Winter’s wonders

ACORUS GRAMINEUS – SWEET FLAG

GOLDEN Variegated Sweet Flag is a wonderful grass-like plant which is extremely useful for its textured interest throughout autumn and winter. It has 12ins golden leaves with green stripes, and that’s plenty of colour to brighten up shady spots or damp, sunny areas.

It’s native to Japan, so prolonged dry spells may cause leaf tips to brown. The foliage colour and intensity of variegation depend how much light it gets. Lots of sun will lead to a golden colour, while deeper shades highlight green. Variegation is strongest in moderate shade.

CAREX

ANOTHER excellent grass-like plant is Carex and C. oshimensis ‘Evergold’ or C. morrowii ‘Variegata’ are especially good at this time of the year. Carex comans ‘Bronze Perfection’ is a fabulous evergreen plant with a naturally cascading habit that adds colour and movement to any planting scheme. These plants are great for winter patio containers – combine them with some bright winter pansies and bachelor buttons for a seasonal colourful display.

HELLEBORUS

THIS genus has loads of choices that are hardy. The Christmas Rose is popular for its midwinter white flowers, often appearing in the snow.

MAHONIA NITENS ‘CABARET’ – ORANGE MAHONIA

Others have flowers in shades of green, red, and purple. A must for winter interest, due to its architectural foliage and beautiful flowers.

LIRIOPE MUSCARI

A CLUMP-forming perennial with some cultivars having leaves so dark they are practically black, this is good to group with other plants for interest. As a tough, drought-tolerant ground cover they’re great for awkward places in the garden.

Liriope is low-maintenance and tough. It can grow in sandy or clay soil well as in full sun or part-shade as long as the ground has good drainage.

SEDUM ‘AUTUMN JOY’

WHEN so much else ends as summer

Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ says goodbye, Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ is just beginning to put on its show. The plant has fleshy leaves and grows to 24ins. Its large heads of pink flowers appear in early autumn, eventually fading to a copper colour before finally turning red. The blooms can last from August into November and are wonderful for attracting butterflies. They prefer moderately fertile, moist soil in full sun, but can take it drier.

IRIS UNGUICULARIS

THIS is a vigorous evergreen perennial that brings much-needed colour to empty winter borders from October to March.

If it’s happy, its narrow grassy leaves are topped with beautiful lilac or light blue honey-scented flowers, all winter long. It will enjoy a warm, sunny, welldrained aspect and is ideal for growing on banks, borders, and in flower beds and containers.

It will need some protection from severe winters and really good drainage is essential as the rhizomes will rot if the soil is too damp. Sprinkle a little bonemeal over the area before planting. Cut back leaves in winter to allow the sun to ripen the rhizomes, which is essential for good flowering. Divide clumps once they become too large and congested.

VIOLA TRICOLOR

Christmas Rose

THIS (also known as Heartsease) is a joyful little plant to have in any garden.

Viola tricolor is one of three native species of pansies and produces compact flowers with petal bouquets in shades of yellow, blue, violet, and white.

And, handily, it flowers in autumn and often in winter and seeds readily.

ARUM ITALICUM (ITALIAN ARUM)

THE Italian lily is a tuberous perennial with broad arrow-shaped leaves that appear in the autumn. It grows to a height of 12 inches.

The foliage dies back in the summer just as the berries appear.

After they fade away the foliage reappears, remains until the next summer, and is lush and green all winter.