Winter’s chilly embrace often leaves gardens looking barren, but green-fingered enthusiasts needn’t despair certain flora flourish in this frosty season. Particular plants and flowers are known to blossom even during the darker months, injecting a dash of colour into forlorn winter gardens.
With ‘winter garden’ search rates skyrocketing by 67% recently, gardening guru Craig Wilson from Gardeners Dream has highlighted five floral beauties to plant right now. Craig said: “Whilst winter gardens or landscapes can be serene and picturesque when the frosts arrive, a garden with little to no colour can be somewhat disheartening to view, especially if you are someone who has spent all summer curating a colourful space full of life.
“Thankfully, there are several plants and flowers that flourish during the colder months of the year, adding a pop of colour to even the dullest of winter gardens. Planting these five options now will provide you with a winter garden worth admiring – from the warmth of the indoors, of course.”
Revealed – the top five blooms to prep your patch for a vibrant winter display, reports the Express.
Pansies:
Craig said: “Planting pansy seeds now- and no later than early October – will give them ample opportunity to develop robust roots, ensuring they bloom just as the chill starts to bite. Pansies are the ideal choice to brighten up a dreary winter garden, boasting a spectrum of vibrant hues including purple, orange, pink and red.”
Violas:
The gardening expert said: “Violas are a stunning addition to your garden during the chillier months, offering vivid flowers that bloom throughout the winter. While standard varieties should be planted as seedlings during the spring, winter varieties can be planted now and throughout winter.
“You can cultivate them in bedding or pots, and position in any area of your garden where you’d like a bit more colour.”
Snowdrops:
“Snowdrops can be among the first winter flowers to bloom if you plant them between now and late autumn. Snowdrops are robust and hardy plants that cope well with frost and snow, making for a joyful sight when they are seen poking through picturesque blankets of snow.
“Even when the ground is cold and semi-frozen, snowdrops can push through, so frost protection is not necessary.”
Cyclamen:
The expert said: “This hardy tuberous perennial offers a pleasant pop of colour in late winter, often when little else is flowering. To get the best out of these flowers, plant tubers between now and the end of October.
“When they bloom you’ll have beautiful bursts of pink or white heart-shaped flowers, signalling that spring is not too far away.”
Carex morrowii:
In conclusion, Craig added: “Carex morrowii is an evergreen sedge. It is a popular ornamental grass that has green leaves with yellow edges, making it perfect for adding some winter interest to your garden.
“As long as the ground is not frozen, you can plant carex morrowii at any point during the colder part of the year. They don’t like shaded areas, so when planting, ensure you are positioning it in an area of your garden that is likely to benefit the most from the winter sun.”