Planting associations
At their best in the depths of winter, these create a perfect backdrop to winter flowers.
● Try red Cornus alba stems above a mass of simple white snowdrops. I would hesitate to confuse the scene with other plants except to add some hostas, for summer interest. But a good bergenia with red winter leaves such as ‘Ballawley’ and the filigree foliage of Helleborus foetidus would be bound to creep into my planting. Of course other hellebores would look good too, as would a rich carpet of Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’ to show off the snowdrops.
● The bright stems of Cornus sericea ‘Flaviramea’ would be enhanced with a carpet of yellow and blue and there are innumerable small bulbs that fit the picture, including chionodoxa, scilla and eranthis. Hellebores too, in white and yellow, along with doronicums and epimediums would thrive in the shade. For summer, yellowstriped hostas and fiery day lilies around the edge would complete the labour-saving planting.
● Except in the variegated forms, these shrubs are a little dull in summer but can be enlived by planting lilies between them to pop up stems of vibrant flowers, just check the heights so they'll poke above the cornus. Shorter-growing clematis such as the rich blue ‘Durandii’ and pink ‘Alionushka’ are perfect for clambering through and flowering on top of the cornus and can be cleared away in winter, pruned to near the base, to reveal the stems. ● In a sunny spot pop in a few climbing nasturtiums or even a few sweet peas to make some splashes of colour in summer.