My top five evergreen plants for a gorgeous winter garden
Evergreen plants are those that keep their foliage all through the year. For me, they form an essential element of every planting design. As well as providing a structural focal point in the garden in winter, when most other plants have lost their leaves or gone dormant under the ground, they also provide essential shelter and food for birds and insects.
For those of you who enjoy making your own Christmas wreaths and home decorations, they are very valuable for that too! What could be simpler and more rewarding than going into your own garden and collecting foliage and flowers to make your home look beautiful during the darkest weeks of the year?
Like all plants, evergreens come in all shapes and sizes – whether you have a small garden or a big garden, there is one (or more!) that will be perfect for your outdoor space.
Here are five of my favourites.
Taxus baccata Fastigiata
This is a stunning plant which really packs a punch in any garden. It has a tall and narrow habit which means it looks fantastic punctuating the ends of a border, or adding height amongst low-level planting. If you have a large border, I would recommend planting three in a triangular fashion, with a couple of metres in between each plant. They are slow to grow and naturally have a clean and tidy habit.
Eventual height and spread: 4m x 1m
2. Viburnum tinus
One evergreen shrub I use again and again in planting designs is Viburnum tinus. From November all the way through till late Spring it is covered in small pink and white flowers, which not only look beautiful on the plant but last for ages in a small vase. I always use these flowers as decorations on my Christmas table and everyone comments on how elegant they are. In deepest, darkest winter when there is very little life in the garden, this plant is a welcome surprise.
Eventual height and spread: 2.5m x 2.5m
3. Pinus mugo ‘Mops’
I adore all types of Pine and the intricate patterns that their needles create. However, there are very few Pines that are suitable for use in gardens, because most of them reach a huge height and spread over time. Pinus mugo ‘Mops’, and most other Pinus mugo varieties are fantastic for a small garden – they grow incredibly slowly but still boast those gorgeous needles that create such a unique texture in the winter garden. I like using them in borders, they go fantastically with the white bark of silver birch, and in pots too.
Eventual height and spread : 0.6m x 0.6m
4. Mahonia x media ‘Winter Sun’
Yellow flowering plants aren’t for everybody, but the vibrant flowers that appear on this evergreen shrub from November all the way through till February are so eye catching and glorious. They are a fantastic source of nectar for foraging bees who are hungry at this time of year if conditions are mild. Again, this is a tall and relatively narrow plant, so is ideal for a smaller space. The leaves can be jaggy though, so make sure you site it a little away from paths and walkways.
Eventual height and spread: 3m x 2m
5. Libertia grandiflora
Shrubs aren’t for everyone and more and more I am finding clients asking for ways to introduce structure in alternative ways. Grasses are excellent for winter interest, and my one go-to evergreen grass is Libertia grandiflora. I love the movement this plant creates when there is a breeze in the air. It truly is a fantastic year-round plant, and in the summer is it brimming with delicate white flowers which are simply stunning. It can take a while to establish, but once it gets going it can be divided every few years and moved across the garden, to create a fantastic feeling of rhythm in a winter bed.
Eventual height and spread: 0.7m x 0.7m
