty<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nA splash of colour to lighten any winter day. Its odd-looking flowers have petals like paper streamers \u2013 they come in yellow, orange or red depending on the variety. Flowers before the leaves appear so completely unmissable. As a bonus it smells of spiced boudoirs.<\/p>\n
Wintersweet (Chimonanthus praecox<\/em> \u2018Luteus\u2019)<\/h3>\n ![\""Yellow\"]( "\\"\"Wintersweet\\"")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> Wintersweet (Chimonanthus praecox \u2018Luteus\u2019)\/Credit: Alastair James,\u00a0Getty<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nYou know when this plant is \u2018in da house\u2019 \u2013 or rather \u2018in da garden\u2019 \u2013 as the scent is sweet, slightly sultry and carries a long way. Loads of creamy yellow flowers are followed by handsome vase-shaped seed capsules.<\/p>\n
Cyclamen<\/h3>\n
![\""Yellow\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2020\/10\/Winter-aconite-40953fc.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"Winter\\"")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>The first bulb of the year pops up all over woodland and wilder gardens around January. The flowers are as bright as neon egg yolks with a frill of green foliage. Once they have finished flowering they disappear back into the ground for the summer.<\/p>\n You may also like:<\/p>\n <\/p><\/div> <\/section> Evergreen shrubs that look good on the edge of borders or in pots. They are best with a bit of acidity in the soil but are pretty sure to flower reliably and produce good red berries. Excellent for flower arrangements.<\/p>\n An evergreen shrub sometimes called the Heavenly bamboo even though it is nothing like a true bamboo. If you have a garden ravaged by hungry deer or bunnies then they are pretty much guaranteed to leave this alone. Pictured: Nandina domestica<\/em> \u2018Fire Power\u2019.<\/p>\n Another plant grown for its stems: this time the colour of a squeezed blood orange. There\u2019s also one called golden willow (Salix alba<\/em> var. vitellina<\/em>) if you are looking for yellow, or Salix <\/em>myrsinifolia<\/em> for stems of purply black. There\u2019s lots of choice, but they are big shrubs that need hard pruning.<\/p>\n Possibly an odd choice for a winter plant but it is an evergreen shrub that is hardy in most gardens. Every time you brush or stroke the foliage the smell will remind you that the cold will end and summer will come again.<\/p>\n In the summer this is a bit of a dull fish. The leaves are unremarkable and the flowers are tiny. However, once the leaves have fallen, the new stems are as red as Santa\u2019s coat and sparkle in the watery winter light.<\/p>\n You do not usually associate brambles with winter. The blackberries are long gone and all that is left are the prickles. However, Rubus thibetanus<\/em> has wonderful white stems that stand out well amid the gloom.<\/p>\n If a plant has no leaves, berries or flowers then what else is left to make it stand out in a crowd? Bark, of course: this small tree has the most beautiful conker brown bark that looks as if it has been buffed by an energetic drill sergeant.<\/p>\n A splash of colour to lighten any winter day. Its odd-looking flowers have petals like paper streamers \u2013 they come in yellow, orange or red depending on the variety. Flowers before the leaves appear so completely unmissable. As a bonus it smells of spiced boudoirs.<\/p>\n You know when this plant is \u2018in da house\u2019 \u2013 or rather \u2018in da garden\u2019 \u2013 as the scent is sweet, slightly sultry and carries a long way. Loads of creamy yellow flowers are followed by handsome vase-shaped seed capsules.<\/p>\nJapanese skimmia (Skimmia japonica<\/i>)<\/h3>\n
![\""Plants\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2019\/09\/Japanese-skimmia-feeb221-1.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C412"\" "\\"\"Skimmia\\"")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica<\/em>)<\/h3>\n
![\""Heavenly\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2015\/01\/GettyImages-958576698-5fe85bb.jpg?quality=90&resize=618%2C413"\" "\\"\"Heavenly\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Scarlet willow (Salix alba<\/em> var. vitellina<\/em> \u2018Britzensis\u2019)<\/h3>\n
![\""Scarlet\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2018\/09\/Salix_Britzensis_from_Ashridge-6330dfb.png?quality=90&resize=612%2C413"\" "\\"\"Scarlet\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis<\/em>)<\/h3>\n
![\""Rosemary\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2018\/09\/Rosemary_Rosmarinusofficinalis_from_Crocus-7ab72e1.png?quality=90&resize=575%2C413"\" "\\"\"Rosemary\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Red-barked dogwood (Cornus alba<\/em>)<\/h3>\n
![\""Red-barked\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2015\/01\/GettyImages-126375317-15381e2.jpg?quality=90&resize=550%2C413"\" "\\"\"Red-barked\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Ghost bramble (Rubus thibetanus<\/em>)<\/h3>\n
![\""Winter\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2019\/09\/Ghost-bramble-Rubus-thibetanus-3919daa.png?quality=90&resize=619%2C413"\" "\\"\"Ghost\\"")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Tibetan cherry (Prunus serrula<\/em>)<\/h3>\n
![\""Tibetan\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2018\/09\/Tibetan_cherry_Prunus_Serrula_from_Crocus2-b6c3b18.jpg?quality=90&resize=598%2C395"\" "\\"\"Tibetan\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Witch hazel (Hamamelis mollis<\/em>)<\/h3>\n
![\""Witch\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2018\/09\/Hamamelis_From_Crocus-eed1407.png?quality=90&resize=594%2C395"\" "\\"\"Witch\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Wintersweet (Chimonanthus praecox<\/em> \u2018Luteus\u2019)<\/h3>\n
![\""Yellow\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2019\/09\/Wintersweet-Chimonanthus-praecox-\u2018Luteus-0eee0c0.png?quality=90&resize=591%2C413"\" "\\"\"Wintersweet\\"")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Cyclamen<\/h3>\n