TREE AND SHRUBSLeaf it to me

Top 3 Shrubs to add Winter Colour

Many people come to me asking me what I can plant in the garden to give a bit of winter colour and brighten up the garden. The answer is there are in fact many varieties of shrubs which can be planted to provide some winter colour around the garden. Some are evergreen whilst some are deciduous, many are grown for there foliage while others produce beautiful flowers such as the Mahonia’s and Skimmia’s and some produce a spectacular show of berries such as Pyracantha and Cotoneaster throughout the winter.

Now I wrote this article to outline 3 of my favourite shrubs which you can use to add a splash of winter colour to your garden there not in no particular order as they all add there own bit of colour in there own way.

Skimmia Shrubs

There are several varieties of Skimmia but one of my personal favourites is Skimmia ‘Marlot’ They produce red buds in winter which start to turn white later on with pink tips. Skimmia are a small evergreen shrub only really reaching 50cm tall and prefer fertile well drained soil in semi-shade or shade. They are ideal for planters and smaller plants are also used as centre pieces in winter hanging baskets and planters. Skimmia are an all round good winter shrub which provide plenty of winter colour.

Pyracantha Shrubs

Pyracantha is another excellent shrub which provides winter colour, Pyracantha have many uses and can be used to plant hedges, as a specimen shrub in boarders and work well trained against a wall or fence and neatly trimmed. Pyracantha are an evergreen shrub with dark green leaves and have large sharp thorns. They produce white flowers in late summer followed by red, yellow or orange berries depending in the variety throughout the winter. Established Pyracantha look fantastic when in full berry and attract wild birds into the garden. The berries can also be used to make Pyracantha Jelly and jam, popular varieties include Red Column, Orange Glow and Mohave.

Mahonia Shrubs

I have got to admit Mahonia’s are one of my favourite winter shrubs, there are many varieties but one of the most popular varieties is Mahonia x ‘Media Charity’. This variety reaches around 6ft tall and can be used as a specimen shrub or planted to form a screen or even an informal hedge. Mahonia are an evergreen shrub which have palm type spiky leaves which tend to turn a reddish colour in winter and produce attractive bright yellow flowers on long stems in winter, the flowers then turn to purple fruits which with some varieties can be used to make wine. Mahonia are a very hardy shrub and will tolerate most soil types and will grow in sun, semi shade and even shade. They are often found around woodlands and are a popular choice for most gardeners. Other varieties of Mahonia include ‘Japonica’ and ‘Aquifolium’ all though there are around 70 species of Mahonia.

About the Author

If you like my article and would like information on winter shrubs please visit our website Anything Garden or if you want to read more information on Mahonia shrubs please visit our Mahonia website.

Dense and shade tolerant Shrubs for Elkins Park Pa

Planting the Dry Shade Garden: The Best Plants for the Toughest Spot in Your Garden $14.16 In this book you’ll learn how to prune selectively to admit more light and how to amend soil to increase its moisture retention. You’ll also learn about more than 130 plants that accept reduced light and moisture levels-long-blooming woodland gems like epimediums and hellebores, and even lush foliage plants like evergreen ferns and hardy gingers, shrubs, climbers, perennials, ground covers, bulbs,…

50 Beautiful Deer-Resistant Plants: The Prettiest Annuals, Perennials, Bulbs, and Shrubs that Deer Don’t Eat $11.33 What’s the biggest problem facing gardeners? Drought, lack of sun, or the ever-present threat of disease? Nope, it’s deer. The beautiful animals immortalized in Disney’s Bambi are also the garden’s biggest pests. Increased hunting regulations have caused the deer population to swell to more than 30 million. At the same time, suburban expansion has led to a loss of natural habitat. The resu…

Taylor’s Guide to Shade Gardening: More Than 350 Trees, Shrubs, and Flowers That Thrive Under Difficult Conditions, Illustrated with Color Photographs and Detailed Drawings (Taylor’s Guides) $11.00 This comprehensive guide addresses one of the most common problems for gardeners. Shade Gardening has over 250 color photographs of the 350 best trees, shrubs, annuals, perennials, bulbs, ground covers, vines, ferns, and grasses for shaded areas. Articles cover the basics of growing plants in the shade as well as such subjects as city gardens, flowers, foliage plants, pests and diseases, and lawns…