Evergreens

I’ve decided to start a bit of blog here, I've called it Garden Snippets. It's going to be a bit about what has been going on here in the garden or thoughts I have had. My first one is about evergreens, prompted by a recent trip away.

South of France in January

I’m writing this from a very wet and muddy Sussex. A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to be in the South of France and it wasn’t just the weather which was so different: out there the landscape is full of evergreens, trees like Holm Oak (which I found out they call Chêne Vert – literally Green Oak) and lots of Pine, Olive and Myrtle everywhere.   There are a few skeletons of English Oak and Elm but the general view is one of deep dark green (alongside the blue skies) even at this time of year.

It reminded me how important evergreen planting is in our gardens, livening up the borders while so many other plants sleep. I think now is the perfect time to wrap up and take a coffee outside, and have a quiet potter in your own garden. Remember also to look at the views you have from inside your house, like from your desk or kitchen windows. If you are looking at beds of bare earth or collapsed perennials, have a think about where evergreen plants might actually be very welcome.

View from the front door in Sussex, notice the bank of skeleton trees behind compared with the picture above.

Choysia

There is sometimes a bit of garden snobbery around evergreens (too boring no seasonal interest they argue) but there are no reasons to be dull or pedestrian.  You can choose shrubs such as Pittosporum which come in black, green or silver variegated leaves, or the glossy foliage of Choysia, Sarcococca and Ceanothus or certain types of Honeysuckle.

Clipping evergreens into low hedges or shapes has long been a way to add structure and interest.

Pittosporum'Tom Thumb' with Osmanthus hedge behind

I have an Osmanthus at the front of the house which does just this and while there's no topiary here, I do love having balls of Pittosporum which come in dark purple, green or silver variegated leaves and have a way of grounding the garden even while their neighbours flop about.

There are also perennials such as Heuchera, various Ferns and all manner of Euphorbias, and here down south my Penstemons largely keep their leaves over Winter too. 

Euphorbia 'Silver Swan'

Lamium and Ferns

Evergreen groundcover is also useful such as variegated Lamium or Vinca which both work well in the shade. Even better, plenty of evergreens actually flower at this time of year including Daphne, one of my all time favourite shrubs, and others like Mahonia and Viburnum tinus. 

Daphne bholua

There is nothing like seeing your grasses and seed heads in the frost, but frost will sprinkle fairy dust on any landscape. For the daily grind of Winter, I wouldn’t be without evergreens.

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