Make a statement with bamboo and euphorbia

Create structural interest with dramatic evergreens

Create structural interest with dramatic evergreens

Evergreens aren’t always green. Some are intensely colourful – blue, gold, red, silver – as this bold planting scheme shows. Thanks to their colour and architecture, they can bring a winter garden to life. Growing in its native range, the golden Chinese timber bamboo can reach impressive heights of 20m (65ft). In our climate it rarely reaches half this stature but on good ground you can expect plants to grow to 8m (26ft), easily making it one of the most arresting bamboos you can grow. It’s understandable to be wary of planting these giants, but Phyllostachys vivax aureocaulis isn’t one of the rampant running species. Instead it grows more as a clumping thicket, although still capable of creep. If you wish to be certain of containment, there are some excellent bamboo planting barriers on the market that you can use to closely control its girth.

Phyllostachys vivax aureocaulis Euphorbia characias wulfenii Polystichum polyblepharum Bergenia ‘Beethoven’ Festuca glauca ‘Elijah Blue’