A winter splash of colour

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33873, 19 June 1975, Page 11

A winter splash of colour

Gardening during the winter is greatly influenced by the weather.

Growth is usually minimal in most plants although even seemingly dormant deciduous subjects are far from lifeless. Quite a number of the latter in fact produce their flowers while they are leafless and these together with a number of evergreens provide a welcome infusion of colour where, but for judicious selection of material, the scene could be quite drab. It is actually very noticeable just how the seasons can give such strong indication of the lack of balanced planting in the garden and there is probably no other time of the year than the winter months when this can become so forcibly evident.

Autumn, winter to early spring flowering shrubs and trees include many of the acacias both large and small ones, various banksias. camellias and quite a selection of ericas.

More specific plants worth considering are the deciduous ones such as Chimononthus fragrans, Hamamellis mollis, Edgeworthia papyrifera, Viburnum fragrans and Prunus nume varieties.

There is a good range of hardy Australian natives to choose from including Boronias, Chorizemas, Diosma ericoides, Thryptomenes and Eriostemon ericoides.

There is no need to confine attention solely to flowering plants because many of those which possess good foliage especially variegated ones can really come into their own now. particularly in dull corners or against dark backgrounds. Immediately one cannot help but think of Phetallium illumination, a host of conifers such as Thuya rheringold, Cedrus atlantica aurea or perhaps

Chamaecyparis obtusa “Fem Spray Gold,” Phormium cookianum “tricolor,” Cortaderia “Gold Band” and Aucuba crotonoides “picturata.”

Aucuba C. picturata belongs also to another group of plants suitable for winter effect — those which bear berries but in

this particular case it is necessary to provide a male plant to effect fertilisation of the former’s flowers.

There is Pemehya mucranata and various species of Berberis. Stranvesia davidiana and Arbutus unedo. Or how about one of the many Coton-

easters particularly a standard type? The plants mentioned are but a random selection which have come rapidly to mind, of suitable choices for brightening the winter scene but perusal of books and Catalogues and the advice of the local nursery will reveal very many more.