All-year-round evergreen intrigue
Ian Le Gros, Head of RHS Garden Hyde Hall, recommends some reliable perennials to keep your winter garden looking good
Winter structure in the garden is generally thought to be about evergreen trees and shrubs, but there are a number of perennials that can be added to a planting list which will provide interest in the garden at a lower level.
Bergenia
Bergenias, also known affectionately as elephant’s ears, are vigorous clump-forming plants with thick, tough rhizomes and large simple leaves up to 25cm (10in) in length. B. ‘Bressingham Ruby’, B. ‘Ballawley’ (left) and B. purpurescens all have a bronze to purple tinting and B. ‘Morgenrote ‘ has an interesting leaf margin too. Pull away dead foliage to keep them looking fresh through the year.
Epimedium
Epimediums, also known as barrenwort or bishop's mitre due to the shape of the leaf, have interesting winter foliage that changes colour with the cold. Epimedium x versicolor ‘Sulphureum’ grows up to 1m wide (3ft); Epimedium pinnatum subsp. colchicum (left) is slower growing, forming a tighter plant. The leaf margins turn bronzey maroon making the vein pattern a pronounced green in the autumn and winter. The young foliage is bronze tinted.
Asplenium
Asplenium scolopendrium, hart's-tongue fern (left), has leathery bright-green, strap-shaped fronds with wavy margins growing to about 40cm (16in) long. These are arranged around the crown like a shuttlecock. Its spores are produced in lines along the underside of the leaf and are rusty/brown which contrasts nicely with the fronds.
Grasses
Grasses are certainly worth considering; one of the best for winter interest is Anemalenthele lessoniana (left) the pheasant's tail grass. This loose tufted grass gracefully turns orange-brown for winter colour, mixing with newer green foliage growing to 1m (3ft) and 1.2m (4ft) wide.
Euphorbia
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For a dry location Euphorbia myrsinites (left) has wonderfully blue-grey, rounded succulent leaves that are spirally arranged on the semi prostrate stems. This gives it a wonderful architectural quality. The lime green flowers add a nice colour contrast.