Garden inspiration – a gift from Christmas walks

Christmas walks around our neighbourhood and park are a great opportunity for garden inspiration. To my mind, a plant that looks good in mid winter is likely to be good value all year. And as these are friendly walks, where we say hello and how are you, it's OK to look over fences and ask a neighbour 'Just what is that shrub with purple berries?' 'And the one with scented pink flowers?' Garden inspiration is a gift from Christmas walks to you and your garden. When you are out and about walking off your lunch, or perking up your appetite for tea, look out for plants that can boost your borders, perk up your patio and make your shrubbery shine.

Garden inspiration

Here are some of the plants I spotted earlier this week. Maybe they will work for you too.

The shrub with purple berries?

• Callicarpa bodinierie ‘Profusion’, also known as Beautyberry, is eye-catching. A medium sized deciduous shrub that is covered in tiny inconspicuous lilac stars in summer, but autumn and winter is when this shrub comes into its own, flaunting outstanding clusters of brilliant purple berries that look amazing (and are a good food source for birds). And though this is a deciduous shrub the changing leaf colours add value. They start out in spring a purple bronze, change to deep green in summer, fading to lime green and changing to plum purple in autumn. Make room for one where you can appreciate the berries.

The shrub with purple berries: Callicarpa. Kew gardens. David Hawgood. Geograph

And the shrub with scented pink flowers?

• This is a variety of Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Dawn’. Another deciduous shrub that comes into its own in mid winter when its bare, upright stems are covered with highly scented, pink flowers. Purple berries against deep green leaves follow in summer. This is a shrub to plant near the house or gate, so that you can enjoy the perfume.

The pink flowered shrub - Viburnam. © Copyright Jonathan Billinger and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Garden inspiration for patios and pots

Those shrubs can grow to a good size, but other plants that stopped me in my tracks this week were smaller and looked good in pots – making them ideal to bring close to your door or window when they are at their winter best.

• • Christmas Box (Sarcococca hookeriana – different varieties);  read our blog about this 'must have' plant
  • Christmas Rose (Helleborus niger); read about this old favourite in our blog about festive Christmas pots
  • Algerian Iris (Iris unguicularis): vibrant deep violet flowers are a show stopper in a sunny spot and well drained container.
  • Heuchera ‘Burgundy Frost’: heuchera are the small plants with highly coloured leaves that are popular in containers. This one does what the name says – deep dull red leaves marbled with grey and silver
  • Skimmia x confusa ‘Kew Green’: this isn’t the dark maroon leaved and red berried variety that I often see in containers, but a lighter green leaf and a creamy lime green flower early in the new year (and in my road in December too!), loved by bees. In the ground, this will grow to a good sized shrub that is well worth having.

Christmas rose

And if the neighbours are out - the RHS can advise

A plant that stands out on dark and damp days will give your garden and patio a boost, and cheer the view from your windows.

Happy Christmas Gardens!