Top Ten Plants For Winter Pots

With so many options for winter container displays who said our winter and spring pots can’t look luscious, striking and beautiful all through the season. When many gardens are mostly dormant it can be the winter containers that brighten and add interest to the outside scene through contrasting foliage and successional flowering options. The key to any good container display is, keep it simple! By selecting a few well-chosen varieties and using them effectively you can avoid pots looking fussy and over- complicated to produce a contemporary classy look for your garden.

Heuchera ‘Obsidian’

This hardy evergreen variety has gorgeous glossy dark maroon leaves which darken throughout the season. From June to July this foliage is contrasted by pale white/pink flowers which are held up on elegant delicate stems forms soft clusters of blossom. These are an ideal winter container plant not only providing an evergreen cover but the colour that is so often lacking at this time of year. (They can also be left in over summer to support a floral display with its decorative foliage’)

Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’

Another evergreen for winter pots with striking foliage is this clump forming ornamental grass. With almost black thin delicate leaves, and pale purple bell like flowers in late summer it is a contemporary addition to your winter display. The dark colour provides an effective contrast to silvery or bright green foliage or brightly coloured flowers (look at how popular the Dahlia Bishop of Llandalff has become with its dark leaves and bright red flowers).

Iris reticulata ‘Harmony’

These winter to early spring flowering bulbs are perfect for winter containers in a sunny spot. This particular variety has deep blue/indigo flowers with a golden yellow stripe towards the centre. They are most effective on mass, planting certain pots entirely in bulbs can seem a bit of a waste however it is well worth the effort when they come out in a striking display.

Hellebores orientalis ‘White Lady’

This spring flowering herbaceous perennial is a must have for any spring display, with a flowering period of January to the end of March. The foliage itself can provide an attractive addition to any winter pot display, deep green, waxy leaves supply a structural element and contrast to fluffy, ephemeral ornamental grasses. The flowers come in many different colours, fresh classical white, ‘metallic blue’, red or pink are the most common, and make for beautiful cut flowers. These can then be planted out into a border display after use in your winter containers.

Liriope muscari ‘Big Blue’

An increasingly popular variety of lily turf this ornamental grass has evergreen dark green foliage with an abundance of purple flower spikes from August to November. When many other flowers are over or not due until Spring this late winter colour can be most welcome. The leaves also provide an effective backdrop for white spring bulbs such as crocus or snowdrops.

Polystichum polyblepharum or Asplenium scolopendrium

Evergreen ferns are a great addition to any winter planting, and provide essential texture, contrast and height for winter pots. With the Polystichum’s lacework leaves unfurling in curls and the feather edge waxy leaved Asplenium you really can’t go wrong with either of these hardy varieties for your garden containers.

Tulipa ‘Purple Prince’

These April to May flowering purple tulips with a lilac tinge act as the perfect glorious display throughout spring. I believe when used effectively tulips act as a most welcome relief from winter with striking colour and vitality, also providing colour in our winter pots where other choices may be lacking. By planting bulbs in late autumn we promise ourselves a worthwhile show first thing in the year to look forward to. The purple will stand out against evergreen foliage and make perfect this particular variety cut flowers.

Hakonechloa macra

This semi-evergreen ornamental grass tumbles over winter planters and containers to form a delicate cascade of thin leaves which rustle in the wind. It can be the perfect choice for minimalist contemporary pots or where an oriental feel is desired. As the season advances it develops rich autumnal colour.

Galanthus elwesii

Providing the first flowers of the year from January to February these beautiful delicate flowers can be used to add a naturalistic, woodland feel to winter containers. They signify the break of winter and the beginning of spring and pop up in stark contrast to evergreen foliage when peppered throughout winter pots.

Skimmia japonica ‘Rubella’

For larger containers this is the perfect compact evergreen shrub, with deep green waxed leaves and sprays of dark red flower buds in autumn it provides a true seasonal feel throughout the Christmas season. Flowers open pale pink/white in spring continuing their strength of a long lived display.

As part of our garden design and maintenance service we provide garden container seasonal re-designs and can come with new plants to give your outside display a revamp at the break of each season. So why not breathe a little fresh life into your pots this year? You won’t believe the difference it makes. Get in touch.