trees

Your winter garden doesn’t have to be dull and lifeless. Even in the UK, where winters may be long, grey, and damp, the right winter trees and shrubs can make a garden look magical in the coldest months of the year.     Here at Arundel Arboretum, we offer a wide variety of winter garden plants for UK gardeners. With this simple guide, we want to help you find exactly what you need to make your garden vibrant and colourful when most of the plants are sleeping. We included winter-flowering trees and shrubs, winter plants that offer bright stems or dramatic bark, impressive evergreen structures, and plants with colourful berries. Winter Flowering Plants: Beauty & Fragrance Some plants surprise us with beautiful blooms and rich fragrance even in the middle of winter. If you are wondering which are the best hardy winter-flowering plants and shrubs for UK gardens, here is a simple list: Jasminum nudiflorum (Winter Jasmine) ●    Blooming Time: December to March●    Fragrance: No●    Colour: Yellow●    Care Tips: Prune after flowering. Winter Jasmine is one of the most reliable winter-flowering shrubs UK gardeners trust. Its yellow, star-shaped flowers usually appear from December to March, which is incredible as the flowering stretches throughout the whole winter. It even flowers in frost! The Winter Jasmine plant doesn’t have a problem with low-light winter conditions that many other plants struggle with in the UK. It tolerates frost and exposed sites, doesn’t mind north-facing positions, and can survive the severe frosts. It’s an exceptional winter-flowering shrub for the UK.   Its arching stems are ideal for walls, fences, and pergolas, creating beautiful cascades of yellow flowers. It looks great in both traditional British cottage gardens and modern city gardens. Viburnum × bodnantense (Dawn Viburnum) ●    Blooming Time: November to March●    Fragrance: Yes●    Colour: Pink●    Care Tips: Prune lightly after flowering. This is another exceptional winter-flowering shrub UK gardeners love. It has lovely clusters of pink, fragrant flowers that bloom from November to March. Its flowers look amazing and will bring you joy in the darkest winter months. Dawn Viburnum is a great plant for the UK’s cool and damp winters. It doesn’t mind low-light conditions or exposed locations. It is very resilient to frost and adaptable to moist soil conditions common in British gardens. It looks beautiful in mixed borders, near pathways, and doors because of its fragrance. One of the best fragrant winter shrubs in the UK. Camellia sasanqua (Autumn/Winter Camellia) ●    Blooming Time: October to January●    Fragrance: Yes●    Colour: White, pink, or deep rose●    Care Tips: Prefers acidic soil, shelter from morning sun. Winter Camellia will surprise you with lovely, elegant, fragrant flowers in late autumn and continue blooming into January. It comes in shades of white, pink, or deep rose. It’s an evergreen plant, so its glossy green leaves add another layer of interest. It performs exceptionally well in mild autumns and cool winters, typical of many UK regions. They are more reliable than other camellias and also more tolerant of wind. They are ideal for north-facing or east-facing gardens as they don't mind limited sunlight. Compared to other camellias, they are more tolerant of wind and fluctuating winter conditions. One of the loveliest evergreen flowering shrubs UK suitable for winter. Whether you put it in a shady corner or in front of your house, it will brighten your space and fill it with a subtle fragrance. Also great for woodland gardens, courtyard borders, and small urban gardens, as they grow very well in containers.  Sarcococca (Sweet Box / Christmas Box) ●    Blooming Time: December to March●    Fragrance: Yes●    Colour: Creamy-white●    Care Tips: Prefers moist, humus-rich soil, shelter from cold, drying winds One of the favourite winter interest shrubs in the UK because of its beautiful fragrance. Its creamy white flowers are modest, but their perfume is powerful. It can fill the whole garden. Even though Sarcococca is famous for its scent, it also has beautiful evergreen leaves and bears black or red berries, which add more colour once the flowering is over. Sweet Box thrives in cool, damp UK winters and is a very reliable shrub. One of the best for deep shade and north-facing gardens. Although it prefers milder UK regions, it can withstand cold, frost, and harsh winds in colder UK regions without any major issues. Perfect for front gardens, doorways, and pathways because of its amazing fragrance. Also, it grows extremely well in containers, so they are great for patios and small UK gardens. Hamamelis (Witch Hazel) ●    Blooming Time: January to March●    Fragrance: Yes●    Colour: Yellow, orange, and red●    Care Tips: Prefers acidic to neutral soils, prefers semi-sheltered spots Witch Hazel is one of the most interesting winter-flowering shrubs UK. It has unusual, ribbon-like flowers in various colours, mostly yellow, orange, and red, that bloom in the middle of winter. Even in snow and frost, it remains vibrant, spreading a nice, sweet fragrance around the garden. It prefers cool, moist winters, which are typical for most of the UK, but also grows well in colder inland areas because it is resistant to frost. It copes well with low light, which makes it ideal for UK winter garden conditions. However, for the best flowers it needs to be planted in full sun or partial shade.  Suits well in woodland gardens, winter borders, and mixed plantings, but because of its fragrance, it is great near paths or entrances.  Prunus × subhirtella ‘Autumnalis’ (Winter Flowering Cherry) ●    Blooming Time: November to March●    Fragrance: No●    Colour: Pale pink or white●    Care Tips: Avoid waterlogged sites Winter Flowering Cherry is one of the few winter-flowering trees UK that reliably bloom during the coldest months. Its delicate pale pink or white blossoms appear in flushes from November to March. It is an exceptional and elegant tree with subtle winter interest. This tree copes extremely well with frost and winter conditions. It’s fully hardy and repeatedly blooms throughout the winter in the UK, whenever the temperature is above freezing. For best flowers, it needs to be planted in full sun and moist, well-drained soil. Winter Flowering Cherry is excellent for small UK gardens because of its size and light canopy.  Great for borders or as a lawn specimen. Bright Winter Stems & Berries: Colour and Contrast Cornus (Dogwood) ●    Winter Value: Fiery winter colour stems from November to March●    Berries: Dark berries in late summer to autumn●    Colour: Red, orange, yellow, lime green, or black stems●    Care Tips: Annual pruning keeps stems vivid Cornus is one of the most fascinating shrubs for winter colour because the bare stems stand out dramatically against bare soil or snow. When the leaves fall off, wonderful shades of red, orange, yellow, lime green, and even black appear, bringing unexpected brightness to the dormant landscape. It’s fully hardy across all UK regions, and its stems are especially vibrant after frost, which makes them ideal for northern and central regions. Dogwood likes moist and fertile soils, but tolerates poor drainage better than many shrubs. For the best winter colour, it needs to grow in full sun. Cornus looks amazing in winter borders, near water features or in mass plantings. It is one of the most fascinating shrubs for winter colour when planted in groups. Callicarpa (Beauty Berry) ●    Winter Value: Striking berries from October to December/January ●    Colour: Vivid metallic purple●    Care Tips: Best looking when planted in groups One of the most eye-catching winter berry shrubs UK because of the clusters of metallic purple berries. They appear in autumn, mostly in October, and stay on branches till December in most UK regions. In the milder parts of the UK, purple berries decorate bare branches even in January. Beauty Berry is fully hardy in most UK regions and thrives even in colder inland areas with minimal protection. However, for the best berry production, it needs to be planted in full sun and moist, well-drained soil. This plant is great for cottage gardens, woodland edges, and modern winter borders. Since berries are attractive to birds, Callicarpa brings additional value by providing food to wildlife. One of the most attractive winter berry shrubs in the UK. Winter Ornamental Bark: Texture and Structure Betula utilis ‘Jacquemontii’ (Himalayan Birch) •    Winter Value: Beautiful peeling trunk that stands out in low winter light•    Colour: Pure white bark•    Care Tips: Avoid waterlogged sites for best growth Himalayan Birch offers a stunning winter ornamental bark UK gardeners adore. It has a beautiful, pure white trunk and branches. As the tree grows older, the bark starts to peel, revealing fresh layers of white that stand out strikingly against dark soil or low winter light. Himalayan Birch is beautiful all year round, but its white, glowing bark makes it especially captivating in winter. It is fully hardy across the UK and tolerates snow, frost, and exposed sites very well. Strong winds are not a problem, which makes it suitable for larger open landscapes. The bark develops best when the tree is planted in full sun and slightly acidic soil. Himalayan Birch is ideal for winter borders, woodland edges, and as a stand-alone specimen.  It looks amazing in multi-stem form, popular in modern UK gardens. Prunus serrula (Tibetan Cherry) ●    Winter Value: Glossy mahogany bark that glows in winter light●    Colour: Rich copper-red to mahogany bark●    Care Tips: Avoid deep shade to maintain colour intensity Tibetan Cherry is one of the best winter ornamental bark trees UK. Glossy mahogany red bark shines like polished wood in low winter light. As the bark naturally peels, it reveals lines of smooth, coppery wood. It glows majestically against bare soil and the winter surroundings. Tibetan Cherry is lovely all year round but its high gloss bark is especially attractive in winter. Therefore, it’s a great choice for winter gardens. It can handle snow, frost, and wind with ease so it grows well all around the UK, even in northern regions.  The best bark is developed when planted in full sun and fertile soil. However, Tibetan Cherry is not a demanding plant and can fit any garden style. Winter Evergreen Elegance: Year-Round Appeal Ilex (Holly) ●    Winter Value: Iconic Christmas plant.●    Key Features: Bright red berries and glossy green or variegated evergreen leaves●    Care Tips: Male and female plants are usually needed for berries, although some cultivars are self-fertile. Holly is one of the most iconic shrubs, and in winter, it really comes alive. It is especially popular at Christmas time, with its bright red berries and shiny evergreen leaves. Holly brings such a cheerful, festive feel to the winter garden that you can’t help but enjoy. Holly is exceptionally adapted to the UK climate. It thrives in cool, damp conditions and is suitable for all UK regions, including coastal, northern, and exposed areas. It tolerates shade, snow, winds, and exposed positions. It is resistant to pollution and harsh winds; therefore, excellent for urban gardens. In a word, it’s a perfect plant for a stunning UK winter garden, and gardeners just love it. Mahonia (‘Winter Sun’ and ‘Charity’) ●    Winter Value: Evergreen foliage and fragrant yellow flowers●    Blooming Time: From November to February●    Care Tips: Prune lightly after flowering Mahonia is a bold evergreen shrub that brings instant structure to winter gardens. But besides the lovely evergreen leaves, it brings so much more. As the cold sets in, it surprises us with tall, fragrant yellow flowers. It blooms from November to February, making it one of the best winter evergreen shrubs UK. It is fully hardy across the UK, as it can withstand rain, snow, frost, and winds. It also tolerates shade, so it’s ideal for north-facing UK gardens and darker corners. Mahonia is great for winter borders, underplanting, and shady areas. ‘Charity’ is tall and upright, while ‘Winter Sun’ stays more compact, so choose according to your needs.    Conclusion As you can see, a garden doesn’t have to look bare and lifeless in winter. With the right mix of colourful stems, winter flowers, and interesting winter barks, your outdoor space can stay vibrant and beautiful all year long. If you need help choosing the perfect combo of winter shrubs and trees for the best winter interest, visit us at Arundel Arboretum or browse our online store. You will find high-quality plants that will thrive in UK gardens. Our team is always happy to guide you and answer your questions. Let your garden shine this winter with beautiful, winter-interest plants from Arundel Arboretum.