Carla’s favourite plants for winter interest

Salix alba vitellina ‘Britzensis’

Its red stems stand out against snow by the pond. To preserve the vibrant colour of the young growth, it’s coppiced annually. H: 12m (39ft), S: 8m (26ft).

Crab apples

Still clinging to a tree in the apple orchard, dainty but fiercely hardy crab apples provide a burst of fiery colour right into January. H: 5-10m (16-33ft), S: 6-8m (1926ft).

Cotoneaster ‘Hybridus Pendulus’

This elegant tree has beautiful, weeping branches with evergreen leaves and white flowers in June, followed by clusters of showy, bright red berries. H/S: 2m (6½ft).

Pampas grass

Stately spires of pampas grass ( Cortaderia

selloana) lift the eye skywards and look particularly spectacular when their feathery seed heads are rimed by frost. H: 1.5m (5ft), S: 1.2m (4ft).

Umbellifers

Umbellifers such as Selinum wallichianum provide structural interest in summer and the seed heads are left to add to the winter spectacle, especially when encased in ice. H: 1.8m (6ft), S: 60cm (2ft).

Crataegus persimilis ‘Prunifolia’

A magnificent, compact hawthorn with white spring flowers and autumn colour. Scarlet berries in winter feed hungry birds. H: 4-8m (13-26ft), S: 8m (26ft).