This is where the evergreens such as hollies and conifers come into play as a foil for the flowers. Green hollies make a perfect backdrop for one of the most beautiful of the winter flowering plants, 'Hamamelis'. Any of these plants are a joy to behold in flower, but one of the most spectacular is Hamamelis mollis 'pallida' with its pale yellow flowers faintly flushed with red at the centre. Set against a dark background it is a breathtaking sight on a dull winter's day. Another Hamamelis worth looking out for is 'vernalis' with its heavily scented pale yellow to red flowers and a beautiful flame colour in the autumn. Two bites from the one cherry! Where would we be without Viburnum tinus with its dark glossy leaves, dense habit, and flattened heads of fragrant flowers from late autumn till early spring, followed by metallic blue fruits ripening to black. Or the even more compact Eva Price, one of the best shrubs in this coastal area.
Viburnun bodnantense is next on the list, with a strong upright habit and fragrant rose tinted flowers on the bare stems. The variety 'Dawn is one of the best in this group.
Mahonia ! Another shrub that should be in every garden, as the attractive pinnate leaves and long racemes of yellow flowers will brighten up any corner in the winter garden. The variety 'Charity' is even more compact and heavily fragrant. Mahonias like dappled shade and I have seen them growing in fairly deep shade with no ill effects. Jasminun nudiflorum with its long sprays of golden flowers on naked green stems are perfect for picking for a display inside, and appear from mid to late winter. Train it against an east-facing wall for best effect. Chimonanthus praecox (winter sweet) with waxy sweetly scented pale yellow flowers purple at the centre thrives against a sunny wall in a well drained soil, and will surely brighten up any winter's day.
Now we come to Camellia, surely one of the best plants for a late winter (mid winter here) display. They are one of the few plants that can out-perform roses for a flamboyant display over a long period. Disease and pest free in these parts, their only requirement being an acid soil. As the area where I live is entirely limestone, I solved the problem by building a raised bed especially for the acid loving plants, and have had no regrets since.
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