Evergreen Shrubs (and some pretty bark)

Trees are looking fabulous at the moment. So much so that we can often forget there are some equally bright and glorious shrubs we can include in the garden. I’ve sorted through a few of my favourites here. There would be more but I ran out of space.

My top 14 (mostly) evergreen shrubs and trees to bring colour to your garden this winter

Acacia

With attractive feathery, ferny leaves it is a mass of bright yellow, sweetly scented puffball flowers from late winter onwards. Although tough trees acacias are frost sensitive so grow in your most sheltered spot in colder areas. Flowers are great for cutting and brightening up the house indoors too.

Camellia x williamsii 'Donation'

A truly gorgeous shrub and one of the most popular camellias with its large, showy rose-pink flowers with golden stamens. These appear prolifically in late winter and last well until spring when they helpfully drop from the plant, rather than fading and remaining on the plant like others in their family. Like all camellias 'Donation' needs ericaceous soil but is very happy grown in a pot.

Cornus

I hear you shouting “This isn’t an evergreen!” I hear you but wanted to include it anyway as it’s a delight to see in winter. This is a small woody shrub grown for its colourful bare stems in winter. Look for C. alba sibirica for red stems and C. sericea ‘Flaviramea’ for yellow bark. They need chopping back annually for the best colour effect.

Daphne

A handsome evergreen shrub that will fill a small garden with its enchanting scent. Beautiful clusters of flowers open in midwinter among fetching, dark green leaves edged in gold and once the flowers fade they are followed by scarlet berries. Plant it at the front of a border so you don't miss its fragrance or subtle colour.

Euonymus fortunei

A winter garden essential this handsome little shrub is as popular as ever and for good reason. Dark green leaves have shining white margins, which take on a pink glow when the temperatures drop in autumn and winter. Small creamy flowers appear in summer. Unfussy and happy in sun and shade it makes a great low hedge or border shrub.

Garrya elliptica

With wavy, leathery leaves it is a mass of long, pendent, silky-green catkins throughout the winter and is stunning on a frosty morning when the silvery catkins contrast beautifully with the deep green leaves. It is frost hardy and will need protection through the winter in colder areas so the warmer the wall you can give it the better.

Heather: Winter-flowering heather is a brilliant plant for low-growing texture. It also looks fantastic in pots. It comes with pink, white and purple flowers.

Ilex aquifolium 'Gold Flash'

An ivy with stunning, slender, variegated foliage in rich green and bright yellow and lime. Scarlet berries appear in autumn but gather branches quickly for Christmas as the birds love them. All hollies are either male or female and will only produce berries if one of each is nearby so grow more than one to ensure fruit.

Mahonia x media 'Charity'

Holly shaped leaves and vivid yellow flowers which last from mid-autumn right up until spring. Sweetly scented they are a great source of late nectar for foraging bees and other insects and are followed by shiny black berries that birds love too. Happy in a shady spot it will brighten the back of a border beautifully.

Sarcococca confusa

This shrub has neat, glossy green leaves and sweet, vanilla scented white flowers, Sarcococca confusa has a dense compact habit and is ideal in containers, by the front door or at the edge of pathways - anywhere where its glorious fragrance can be appreciated.

Skimmia

A lovely shrub which has prolific wine-red buds bringing colour and interest throughout autumn. These are followed by striking cones of white flowers, which persist through winter. Skimmia japonica 'Rubella' is a male plant, which means it won't produce berries but will promote berries on any other female skimmias you may have in your garden. A slow grower it is ideal for the front of a border or a cheery winter pot.

Viburnum tinus

This much-loved shrub has polished leaves and clusters of rose tinted buds from autumn onwards, which burst into flat heads of white, starry flowers. Gently fragranced, these last all through winter and are followed by distinctive, metallic-blue berries when they fade. Look out for the compact variety 'Eve Price', the perfect centrepiece to a winter pot and for evergreen varieties like V. tinus and V. burkwoodii. Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Dawn’ is also brilliant with strongly scented pink flowers.

Witch hazel

Witch hazel is grown for the wiry flowers it bears along the branches. Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Diane’ has red flowers, ‘Jelena’ is coppery coloured and ‘Pallida’ is best for yellow.

Winter jasmine

 (jasminum nudiflorum) is a climbing plant with yellow star-shaped leaves that can be highly fragrant. One of the sweetest smells in the winter garden. All of these shrubs will be available locally and are pretty hardy and tolerant of our climate.