Colourful Winter Shrubs

In the limited spaces of suburban gardens, there is little scope for permanent shrubs with negative traits. You don’t want your plants dropping leaves, going dormant for months on end, not flowering or only for a short period, becoming spindly and sick due to pest and disease attacks, or having a tendency to suddenly dominate their bed mates with undisciplined growth.

If it comes to a vote, these dependable shrubs will be the top candidates for prime performance in winter and in other seasons.

Leucadendron ‘Safari Sunset’

‘Safari Sunset’ is a spectacular hybrid bred from two cone bushes endemic to South Africa’s fynbos kingdom – L. salignum x L. laureolum.

The bright burgundy red bracts make this plant stand out from the crowd. The stems are densely packed with healthy green leathery leaves that are flushed with maroon throughout summer and autumn. In winter, the large inflorescences with a small creamy white cone flower are surrounded by bracts that turn into a bright yellow and red bi-colour combination.

This lovely cone bush earned an Award of Garden Merit by the RHS and is a popular plant all over the globe!

Growth habit and climate

Upright, evergreen and multi-stemmed, growing to a mature size of about 2,5 x 2m.
Suitable to all climates (coastal, too) except those with very heavy winter frost.

Growing tips

Full sun.
Very well-draining sandy soil.
Use acidic natural mulch to protect the shallow root system. Take care not to disturb the roots.
Regular watering for the first two years after planting to establish it. Low water requirements afterwards.

Pruning

Remove the stems for the vase or after flowering by cutting them back, leaving 10-15 cm of each stem containing healthy leaves.

Fertilising

There is no need to feed young plants, but established plants could be fed in spring, midsummer and autumn with Atlantic Bio Ocean.

Uses

Use ‘Safari Sunset’ as a colourful focal plant, as screening, and in a cut flower garden, as the stems are very straight and long and last extremely well in the vase.

Loropetalum chinense ‘Plum Gorgeous’

‘Plum Gorgeous’ is a dwarf hybrid bred from a species belonging to the witch hazel family and native Asia. Its name is derived from the Greek word ‘loron’, meaning strap, and ‘petalon’ meaning petal, and refers to intriguing tassel-like flowers.

Many growers praise this plant for it’s year-round interest. This plant shows off with clusters of vivid-raspberry flowers that peak in spring and autumn. Between these two floral performances, it has very dramatic dark-plum foliage that retains its rich colour all year long.

Growth habit and climate

It is evergreen and rounded, with slightly weeping horizontal branches, and has a mature size of about 1,5 x 1,5 m.
These shrubs is very cold- and frost-hardy, but make sure it is protected from strong winds.

Growing tips

Full sun but tolerant of light shade too.
Composted, well-draining soil.
Ample watering until established and then medium to low water needs. If yours are planted in pots, water them often.

Pruning

‘Plum Gorgeous’ only needs a light trim after flowering to keep the plant neat.

Fertilising

Feed with a slow-release fertiliser after flowering in summer and autumn.

Uses

It is suitable for oriental and cottage style gardens, as a low informal hedge combined with lime green and grey-leaved plants, and magnificent as a potted specimen.

Leptospermum scoparium ‘Cherry Brandy’

It is said that tea bushes belonging to the myrtle family, which includes gums and bottlebrushes, emigrated from Australia to New Zealand during the last 20 million years due to cyclone and wind activity. Apparently, Captain Cook used the leaves of L. scoparium to brew his tea and found it quite flavoursome.

Out of the many hybrids of the tea bush, it is ‘Cherry Brandy’, a dwarf cultivar, that has remained ever popular. It has a mass of cherry red flowers which add robust colour to a winter and spring garden. It earns its keep in other seasons with compact growth and dense, aromatic, dark green leaves tinged in wine red.

Growth habit and climate

A compact evergreen plant with a height of up to 1 m.
Not suitable for subtropical regions, but very adaptable to temperate climates, and it is cold- and frost-hardy. It will do well on the coast in the Western Cape.

Growing tips

Full sun.
Very well-draining soil is important. As it is phosphate intolerant, only add well-rotted compost to planting holes.
Water regularly. If the soil dries out for too long, it will die.
Apply a layer of compost as a mulch around the shallow root system to prevent any unnecessary cultivation, as the roots hate to be disturbed.

Pruning

Trim lightly after flowering to create a nicely-shaped, dense bush. Never cut into old wood, as it would not sprout new growth again.

Fertilising

For these shrubs, you only need to keep on renewing the compost mulch around the root system.

Uses

This is a perfect choice when wondering what to plant in winter to bring brilliant colour to borders or shrubberies as gap fillers.

Nandina domestica ‘Pygmaea’

This dwarf sacred bamboo is a variety of the iconic Nandina domestica (heavenly bamboo).

The exquisite foliage is what makes this tough little plant so desirable. The delicately hued foliage constantly changes colours due to its growing position or the climate’s influence. In full sun in hot climates, it will have tinges of orange and red between bright green leaves in summer. Cold winters will turn the foliage bright red, and spring weather will bring out yellows and lime greens – the fact is, there is never a guarantee about what you are going to get, but it will be good.

Growth habit and climate

Dense, mounding habit and a mature size of about 60 x 50 cm. It is evergreen but can drop a few leaves if it is a bit cold in winter.
Perfect for windy coastal gardens, tolerant to hot and humid conditions, hardy to cold and frost.

Growing tips

Full sun or light shade.
Any soil type will do, but add lots of compost and a root builder.
Water regularly to keep it lush.

Pruning

Trim away any weak, dead or damaged stems in late-winter or early spring.

Fertilising

Feed these shrubs in spring and autumn with a slow-release general fertiliser. Feed plants in pots more regularly.

Uses

This is the perfect little gap filler in mixed borders, or use it as a groundcover to form a tropical-looking leafy border around other plants. It is excellent to plant in pots.

Coprosma repens ‘Pacific Sunset’

In the coffee plant family, there is the genus Coprosma and specifically C. repens (mirror bush) hailing from New Zealand. It is an indestructible giant with glossy leaves that later became available in variegated forms. European breeders used it to develop a range of dwarf hybrids with compact and bushy growth habits and absolutely fabulous foliage tinted in extremely flashy colours.

‘Pacific Sunset’ has glossy wave-shaped leaves with vivid red centres set against a burgundy chocolate brown margin, which intensifies drastically in cool months.

Growth habit and climate

Naturally bushy and fast-growing with a 1 x 1 m mature size.
Suitable to all climates except the frostiest, where it should be protected. A boon for windy coastal gardens!

Growing tips

Full sun is best but it will do with ample morning sun and afternoon shade.
Any soil type enriched with compost which drains well will do.
Water regularly to keep the foliage glossy and luxuriant, but be aware that too much water will cause leaf drop.

Pruning

‘Pacific Sunset’ reacts very well to pruning for shape and size when needed. You can also create topiary forms like spheres and cubes.

Fertilising

Feed these shrubs in spring with a balanced slow-release fertiliser to keep the leaves healthy. Feed potted plants regularly with water-soluble foliar fertiliser.

Uses

Be bold enough to plant it en masse for a strong colour statement in simplistic, contemporary designs and use it in poolside planting. It is perfect as a low hedge and superb for pots.