Let's talk about shrubs

Since the late 1980s when the ‘Dutch Wave’ planting style leapt the North Sea from the Netherlands, many British gardeners and designers became infatuated with herbaceous perennials and ornamental grasses. Don’t get me wrong, I adore ‘Oudolphian’ landscapes as much as the next person, but I sense that it did create a significant lack of interest in woody plants. You only need to visit a garden centre to see the woeful range of shrubs on offer to the public, and quite frankly, many trade nurseries are not that much better. I don’t blame them, as they need to stock what is in demand, they need to make a living after all. So, it is us gardeners and designers that need to drive the demand for a more extensive range, otherwise it just won’t improve.

When I talk about woodies, of course I would include trees, in fact some can be kept to shrub-like proportions with skilful pruning and likewise many shrubs can be pruned and shaped into small trees, which can be perfect for smaller gardens. Why am I championing the woodies? For so many reasons, but let’s start in winter and early spring when most herbaceous plants are dormant and often not visible above the ground. This is when the woodies play such a vital role, providing not only beauty, structure and often delicious scent for us to enjoy but also increasing the biodiversity in our gardens and, of course, the evergreens offer a haven for nesting birds. Structural planting plays such a vital role in gardens, not only providing privacy but offering an all-important backdrop, which can be an undervalued design element.

How to make your winter garden sing

Which winter woodies would I recommend, well before considering my list, you will need to assess the all-important garden conditions that exist in your garden, including soil type, drainage and aspect. A shrub that I must begin with, which flowers through autumn and winter, is Correa, it’s extraordinary to have flowers throughout winter. A precautionary word, it hails from the Southern Hemisphere and so needs a very sheltered spot, but boy is it worth a try, especially if you are in a coastal location. Another winter wonder is Prunus incisa ‘Kojo No Mai’ which can become a large shrub or, if kept pruned, it is happy in a large container and at this point, I must mention at least one tree – Prunus x subhirtella ‘Autumnalis’ defying the winter months with its delicate pinkish-white flowers, truly outstanding.

It simply goes without saying that Hamamelis are essential providers of winter glory. On my ‘must-have if the conditions are right’ list would be Edgeworthia (you will need a sheltered space), flowering when you would think it would just not be possible, with a scent that is bordering on being ‘over the top’. Daphnes, to my mind, are essential; they can be a little expensive, due to slow growth and they can be tricky to propagate, so the price reflects a lot of skill and care before it reaches the garden centre. Stachyurus, (about six species available), a gorgeous deciduous shrub that has rows of dangling yellow tassels, lining the bare branches. When backlit by the low winter sun and shimmering in the breeze it will surely take your breath away. Chimonanthus and Corylopsis, both divinely scented, do consider them both, especially in a woodland garden.

My harbinger of spring

I now realise that I could fill countless pages with my favourite winter and spring shrubs, so I have set myself quite a task in recommending only a few and now fear leaving out some of my favourites! So, I will focus on the ones that I have in my garden. Next is Viburnum x burkwoodii whose swelling flower buds I am watching with eager anticipation from the kitchen as soon as Christmas has passed, because I know as soon as these burst into flower (usually by March) winter is pretty much on the wane. It is my harbinger of spring, each and every time I pass it, I bury my nose into the flowers. I would not be without it, and as the flowers fade, I do start to mourn the passing of its heady scent until the following year. Next in line is the true workhorse shrub, Osmanthus (either x burkwoodii or delavayi), flowering from March. This is another must-have, even happy in dry shade, it is an incredible evergreen with small, white fragrant flowers, also signalling that winter is almost through.

Mahonias are not just for Christmas

Before I draw my list to a close, I must champion Mahonias (they do get unfairly maligned); the scent of Mahonia x media ‘Charity’ in the depths of December is pure joy. The winter garden is not complete without them, and if you don’t do spiky, then try Mahonia ‘Soft Caress’.

Spring-flowering shrubs (and trees, so don’t forget to look upwards) are plentiful and I do recommend this stalwart, Choisya ‘Aztec Pearl’, and have pruned mine into a very small tree, that drips with flowers as spring emerges. Syringas; never be without Syringa meyeri ‘Palibin’, which I always position next to a seat. I have fallen head over heels with Syringa x persica ‘Alba’ since getting to know the one at Great Dixter, with its ‘muddy-white’ flowers, just fabulous. I will end the early spring list with Deutzias, what an underused shrub; you may find one variety (or two at most) at the local garden centre, when there are a huge number of species to be enjoyed.

Where to go for inspiration and amazing plants

I really believe it is up to us to be more demanding and to ask for more unusual varieties when we can; if we create the demand then the retailers will supply. To find the more unusual woodies you could try, Burncoose in Cornwall, Great Dixter Nurseries in Kent, Bluebell Arboretum in Derbyshire and Pan Global in Gloucestershire. All of whom do mail order but, of course, it is much more fun to go and visit. I think I will re-visit this topic later in the year with summer and autumn woodies. A few places to recommend, in helping to increase your woody knowledge, would be Exbury Gardens and Hillier Arboretum, both in Hampshire, and White House Farm in Kent.

I would love to hear what your favourite winter and spring woodies are, and do share with us where you go to get your woody inspiration?