COLOURFUL CHOICES FOR WINTER
Dark Diva (‘Hutdiv’): Vigorous, upright shrub, with purple, dense foliage. An improvement on standard ‘Purpureum’. Height 10ft (3m); spread 5ft (1.5m).
‘Abbotsbury Gold’: New growth on this variegated variety is pale green, with a bright yellow centre. As the wavy-edged leaves mature, the centre turns green, with a white midrib. Height 10ft (3m); spread 5ft (1.5m).
‘Elizabeth’: A colourful shrub having rather long leaves of grey-green, with white edges. The white parts quickly turn pink. New growth is lime green, edged with butter yellow. Height 10ft (3m); spread 6ft 6in (2m).
‘Gold Star’: Foliage emerges pale green with yellow central areas and ages to green with a paler mid vein. The large leaves make this a bright shrub. Height and spread 6½ft (2m).
‘Silver Queen’ AGM: Long, slightly undulating leaves of grey-green, with cream or white edges, which become tinged with pink in cold weather. Height 13ft (4m); spread 6½ft (2m).
‘Tandara Gold’: A large-leaved shrub, this has bright green leaves, with lime green centres. Height 10ft (3m); spread 5ft (1.5m).
‘Variegatum’: Greyish-green leaves, edged with cream, contrasting well with the black stems. Height 13ft (4m); spread 6½ft (2m).
‘Victoria’: A recent introduction, with large, wavy-edged leaves of silvery green, bordered with cream when young, fading to white. The leaves turn pink in winter. It is claimed to be hardier than most variegated kinds. Height 10ft (3m); spread 6½ft (2m).
‘Warnham Gold’ AGM: Creating a large mass of golden foliage, the wavy-edged leaves are lime green when young, and mature to yellow. Height 13ft (4m); spread 16ft (5m).
‘Green Elf’: Upright, twiggy growth and tiny greyish leaves give this a light look and diffuse character. Height 6½ft (2m); spread 5ft (1.5m).