Inspirational winter gardens to visit

Thought winter was a quiet time in the plant world? Think again! Many RHS Partner Gardens have winter gardens and borders that use stems, barks, winter flowers and berries to create spectacular displays that inject cheer into even the coldest, darkest day. So why not wrap up, head out and get all the winter gardening inspiration you can shake a trowel at!

Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Hampshire

At 1.6ha (4 acres), this winter garden is one of Europe's largest. It showcases the huge array of contrasting seasonal colours available to the gardener, from ghostly white-stemmed brambles to inky black mondo grass, Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens'. Delight in more than 650 winter-interest plants: bright dogwood stems; scented witch hazels, daphnes and viburnums; beautifully clipped box domes and the pink blossoms of the winter-flowering Fuji cherry, Prunus incisa.

Anglesey Abbey Gardens, Cambridgeshire

Prepare to be dazzled by the 450-metre Winter Walk, truly a seasonal must-see that engages all the senses. Drink in the scent of pinkish-white viburnum 'Dawn', touch the smooth

Bark is the outermost layer of woody plants (trees, shrubs and woody climbers). It is several cells thick and provides protection against physical damage, disease and environmental stresses. Bark comes in a wide variety of colours and patterns, and these can help gardeners when identifying plants. The fissures and crevices of bark on older plants also creates valuable habitat for many garden creatures as well as lichens and small plants.

Holehird Gardens, Cumbria

Follow your nose to the fine Daphne bholua 'Jacqueline Postill' planted just outside the walled garden, and in the winter border, seek out the paperbush, Edgeworthia chrysantha 'Red Dragon', hellebores, pulmonarias and early-flowering narcissus 'Cedric Morris'. As winter draws on, the first of the snowdrop collection begins to peep out – early cultivars include ‘Faringdon Double’ and ‘Three Ships’. Visit the Dale Panorama for spectacular views of the Lakeland fells.

Osterley Park and House, London

Frosted berries provide a festive burst of colour in the Winter Garden at Osterley Park. The garden brings colour to even the dreariest of days, with bright dogwood stems, nodding hellebores, architectural seedheads and the cheerful blooms of Clematis urophylla 'Winter Beauty' which scrambles up a cherry tree.

Kilver Court, Somerset

The Charlton viaduct makes a stately backdrop to bold textures and colours on the rock garden. Shapely cypress, spruce and juniper make various dogwoods (including Cornus alba ‘Spaethii’, C. alba ‘Westonbirt’ and C. sanguinea ‘Winter Flame’) seem all the more vivid. Heather (Erica carnea) and Cotoneaster horizontalis provide sprays of winter flowers and berries.

Cambo Gardens, Fife

See Cambo Gardens' series of winter gardens - the third is a naturalistic woodland edge planting with birches, dogwoods and a wide range of evergreens and perennials. In late winter, the snowdrops are the undoubted stars - the garden holds the National Plant Collection of snowdrops, and there are more than 300 cultivars to see. Wrap up warm and enjoy 70 acres of flower-carpeted woodland walks, following the Cambo burn to the sea.