The Rutland Group of the Hardy Plant Society had another excellent speaker at their November meeting. Diane Clements’ topic was ‘Dark Months of the Year……..not just Snowdrops’ She showed how so many plants can brighten up our winter.

Diane does not have the most favourable garden to show off her gems. Her garden faces North and for 6 months of the year half of her garden is in total shade, besides being 400 ft high on the West Midlands Plateau! She also has an unheated greenhouse in which to nurture some of her favourite plants. She loves the Autumn Crocus Lachenalia ongitnia which is hardy to -8 degrees. Oxalis Iron Cross has striking foliage with pink flowers. Petrocosmea grandiflora is one to grow in an unheated greenhouse. Arbutus undedo ‘Compacta’, has interesting bark, flowers in November and can also bear fruits as a bonus. Also giving value are the Nerines and Roscoea purpurea which flowers for 4 months. Tricyrtis formosa, Crocus speciosus ‘Lucerna’,and Hesperantus coccinea are others worth growing.

In December, Nerine undulata and Gentiana clusii can be in flower. Viola ‘Bowles Black’ is reliable and Picea abies ‘Pucsh’ a dwarf Norwegian spruce, adds interest with large, red cones with Euphorbia ‘Emma Green’ and Cyclamen hederfolium providing lower colour and interesting foliage. Arum ‘Primrose Warburg’ has interesting foliage alongside Ophiopogon nigrescens and Gaultheria procumbens giving more winter contrasts.

In January, Hamamelis, the witch hazel, ‘Pallida’, is a must with its’ fabulous scent and colour. The Hellibores come into their own providing excellent varieties of colour with Cyclamen coum and the common, Galanthus nivalis, giving good value. Other reasonably priced snowdrops to buy are ‘Sam Arnott’, ‘Magnet’ and ’Merlin’. Leucojum vernum, the spring snowflake, which will provide taller white flowers.

In February, Scillas and Iris reticulata flower. The latter must not be allowed to dry out’. J.S.Dijt’ is one with a good fragrance. Crocus do best out of pots. Corydalis mahensis is a reliable white flowering one. Diane’s images were excellent and she gave the group many other names of plants to use to brighten up the winter months.