As winter lingers and the days gradually lengthen, February can feel like a dormant time in the garden. However, many plants shine during this month, providing bursts of colour, scent, and texture to brighten the landscape. A careful selection of winter-interest plants ensures your garden remains lively and inviting even in the coldest months. From structural shrubs with striking stems to early-blooming flowers that defy the season, here are some top picks for February interest.
Camellias are an elegant addition to any winter garden, producing large, showy blooms in shades of pink, red, and white. Early-flowering varieties, such as Camellia japonica ‘Inspiration’, start blooming as early as January, bringing colour to shaded borders. Their glossy, evergreen foliage provides structure year-round, and they perform well in acidic soil. Avoid planting in east-facing positions to prevent frost-damaged buds from thawing too quickly.
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Dogwoods (Cornus species) are a winter garden staple, known for their striking red, orange, or yellow stems that glow in the low winter sunlight. Cornus sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fire’ is particularly vibrant, with fiery tones, while Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’ features bright red stems. For the best winter colour, prune hard in early spring to encourage fresh, colourful growth.
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This compact evergreen shrub is best known for its incredibly fragrant, white winter flowers, which contrast beautifully with its glossy, dark green leaves. It thrives in shaded borders and is ideal for growing near entrances or pathways where its sweet scent can be enjoyed. Small black berries often follow the flowers, adding further seasonal interest.
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alix gracilistyla ‘Mount Aso’ is a standout willow variety with striking pink catkins that appear on bare stems in late winter. The fuzzy, ornamental catkins add a soft texture to the garden, making this an excellent choice for mixed borders or waterside planting. It thrives in damp soil but can adapt to a range of conditions.
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Skimmia japonica ‘Rubella’ is a reliable evergreen shrub that provides year-round interest. Its deep red flower buds develop in autumn and persist through winter before opening into small, fragrant blooms in early spring. ‘Kew Green’ is another excellent variety, producing creamy-white flowers. These compact shrubs work well in borders, containers, or as ground cover in shaded areas.
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Evergreen Viburnum tinus offers long-lasting clusters of small white flowers, while Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Dawn’ produces fragrant pink blooms on bare stems throughout winter. These versatile shrubs thrive in most soils and provide a reliable source of winter interest.
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Another sign that spring is on its way… Magnolias in bud, these varieties generally flower from March-April onwards but some may appear towards the end of February.
Flowers: March – April onwards
Position: Full sun or partial shade (depending on the variety)
Height: Up to 10m (depending on variety)
Soil: Moist-well-drained, acidic soil
Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L, 10L (depending on variety and subject to availability)
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Mahonia is a fantastic evergreen shrub with bold, spiky foliage and bright yellow, highly fragrant flowers that provide a crucial nectar source for pollinators. Mahonia x media ‘Winter Sun’ and ‘Charity’ produce long, cascading clusters of blooms, followed by blue-black berries. These hardy plants thrive in shaded borders and add excellent architectural interest.
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Witch hazels are renowned for their spidery, scented flowers in shades of yellow, orange, or red that appear on bare branches during winter. Varieties like Hamamelis mollis ‘Pallida’ and Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Diane’ provide stunning color and fragrance. These deciduous shrubs are perfect for woodland gardens and mixed borders.
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Hellebores are compact, clump-forming perennials with dark green, leathery leaves and striking cup-shaped flowers in shades of white, pink, purple, and green, often with speckles. Blooming from December to March, they thrive in partial to full shade and well-drained soil, making them perfect for borders, woodland gardens, or pots.
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Winter jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum) is a deciduous climber that produces bright yellow flowers on arching stems throughout winter. Unlike summer-flowering jasmines, it lacks fragrance but compensates with cheerful color when little else is in bloom. It works well trained against walls or fences and benefits from light pruning after flowering.
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Nandina domestica, commonly known as Heavenly Bamboo, is a versatile evergreen to semi-evergreen shrub that provides year-round interest. Its delicate, bamboo-like foliage changes colour with the seasons, displaying shades of green, red, and bronze. In winter, bright red berries follow summer flowers, adding a striking contrast against the foliage. This low-maintenance shrub is perfect for borders, containers, or as an accent plant in a winter garden.
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Pieris is an evergreen shrub prized for its colourful new foliage, which emerges bright red before maturing to deep green. In early spring, it produces cascades of small, bell-shaped white or pink flowers. Pieris japonica ‘Forest Flame’ and ‘Katsura’ are excellent choices for year-round interest in borders or pots. Buds may start to appear in February as pictured above.
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By incorporating a selection of these plants, your garden can remain lively and colourful even in the depths of winter. Whether you choose striking dogwoods, fragrant evergreens, or resilient early bloomers, these plants ensure that February brings visual interest and delightful scents rather than a dull, dormant landscape. With careful planting, you can create a winter haven that transitions seamlessly into the bright days of spring.
Posted 3rd Feb 10:46am
