![\"Sir](\"http:\/\/www.rumbold-ayers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/12\/dsc00303.jpg\" "\\"Year-round")
<\/a>Cornus sericea \u201cWhite Gold\u201d, Rubus cockburnianus \u201cGolden Vale\u201d, Ophiopogon planiscapus \u201cNigrescens\u201d, and Calluna vulgaris \u201cRobert Chapman\u201d. <\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Vivid stem colouration provides great contrast even in winter<\/p><\/div>\n
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<\/a>Cornus sericea<\/p><\/div>Cornus sericea<\/em> (previously C.stolonifera<\/em>) \u201cWhite Gold\u201d is a hardy suckering shrub with bright green stems from leaf-fall through until they are pruned in March. <\/p>\n Rubus cockburnianus<\/p><\/div>\n Rubus cockburnianus<\/em> \u201cGolden Vale\u201d is a handsome and prickly briar with bright golden leaves all summer and in winter, dazzling, chalky white arching stems. The lovely golden yellow foliage makes this an eye-catching ornamental plant in the summer and the white stems give fantastic winter interest.<\/p>\n Ophiopogon planiscapus<\/p><\/div>\n Ophiopogon planiscapus<\/em> \u201cNigrescens\u201d is an evergreen perennial with tufts of glistening strap-like leaves that are closer to black than almost any other plant. The small white or lilac flowers are followed by dark green berries. Makes an excellent foil for contrasting flowers and foliage.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Calluna vulgaris <\/p><\/div>\n Calluna vulgaris<\/em> \u201cRobert Chapman\u201d Densely formed low-growing evergreen \u2013 a spreading variant of our native Scotch heather. Foliage is golden in spring, turning to orange, then red in winter, with tiny purple flowers in late summer and autumn. The recent early snow is perhaps a good cue to think about the garden’s appearance in winter. It is a common mistake to asume that, once the first frosts come, visual interest in the garden is over until next spring. … Continue reading
\nThe \u2018White Gold\u2019 form has excellent white-edged variegated foliage, and therefore makes a good dual season plant. The foliage colour and effect is also enhanced by a hard pruning regime.
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\nThis is just one example, from the Sir Harold Hillier Garden<\/a> near Romsey, Hampshire, which illustrates how it is possible to achieve year-round interest. There are lots of other plants you could consider, and don’t forget that plants like sedums and Lunaria (Honesty) – with their interesting seedheads that survive all winter – are also really useful.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"