A friend asked me what could she plant to give her interest in her South London garden at this time of the year, and heading towards Spring, and I came out with some hopefully useful suggestions (below), but I forgot to mention Vinca difformis ssp. sardoa (above). What a great plant for winter colour!
And evergreen foliage, which always looks vibrant and fresh. Its generous-sized flowers are a very pleasing pale violety blue, which flower from December until April or May and then again intermittently for the rest of the year. What’s not to love! This is no delicate little periwinkle. It’s a robust plant that grows to about 60cm high and it’s even starting scrambling much higher up an old tree trunk. As with other Vincas, it’s happily romping away in its shady spot, but it’s easy to pull up (and transplant elsewhere) if it’s getting a little too exuberant.
And she could also plant: Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Dawn’ for a delicate wee flower and a stonkingly sweet scent,
Sarcococcas for more ‘knock-your-socks-off’ perfume (also with evergreen foliage),
Hellebores (this one above is the very upright ‘Anna’s Red’) flowering from now and well into March,
snowdrops popping up around now and into February/March (try Eurobulbs for great -‘in the green’ snowdrops to plant in March for next year’s display),
rich Chaenomeles blooms (aka flowering quince) for late February,
which I saw as gorgeous front garden hedging in Stockwell last year
(red and white varieties equally stunning-and great for supplying early nectar),
crocuses in Feb,
and Cardimine quinquefolia for delicate lilac flowers in March.
Plus all your Narcissi, Daffodils and Jonquils from now until April and May (start ordering bulbs for these in September for autumn planting). Above is Narcissus cantabricus, which I espied at Wisley back in 2014.
P.S. The lovely Wendy Shillam @Rooftopvegplot also suggests planting an autumn/winter flowering Cherry tree (Prunus subhirtella Autumnalis) for beautifully delicate flowers at this time of year. She’s not wrong.Thanks Wendy!
Hi Naomi – Happy New Year – hope to see more of your posts! I have been following you for years it seems!
Happy New Year Sandra! Thanks for still reading my posts. Been blogging since 2011. Do love it, but just finding the time these days…..V.Best Naomi
Hello – lovely post – what is the last picture? Gill
Oops, sorry Gill. Yes, that’s Narcissus cantabricus (white hoop-petticoat daffodil) which I saw at RHS Wisley back in Feb 2014. However, they’re a tad difficult to get a hold of. Annoying, I know. Yellow versions of these bulbocodium daffodils, such as ‘conspicuus’ and ‘Golden Bells’, happily, seem much easier to buy. I did find one nursery, Kevock Garden Plants, that did supply this bulb, so worth giving them a try… V.Best Naomi
I used to think I liked Hellebores but got fed up with them for looking down and being expensive! One that looks straight ahead instead of at its own feet is a change.
HiLucy, still expensive, but you definitely get to see more of the flowers with Anna’s Red.
You mentioned cardimine doyouthink I can grow it on London clay, However improved with grit and compost? Thanks Susan Lymm
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Hi Susan, my Carmine quinquefolia happily grows in London clay, so definitely give it a try!
That’s a lovely variety of vinca. I love your blooms.