The best evergreen foliage shrubs for winter interest

Evergreen shrubs come into their own in winter emphasising the importance of foliage in the garden and its enduring beauty. In sun, and especially in shade these plants excel and hold things together not only in beds and borders, but also in pots and containers. Never think of them as boring green utility plants if well-chosen they can add vibrant colour and a wide variety of form and texture.

Nandina domestica ‘Gulfsteam’

At the top of my list of my list Nandina domestica ‘Gulf Stream’ has become a firm favourite. This compact form of the sacred bamboo is light and elegant in character. Perfect for smaller gardens, narrow borders and pots and containers, also the plant in small groups in larger spaces. The stiff fern-like foliage is olive green, copper to orange when young. The colour intensifies in winter adding a real splash of colour through the colder months.

Nandina ‘Firepower

Nandina domestica ‘Firepower’ is similar in habit but with softer, looser foliage and a more rounded form. The leaves rustle when stirred by the wind. Although shade tolerant it needs some sun for glowing winter colour.

Nandinas grow on most well-drained soils and are best in a fairly sheltered position. 

Aucuba japonica

The spotted laurel Aucuba japonica, may be regarded as rather boring, but few shrubs have such glossy green, gold splashed leaves in shady town gardens. It is also excellent for big containers and copes brilliantly with atmospheric pollution. There are more colourful cultivars with bolder variegation but the species is more subtle and acceptable even to those that dislike yellow in the garden.

Aucuba japonica ‘Rozannie’

Female plants bear showy scarlet fruits. The plain green Aucuba japonica ‘Rozannie’ is outstanding when it comes to its display of shining scarlet berries. The glossy green leaves are highly reflective and excellent at lightening heavy shade.

Viburnum davidii

The plain dark green Viburnum davidii is one of my favoirites. Those bold dark green, ribbed leaves on red leaf stalks have great presence, whatever the weather. A neat mounded shrub it is shining and dramatic in the wet and wonderfully sculptural when etched with frost. A survivor it is great in shade, grows on any soil and a long term subject for a pot or container, no garden should be without it.

Pittosporums are great favourites and are widely planted. In some areas they suffered last winter for the first time in many years. Hopefully that was an exception as the contribute so much in the garden. The variegated cultivars are a wonderful support act through summer and stand out in winter. They also provide wonderful foliage for cutting. 

Pittosporum ‘Irene Patterson’

Pittosporum ‘Irene Patterson’ is the lightest and brightest. A little smaller and slower than some of the others its marbled foliage is the lightest and brightest of all evergreens.

Pittosporum ‘Tom Thumb’

The compact, rounded forms have become valuable structure plants in pot gardens – especially with the demise of box. The most striking in winter is undoubtedly Pittosporum ‘Tom Thumb’. Purple foliage through summer intensifies and shines in winter without the dilution of the pale green new growth. There are few purple evergreens so this is an evergreen to treasure and use as a statement in the garden.

Leucothoe ‘Scarletta’

There are many varieties of leucothoe that colour richly in winter. These low growing shrubs need acid soil to thrive, so grow them in pots of lime-free growing media. ‘Scarletta’ is one of the best known with small, pointed leaves the turn vibrant scarlet in winter. Team it up with Nandina ‘Gulf Stream’ and black ophiopogon to create a dramatic winter picture. 

Mahonia japonica

Usually grown for its fragrant winter flowers Mahonia japonica is a large, tolerant shrub with bold, green, holly like foliage. When grown on poor soil in an open position the older foliage takes glowing shades of orange and red which are usually more intense in winter.

There are many colourful varieties of holly to choose from and a good specimen makes an outstanding feature in any garden. The one thing you need with a holly is patience; it takes time to mature and make a statement. Therefore they are not as widely planted as subjects that are quick to deliver. Also you do need to plant for the leaves, not for the berries. Usually birds make short work of these as soon as they ripen.

Ilex x altaclarensis ‘Golden King’

Ilex x altaclarensis ‘Golden King’ (female) has a strong gold and green variegation. It makes an excellent specimen as a focal point in the garden or a valuable addition to a gold and green scheme. 

January 2024