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?
Here are a handful to add to your must-visit list this winter.
Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Hampshire
In recent years, people used to enquire where the winter garden could be found. Not anymore. A vibrant sense of arrival, that includes new plantings of Salix and Cornus in large, colourful groups, make it impossible to miss. Spanning 1.6ha (4 acres), this winter garden is one of Europe’s largest. Red Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’, yellow Salix alba ‘Golden Ness’, red/orange S. alba ‘Yelverton’ and yellow/red C. sanguinea ‘Anny’ are just a few of the plants that light up the scene. This garden balances evergreen and 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.
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.
These are fleshy, rounded, underground storage organs, usually sold and planted while dormant. Examples include daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, lilies, onions and garlic. The term is often used to cover other underground storage organs, including corms, tubers and rhizomes.
Evergreens lend structure, with Pinus mugo ‘Winter Gold’ taking on a cloak of winter golden yellow, while P. contorta ‘Chief Joseph’, smaller in scale and worth seeking out, stands out above a carpet of heathers.
Scent is impossible to ignore. Daphne bholua ‘Jacqueline Postill’ produces dense clusters of star-shaped flowers that impart a rich fragrance, while Lonicera setifera, with white and pink nodding flower clusters, releases a sweet, subtle scent.
Bodnant Garden, Conwy
Four years in the planning and two years in the making, the winter garden offers a richly colourful display of foliage, flower, 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.
Lower in the canopy, Hamamelis, Daphne and Sarcococca emit intense fragrances, while camellias, Cornus, Rubus and Skimmia add glorious blooms, fantastic stem colour and glistening berries to the display. Beneath them, small shrubs and herbaceous plants captivate the eye with bold colour combinations. At ground level, snowdrops, iris, cyclamen and crocus bloom.
Nymans, West Sussex
With the wider landscape around Nymans now laid bare, the views from the garden out towards the South Downs are quite something in winter. Nymans offers a winter walk, rather than a traditional winter garden, featuring a collection of late-autumn-to-spring flowering plants, many of which are grown from wild-collected material. Rare and unusual genera can be found alongside everyday favourites for winter colour and scent.
Daphne bholua ‘Darjeeling’, D. bholua ‘Jacqueline Postill’ and Sarcoccca will set your nose twitching, while camellias, witch hazels, and at a lower level, hellebores offer enticing blooms. Acer griseum and A. grosser var. hersii (snakebark maple) have impressive bark.
While you’re here, the Pinetum is well worth a look. It’s home to a significant collection of conifers, including impressive specimens of Cryptomeria, Pseudotaxus, Glypotostrobus, Cupressus and Chamaecyparis.
Osterley Park and House, London
The winter garden at Osterley is an intimate, immersive space designed to provide colour, scent and interest from autumn to spring. It was carved out of the old Victorian pinetum and includes veteran pines alongside new specimen trees. To blend with the established 18th-century formal garden and landscape, any large-scale additions to the winter garden are strictly limited to conifers introduced to the UK before 1800 or of American origin, as this area is near the restored American Garden.
Exceptional trees include a cedar of Lebanon, Nordman fir, Malus x zumi ‘Golden Hornet’, Salix matsudana and the paper birch, to name a few. Beneath their canopy grow Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Irene Paterson’, Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Arnold Promise’ (witch hazel), Cornus sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fire’ (dogwood) and Coronilla valentina subsp. glauca ‘Citrina’.
Climbers and herbaceous perennials add to the glorious setting with scent, colour and texture.
The Lost Gardens of Heligan, Cornwall
There are many winter jewels to look out for at The Lost Gardens of Heligan this season. Cyclamen, early camellias, hellebores and fuchsias all bring their own distinctive flowers, foliage and scents to the Northern Gardens.
Heligan is a hive of activity throughout winter. Double digging, soil enrichment and pineapple heating are the main labour-intensive operations, essential for the success of the next season’s crops.
Further afield in the sub-tropical jungle, the exotic foliage of banana and giant rhubarb recedes. Carpets of snowdrops can be enjoyed throughout the estate in January, reminding us that spring is just around the corner.
Athelhampton Gardens, Dorchester
In winter, the garden’s structure and evergreens shine, revealing the beauty of form, texture and a surprising array of seasonal interest. The striking Yew Pyramids stand tall, their bold shapes offering an impressive architectural presence amid the stillness of the season. On frosty mornings, these carefully clipped forms create a stunning focal point.
As you wander through the garden, don’t miss the delicate blooms of Hamamelis. These spidery yellow flowers bring colour and a sweet fragrance to the crisp air. Cornus also captures attention, with its brilliant red stems providing a welcome splash of brightness against the winter landscape. Winter at Athelhampton is the perfect time to appreciate the garden’s quiet beauty.
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Free access for RHS members: Saturday only when open, plus all February and November
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Find out more at Athelhampton Gardens
Glenwhan Garden, Dumfries
Thanks to the garden’s unique microclimate, warmed by the Gulf Stream, visitors can enjoy a rich tapestry of winter-interest plants. Striking displays of Cornus, notably Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’ and Cornus sanguinea, showcase vibrant red and orange stems that brighten the winter landscape, creating a vivid contrast against the sky.
The meticulous design and plant selections by Tessa Knott-Sinclair ensure a delightful array of textures, colours, and forms even in winter. Mahonia, with its bold, spiky foliage, adds architectural interest and its bright yellow flowers provide a splash of colour amid the winter palette. For a scented touch, the delicate pink flowers of Viburnum x bodnantense bloom on bare stems, offering a subtle yet beautiful fragrance that lasts throughout the colder months.
Whether you’re a devoted plant lover or simply enjoy peaceful walks, Glenwhan in winter is a hidden gem, offering a tranquil escape with captivating winter planting schemes and dramatic views over Luce Bay.
Winterbourne House and Garden, Birmingham
Winterbourne House and Garden, with its Edwardian Arts and Crafts design, provides a year-round garden experience. The winter months highlight the garden’s strong framework and seasonal planting, making it a tranquil and inspiring place to visit even in the heart of winter.
In the colder season, the stars of the show are various cultivars of witch hazel, such as Hamamelis mollis, which displays fragrant yellow flowers, and Hamamelis x intermedia, known for its rich coppery blooms. These varieties thrive in the cooler months, adding vibrant colour and fragrance that light up the garden when many other plants have faded.
Evergreens are also at their best, with Skimmia offering bold, glossy foliage and clusters of red berries that add texture and depth to the borders. The rock garden, designed to retain interest year-round, showcases alpine plants that maintain their beauty even at this time of the year.
Burnby Hall, East Yorkshire
At Burnby Hall Gardens, history and horticulture converge to create a unique and inspiring garden experience. Originally established in the early 20th century by Major Percy Stewart and his wife Katharine, these award-winning gardens span eight acres, featuring two beautiful lakes and rich plant collections that offer year-round interest.
The National Collection of snowdrops, with nearly 100 varieties, adds elegance throughout the grounds. These delicate white blooms are highlighted during February’s Snowdrop Weekend, allowing visitors to explore the varieties more closely through informative talks and displays.
Adding further interest, the vibrant stems of Cornus bring structure and splashes of colour against the soft, muted winter backdrop. Meanwhile, the evergreen Sarcococca delivers rich fragrance from its small, creamy-white flowers, providing a welcome sensory experience.