Team bells and trumpets with bold red stems Underplant a vibrant dogwood with early daffodils and winter heather
Underplant a vibrant dogwood with early daffodils and winter heather. They’re ideal for a small corner, says Helen Billiald
PLAN YOUR BORDER
Simplicity is a beautiful thing, and the power of just a few plants, laid out in generous number, becomes especially clear in the winter garden.
Combining colour-saturated reds and golds with a splash of lilac-pink will create an eye-catching planting display that cannot be missed, boosting interest in any corner of the garden.
Heather ‘Darley Dale’ is a plant that craves plenty of its own kind as company to really shine. Seen as a small crowd its masses of bell-shaped pink flowers become a spectacular carpet that the bees will thank you for. Equally good in number are the blood-red stems of Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’ especially when caught by low winter light. Surround them with a skirt of massed golden narcissi such as January flowering ‘Rijnveld’s Early Sensation’ and smaller-flowered ‘Tête-à-tête’ – they never fail to make the heart leap. These early bulbs will gradually bulk up over time, so can be divided and replanted to create even more impact in the years to come.
This combination would even work planted together in a large container to enjoy by the back door or on the patio.