The dark evergreen leaves of the Mahonia provide year-round structure, while the Viburnum, Pulmonaria and Narcissus open early in the season, before Deciduous refers to plants (mainly trees and shrubs) that lose their leaves seasonally, usually during autumn. This is a natural process triggered by the season's shorter days and lower temperatures and allows plants to conserve energy during the winter months.
The Pulmonaria and Brunnera provide some ground cover and will help prevent erosion of bare soil. Ground cover plants can also help to reduce moisture evaporation from the soil surface and suppress growth of unwanted seedlings. Using an organic mulch, preferably homemade compost, while the plants establish can help to provide the same benefits.
1 - Mahonia x wagneri ‘Pinnacle’ is an evergreen shrub with glossy dark green leaves, often with coppery tints. Dense clusters of bright yellow flowers are borne in the spring, followed by blue-black berries.
2 - Dryopteris affinis is a semi-evergreen fern forming a rosette of upright fronds, bright yellow-green when young and unfurling, later turning rich green with persistent golden scales on the stems.
3 - Viburnum carlesii ‘Aurora’ is a deciduous shrub with dark green oval leaves that are coppery when young, and rounded Clusters of flowers or fruit growing from the same point or node on a stem. The term is commonly used in relation to tomatoes.
A bud is a small, undeveloped shoot that contains the potential for new growth. Buds are typically found on stems, where they can be apical (found at the tip) or axillary (found between leaf axils) and may develop into leaves, shoots or flowers.
4 - Polystichum polyblepharum is an evergreen fern forming a ‘shuttlecock’ of spreading, glossy, dark green fronds. These provide beautiful spring and early summer interest.
5 - Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’ is a herbaceous Perennials are plants that live for multiple years. They come in all shapes and sizes and fill our gardens with colourful flowers and ornamental foliage. Many are hardy and can survive outdoors all year round, while less hardy types need protection over winter. The term herbaceous perennial is used to describe long-lived plants without a permanent woody structure (they die back to ground level each autumn), distinguishing them from trees, shrubs and sub-shrubs.
6 - Narcissus ‘Tête-à-tête’ is a dwarf daffodil for additional spring cheer. Each bulb reliably produces one to three flowers, forming good-sized clumps over the years.
7 - Pulmonaria ‘Diana Clare’ is a semi-evergreen perennial with narrow silver-green leaves, lightly speckled with dark green near the margins. Violet-blue flowers appear from late winter to late spring.