Shrubs that look good in December

BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Published: Tuesday, 3 December 2019 at 4:49 pm

Take a look at five shrubs that are sure to dazzle in December.

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Shrubs, whether deciduous or evergreen, are useful in winter for the structure and interest they provide.

For winter colour, go for evergreen or winter-flowering shrubs, such as yew and holly. For scent, Christmas box and witch hazel are ideal.

As for planting shrubs, it's usually too cold at this time of year. However, it's the perfect time to survey your garden and spot gaps in beds and borders, in preparation for spring plantings.

Find more ideas for what to plant in December and our picks of the best Christmas plant ideas.

Yew

Our native yew, Taxus baccata, is highly valued for its attractive evergreen foliage and red autumn-winter berries. It can also be clipped into a neat hedge or into topiary shapes. Here's our advice on how to plant a yew hedge.

Yew clipped into shapes

Topiary yew with a variety of white flowers

Cornus

The best cornus, or dogwoods, to choose for their winter interest are those with vividly coloured stems, including cultivars of Cornus alba, Cornus sanguinea and Cornus stolonifera.

Cornus Midwinter Fire

Red and orange stems of dogwood 'Midwinter Fire'

Hydrangeas

When adding winter interest to a garden, it's important to consider the faded flowerheads of plants like hydrangea and phlomis. Though dead, they look especially spectacular when touched with frost.

Frosted hydrangea flowerheads

Frost encrusted dead hydrangea flowerhead

Holly

Holly is an especially good plant to have in the garden. It's a native, easy-to-grow plant, with evergreen foliage and bright red berries, which are a treat for birds. Cultivars to grow include 'Argentea Marginata' (pictured) and 'Hollywood'.

Variegated holly

Bright red berries and variegated foliage of holly 'Argentea Marginata'

White-stemmed bramble

Don't worry – white-stemmed brambles like Rubus cockburnianus and Rubus biflorus won't take over the garden. Try planting with other intensely-coloured plants like cornus, shrubby willows and Ophiopogon planiscapus.

White stemmed bramble