5 must-have winter interest plants

With freezing temperatures making a comeback this weekend, inevitably thoughts turn to the coming winter. I admit I'm a summer person, but winter doesn't have to be bleak! Here are 5 key plants for the winter garden to cheer up even the chilliest day.

Cyclamen

Hardy cyclamen species like Cyclamen coum and Cyclamen hederifolium have cute, low-growing flowers in shades of pink and white. They bloom from autumn often into early spring.

Cornus (Dogwood)

Dogwood species, such as Cornus sanguinea 'Midwinter Fire', are valued for their colourful stems. The almost neon stems are gorgeous when the leaves have fallen. Cut back in spring for best colour the following year.

Viburnum

Viburnum bodnantense 'Dawn' and 'Charles Lamont' are known for their clusters of pink or white highly fragrant flowers in the winter months.

Hellebore

Hellebores bloom in late winter, often from December through February. Cut back their evergreen foliage to show off the delicate, nodding flowers at their best.

Winter flowering Jasmine

This deciduous shrub produces bright yellow, star-shaped flowers on bare stems from late winter to early spring. It's an excellent choice for adding color to the garden when many other plants are still dormant.

Picture credits:

Cyclamen: Image by Zane Priedīte from Unsplash

Cornus: Image by Dulcey Lima from Unsplash

Viburnum: Image by Annette Meyer from Pixabay

Helebore: Image by Div Manickham from Unsplash

Jasmine: Image by Anna Armbrust from Pixabay