Here Chris Bonnett from GardeningExpress.co.uk has picked out the plants which look good in the garden all year round.
I think it’s fair to say the weather has been a little temperamental in the last couple of weeks. We’ve gone from snow and freezing conditions to milder temperatures and storms back to back.
It’s made it hard to get out in the garden and start clearing away some of the winter debris and prepare for spring. But it did get me thinking about the plants that look good in the garden all year round regardless of what the weather throws at it.
From the beautiful Star Jasmine to the dwarf Azalea Rhododendron Encore Pure White, there really is a plant for every size and style of garden, whether you have a small courtyard garden in a city or a sizable garden to enjoy.
Here are some of my favourites for those looking at a new garden design for this year, or to add to the existing one.
Star Jasmine
This beautiful plant is a talking point in the summer with its masses of perfumed flowers and its tropical feel. It’s a good climber and will look lovely year round with its glossy evergreen foliage. This plant loves warm sunny borders, well drained soil and will cope with hot summers.
Helleborus ‘Double Ellen White’
Double Ellen White is a stunning hellebore with saucer shaped white flowers blooming between February and April, sitting among leathery, deep green leaves. This plant is a lovely way to welcome in warmer weather and works well when planted with spring flowering bulbs.
Pyracantha coccinea Red Star – Firethorn
The firethorns are tough, hardy shrubs which will tolerate our changing weather conditions. These versatile plants can be trained on walls to showcase the brightly coloured berries, and will work as hedge or as a free standing shrub.
Azalea Rhododendron Encore Pure White
These dwarf rhododendron flower twice a year with a pure white flower. The compact evergreens will be packed with blooms during the spring into early summer and again in the Autumn. Perfect for beds, borders or containers, the plants will thrive in well drained soil in a partly shaded spot.
Magnolia Fairy Cream
This plant from New Zealand will flower for months and create an eye catching display in the garden. This variety has large russet coloured buds which will burst into creamy coloured, fragrant blooms.
The foliage is evergreen. These magnolias will work as a standalone plant, a flowering hedge and even clipped into topiary shapes.
