plants
OF THE
month
COMMON SNOWDROP
(Galanthus nivalis)
The common snowdrop, found widely in damp woodlands, on banks and in hedgerows, provides the first flowers of the year. A pretty plant which looks best planted in natural ‘drifts’.
| type | Bulb |
| flowers | White, inner petals tipped with green |
| height | 13–20cm (5–8in), mid-winter to early spring |
| planting | Plant bulbs in early autumn, 5cm (2in) deep and 8cm (3in) apart |
| site | Partly shaded. In grass, under trees, shrubs or hedges |
| soil | Any, but grows best in rich, moist soils |
| care | May take two to three years to get established but needs no attention |
| propagation | When the clumps outgrow their space, lift and divide the bulbs immediately after flowering |
| varieties | ‘S. Arnott’ is a larger, sweetly scented hybrid and ‘Viridapicis’ has green markings on the outer as well as inner petals |
| wildlife value | The scent acts as a signal to insects waking up prematurely from hibernation. On warm days, when there are more likely to be insects about, the petals open to their fullest |
COMMON SNOWDROP
HONEYSUCKLE
(Lonicera fragrantissima)
The winter-flowering honeysuckle is not native to Britain (unlike the wild honeysuckle or woodbine, L. periclymenum) but it is well worth growing for its fragrant flowers and foliage cover.
| type | Partly evergreen climbing shrub |
| flowers | Creamy white, early winter to early spring |
| height | 1.8m (6ft) |
| planting | Plant in mid- to late spring, against walls, fences or trellis, or in containers |
| site | Sun or light shade — ideally the roots should be in shade and the top in sun |
| soil | Any well-drained soil |
| care | Mulch around the plant with leaf mould or compost in spring. Regular pruning is not necessary, but straggly or overgrown plants should have old wood removed after flowering |
| propagation related species wildlife value | Stem cuttings in mid- to late summer L. standishii is similar but grows to a more compact 1.2m (4ft) The foliage may provide cover for birds and the flowers are welcoming to insects when the rest of the garden is bare |
VIBURNUM
(Viburnum x bodnantense)
Not a native shrub, but a very hardy species bearing clusters of flowers on bare wood even in the hardest winter.
| type | Deciduous shrub |
| flowers | White flushed with pink, throughout winter |
| height | 3m (10ft) |
| spread | 2.75m (9ft) |
| planting | Plant from mid-autumn to early spring, adding some garden compost or well-rotted manure to the planting hole |
| site | Full sun or light shade |
| soil | Moist, fertile |
| care | No regular pruning needed, but if the shrub becomes overgrown, thin out in mid-spring |
| propagation | From cuttings in late summer to early autumn |
| wildlife value | Flowering shrubs are few and far between this month and the blooms of Viburnum bodnantense have a particularly good perfume to attract insects |
WINTER ACONITE
WINTER ACONITE
(Eranthis hyemalis)
Originally an introduction from Europe and Asia, this member of the buttercup family is naturalised in many parts of Britain and widely grown in gardens. The dazzling yellow flowers appear before or at the same time as snowdrops.
| type | Tuber |
| flowers | Bright yellow, mid-winter to early spring |
| height | 10cm (4in) |
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