Wintyer plants in bloom

A friend is askign what can she plant in her garden in winter to give colour in winter and she likes to see all berries.

 

Hi Kath I looked on the UKTV.co.uk gardening site and they have sugguested the following; Guelder Rose, Firethorn 'Pyracantha Saphyr Orange', Mahonia lomariifolia, Holly, Cotoneaster Franchetii, Firethorn 'Pyracantha Saphyr Jaune'. Although I'm sure others will come up with plenty more ideas for you and your friend.Hel.xxx.

 

There's also hawthorn, dare I say "ivy" viburnum and skimmia.

 

Hamamellis/Witchhazel is my favorite!

 

Actually, if you plant some of the list that Helafadigger has suggested you will be doing the wild bird population a huge favour as they very much rely on the berries from some of these shrubs for winter survival. Pyracanthas in particular.

 

While berries are fine the thing I don't like about the garden in winter is too many bare branches, so I like to have some evergreens. I like holly, but some of the other suggestions are evergreen as well. If you grow holly you have to have female plants to get berries.

 

Mahonia are wonderful shrubs that produce lovely yellow flowers in Autumn/winter and then berry in the spring. Holly-like evergreen foliage gives year round green too.

Wonderful and I think, underrated shrub!

 

oh and snowberries.

 

This friend has a small garden so really no high shrubs .

 

Cotoneaster Horizontalis is what it says a side growing shrub doesn't get too tall and she could clip it back to what size she wants anyway.