{"title":"Winter Interest Plants","description":"\u003cp\u003eFully hardy shrubs and evergreens that earn their place in the coldest months, bringing flowers, scent and structure from November through to March. Sweet box, mahonia, witch hazel and winter jasmine all flower outside through a UK winter without protection, and every listing shows its RHS hardiness rating.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"mahonia-x-media-charity","title":"Mahonia x media 'Charity'","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eMahonia x media 'Charity'\u003c\/strong\u003e is the most reliable winter-flowering architectural shrub for the UK garden, an evergreen statement plant that bears tall, fragrant, golden-yellow flower spikes from November through February when little else is in bloom. The bold, holly-like leaflets are arranged in long pinnate sprays, giving the plant a sub-tropical, almost prehistoric silhouette that anchors any Hardy Exotic shade scheme.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBred from M. japonica crossed with M. lomariifolia, 'Charity' is the original and best of the modern hybrid mahonias, vigorous and reliable across the UK. The winter flowers are powerfully scented and a vital nectar source for overwintering bumblebees on mild days.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA perfect anchor specimen for a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-shade\"\u003eshaded woodland-style planting\u003c\/a\u003e or a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003eHardy Exotic understory\u003c\/a\u003e beneath taller trees. The architectural silhouette pairs brilliantly with palms, tree ferns and bamboos in an \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eexotic border\u003c\/a\u003e. See our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ewhat to expect from outdoor plants\u003c\/a\u003e guide for season-by-season notes.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA vital winter nectar source for a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pollinators\"\u003epollinator planting\u003c\/a\u003e and a strong choice in a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003elarge patio container\u003c\/a\u003e for evergreen winter structure.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvery \u003cstrong\u003eMahonia 'Charity'\u003c\/strong\u003e we send is a strong, well-rooted plant, hand-selected for healthy foliage and balanced shape, and packed with care to arrive in superb condition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"17cm \/ 2L","offer_id":57849597591935,"sku":"MAHOMEDICHAR17","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/charity.jpg?v=1784354138"},{"product_id":"mahonia-x-media-winter-sun","title":"Mahonia x media Winter Sun","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMahonia x media 'Winter Sun'\u003c\/strong\u003e is a bold, architectural \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/architectural-foliage\"\u003eevergreen shrub\u003c\/a\u003e grown for its holly-like, glossy dark green spiny leaves and its long, slender racemes of bright yellow flowers. Also known as Oregon grape, this \u003cstrong\u003eMahonia Winter Sun\u003c\/strong\u003e is one of the finest structural shrubs you can plant for winter interest.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrom November to March the plant carries fragrant yellow flowers with a soft lily-of-the-valley scent, followed by clusters of blue-black berries. As a \u003cstrong\u003efragrant winter shrub\u003c\/strong\u003e it provides vital winter nectar for bees, while the berries feed birds later in the season, making it a real asset for a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pollinators\"\u003ewildlife and pollinator garden\u003c\/a\u003e. It holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit for its reliability and year-round presence.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFully hardy across the UK, Winter Sun is happiest in partial or full shade, which makes it an excellent \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-shade\"\u003eevergreen shrub for shade\u003c\/a\u003e and a natural anchor in an \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eexotic border\u003c\/a\u003e. Expect it to reach around 3 to 4m in time with an upright, columnar habit.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWater well through the first year or two to establish, then prune after flowering to keep the plant bushy. For more on how these plants behave across the seasons, see our guide on \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ewhat to expect from hardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e. It sits perfectly within our wider range of \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvery plant is nursery grown and hand selected by our team for strong roots and healthy growth.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"17cm \/ 2L","offer_id":57952985481599,"sku":"MAHOWINTSUN17","price":15.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"19cm \/ 3L","offer_id":58330383155583,"sku":"MAHWINT19","price":26.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/wintersun.jpg?v=1784331929"},{"product_id":"sarcococca-confusa","title":"Sarcococca confusa","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSarcococca confusa\u003c\/strong\u003e, the sweet box or Christmas box, is one of the most useful winter-flowering shrubs for shade. This bushy evergreen shrub from the \u003cem\u003eBuxaceae\u003c\/em\u003e family holds glossy dark green leaves all year and, in the depths of winter, opens tiny cream flowers that carry a powerful honey and vanilla scent long before the rest of the garden has woken up.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom December to March those unassuming flowers perfume the air around a doorway or path, and are followed by glossy black berries that hold well into spring. As a compact \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotic\u003c\/a\u003e reaching around 1.5 to 2m, sweet box earns its place in shade where little else will flower.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Christmas box is one of those quietly brilliant plants: give it a year or two to establish and it becomes a low-maintenance backbone for shady \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eexotic borders\u003c\/a\u003e, while its winter flowers are a vital early nectar source for bees and other \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pollinators\"\u003epollinators\u003c\/a\u003e. A superb winter-flowering shrub for shade, sent out as a strong plant ready to scent your garden for years to come.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"17cm \/ 2L","offer_id":57955616883071,"sku":"SARCCONF17","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/sarco.jpg?v=1784908337"},{"product_id":"sarcococca-saligna","title":"Sarcococca saligna (Willow-leaf Sweet Box)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSarcococca saligna\u003c\/strong\u003e, the Willow-leaf Sweet Box, is the most distinctive of the sweet boxes, with long, narrow, willow-like evergreen leaves that give it a soft, arching elegance the others lack. In late winter it carries slender greenish-white flowers, a little more subtle in scent than its cousins, followed by handsome red-purple berries.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFully hardy and thoroughly easy-going, it is one of the best evergreen shrubs for shade in a British garden. Like all our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e, it earns its place all year: glossy foliage in every season, winter flower and autumn fruit. See our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ewhat to expect\u003c\/a\u003e guide for how it changes through the seasons.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIts bushy habit suits a shady border, a low informal \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/screening-plants\"\u003eevergreen screen\u003c\/a\u003e or a shaded \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003econtainer\u003c\/a\u003e by a path where you can enjoy the winter show. The flowers are valuable to \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pollinators\"\u003eearly pollinators\u003c\/a\u003e. For a richer, more powerful winter scent, pair it with \u003ca href=\"\/products\/sarcococca-ruscifolia\"\u003eSarcococca ruscifolia\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGrown to nursery standard and sent out as strong, well-rooted plants ready to settle straight into the garden.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"17cm \/ 2L","offer_id":58142564221311,"sku":"SARCSALI17","price":17.29,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/saligna.jpg?v=1786718941"},{"product_id":"sarcococca-ruscifolia","title":"Sarcococca ruscifolia (Fragrant Sweet Box)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSarcococca ruscifolia\u003c\/strong\u003e, the Fragrant Sweet Box, is the classic winter-scented shrub, prized for glossy, tapering evergreen leaves and clusters of tiny white flowers that fill the coldest months with an extraordinary honeyed perfume. Deep red berries follow, ripening to near-black.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is one of the great evergreen shrubs for shade, dense and glossy all year and covered in fragrant bloom from December to March when almost nothing else is in flower. Like every plant in our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e range it works hard through the seasons; our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ewhat to expect\u003c\/a\u003e guide shows how.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePlant it near a door, path or seat so the winter scent carries, use it as a low evergreen \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/screening-plants\"\u003escreen\u003c\/a\u003e, or grow it in a shaded \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003epot\u003c\/a\u003e. The flowers are a rare winter feast for \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pollinators\"\u003ebees and pollinators\u003c\/a\u003e. For narrower, wavier foliage try the compact selection \u003ca href=\"\/products\/sarcococca-ruscifolia-dragon-gate\"\u003eSarcococca 'Dragon Gate'\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGrown to nursery standard and dispatched as strong, well-rooted plants ready for the garden.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"17cm \/ 2L","offer_id":58142564581759,"sku":"SARCRUSCI17","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/ruscifolia.jpg?v=1786718824"},{"product_id":"sarcococca-ruscifolia-dragon-gate","title":"Sarcococca ruscifolia var. chinensis 'Dragon Gate'","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSarcococca ruscifolia var. chinensis 'Dragon Gate'\u003c\/strong\u003e is a refined, compact selection of the Fragrant Sweet Box, with narrower, gently wavy leaves and a neater, more upright habit than the species. It keeps all the winter magic, tiny white flowers with a powerful sweet scent from December to March, in a tidier, more architectural shape.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFully evergreen and thoroughly hardy, it is one of the smartest evergreen shrubs for shade in a smaller garden. Part of our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e collection, it delivers glossy foliage, winter fragrance and dark berries; see the \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ewhat to expect\u003c\/a\u003e guide for its year-round performance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIts neat habit is perfect for a shaded \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003econtainer\u003c\/a\u003e by the door, a low evergreen \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/screening-plants\"\u003escreen\u003c\/a\u003e or the front of a shady border, where the winter flowers feed \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pollinators\"\u003eearly pollinators\u003c\/a\u003e. For the fuller, larger species, see \u003ca href=\"\/products\/sarcococca-ruscifolia\"\u003eSarcococca ruscifolia\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGrown to nursery standard and sent out as strong, well-rooted plants.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"17cm \/ 2L","offer_id":58142564909439,"sku":"SARCDRAG17","price":13.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/dragongate.jpg?v=1786718783"},{"product_id":"sarcococca-hookeriana-purple-stem","title":"Sarcococca hookeriana 'Purple Stem'","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSarcococca hookeriana 'Purple Stem'\u003c\/strong\u003e is a handsome, characterful Sweet Box valued for its purple-flushed young stems and pink-tinged, richly scented white flowers. From December to March the perfume is exceptional, and the dark upright stems give it a distinctive look among the winter-flowering shrubs.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvergreen, fully hardy and quietly suckering, it slowly forms a dense colony that makes wonderful low \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-shade\"\u003eshade\u003c\/a\u003e planting. It sits within our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e range; the \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ewhat to expect\u003c\/a\u003e guide explains how it develops through the seasons.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eUse its spreading habit to knit together a shady bank or a low evergreen \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/screening-plants\"\u003escreen\u003c\/a\u003e, or contain it in a shaded \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003epot\u003c\/a\u003e to enjoy the scent by a door. The winter flowers are precious to \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pollinators\"\u003ebees and early pollinators\u003c\/a\u003e. For a black-berried, green-stemmed alternative, see \u003ca href=\"\/products\/sarcococca-hookeriana-digyna\"\u003eSarcococca hookeriana var. digyna\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGrown to nursery standard and dispatched as strong, well-rooted plants.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"17cm \/ 2L","offer_id":58142565892479,"sku":"SARCPURSTEM17","price":16.49,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/purplestem.jpg?v=1786718741"},{"product_id":"sarcococca-hookeriana-humilis","title":"Sarcococca hookeriana var. humilis (Dwarf Sweet Box)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSarcococca hookeriana var. humilis\u003c\/strong\u003e, the Dwarf Sweet Box, is a low, dense, ground-covering form that rarely tops 0.6m yet carries the full family gift of intensely fragrant little white flowers from December to March, followed by glossy black berries.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvergreen, fully hardy and steadily suckering, it is one of the most useful evergreen groundcovers for shade you can plant, weaving a neat weed-suppressing carpet under trees, shrubs and along shaded paths. It belongs to our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e range; the \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ewhat to expect\u003c\/a\u003e guide shows how it performs through the year.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePlant it in drifts as fragrant winter groundcover, edge a shady border, or grow it in a wide shaded \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003econtainer\u003c\/a\u003e near a door for the scent. The winter flowers are a lifeline for \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pollinators\"\u003eearly pollinators\u003c\/a\u003e. For an upright, taller cousin, see \u003ca href=\"\/products\/sarcococca-hookeriana-digyna\"\u003eSarcococca hookeriana var. digyna\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGrown to nursery standard and sent out as strong, well-rooted plants.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"17cm \/ 2L","offer_id":58142566056319,"sku":"SARCHOOKHUM17","price":14.79,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/humilis_cb7f6db2-acc6-4ab7-b9d2-cac93e47ed41.jpg?v=1786718716"},{"product_id":"sarcococca-hookeriana-digyna","title":"Sarcococca hookeriana var. digyna","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSarcococca hookeriana var. digyna\u003c\/strong\u003e is the most elegant of the sweet boxes, with slender, tapering leaves, graceful pink-tinged stems and abundant, powerfully fragrant white flowers through the depths of winter, followed by glossy black berries. It has a lighter, more refined look than the broader-leaved forms.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvergreen, fully hardy and gently suckering, it is a superb winter-scented evergreen shrub for shade. Part of our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e collection, it gives glossy foliage, December to March fragrance and dark fruit; see the \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ewhat to expect\u003c\/a\u003e guide for its year-round habit.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGrow it beside a path or door for the winter scent, as a low evergreen \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/screening-plants\"\u003escreen\u003c\/a\u003e, or in a shaded \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003epot\u003c\/a\u003e. The flowers are a valuable winter source for \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pollinators\"\u003ebees and pollinators\u003c\/a\u003e. For purple young stems, compare it with \u003ca href=\"\/products\/sarcococca-hookeriana-purple-stem\"\u003eSarcococca hookeriana 'Purple Stem'\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGrown to nursery standard and dispatched as strong, well-rooted plants.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"17cm \/ 2L","offer_id":58142568350079,"sku":"SARCOHOOKDIG17","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/digniya.jpg?v=1786718623"},{"product_id":"jasminum-nudiflorum-winter-jasmine","title":"Jasminum nudiflorum","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinter jasmine\u003c\/strong\u003e: Jasminum nudiflorum earns its keep in the coldest, greyest weeks of the year. Bare green stems light up with small bright yellow flowers from about November through to March, well before the leaves return. It is a lax, arching shrub rather than a true climber, so it leans and scrambles happily against a wall or tumbles down a bank.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardy and dependable\u003c\/strong\u003e: This one is properly tough. It carries an RHS hardiness rating of H5, which means it shrugs off hard winters across most of the UK, and it holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit. The flowers have little scent, but they arrive when almost nothing else is in bloom, which is exactly why gardeners love it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/strong\u003e: Give it well drained soil and a spot in full sun or partial shade. It copes with chalk, clay, loam or sand and is not fussy about pH. A cold \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-shade\"\u003enorth or east facing wall\u003c\/a\u003e suits it well, so it is genuinely useful for the difficult, shady corners other plants sulk in. Tie the long shoots in as they grow if you want a neat sheet of winter colour.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSettling in and using it\u003c\/strong\u003e: Water regularly through the first season while the roots take hold, then it largely looks after itself. Prune straight after flowering, cutting back the shoots that have bloomed to keep it tidy and to encourage fresh growth for next winter. Use it by a door, over a low wall, or as informal ground cover on a slope.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat you receive\u003c\/strong\u003e: Sent as an established plant, ready for the garden.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"15cm \/ 1.5L","offer_id":58184461844863,"sku":"JASMNUDI15","price":12.79,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/jasminum.jpg?v=1786804522"},{"product_id":"eriobotrya-japonica-rose-anne","title":"Eriobotrya japonica 'Rose Anne'","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEdible fruit.\u003c\/strong\u003e Sold here as a fruit-bearing plant grown for its harvest of loquat fruit, not as an ornamental.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEriobotrya japonica 'Rose Anne'\u003c\/strong\u003e is a fruiting selection of the \u003cstrong\u003eloquat tree\u003c\/strong\u003e, one of the most architectural evergreens that will genuinely thrive in a British garden. Each leaf is a deeply corrugated, glossy paddle up to 25 cm long, felted bronze beneath, radiating in whorls that read as instantly subtropical. Rated H4, the tree itself takes around -10C in its stride.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThen there is the bonus round: clusters of scented, hawthorn-like white flowers from autumn into winter and, after a mild season or against a warm wall, aromatic yellow-orange fruits in late spring, somewhere between apricot and plum. 'Rose Anne' is selected for its fruiting quality and handsome pink-flushed new growth.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e full sun, sheltered; a south or west wall is the classic home.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e any fertile, well-drained soil.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e slowly to 4-6 m in the UK; takes pruning well.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e H4 for the tree; flowers and fruit need winter mildness or wall shelter.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eGrow it as the anchor tree of an \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eexotic border\u003c\/a\u003e, trained against a warm wall, or for several years in a large container among our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003eplants for pots\u003c\/a\u003e. It sits naturally beside our edible exotics and the wider \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e range, and pairs handsomely with \u003ca href=\"\/products\/schefflera-taiwaniana\"\u003eSchefflera taiwaniana\u003c\/a\u003e for layered foliage.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNursery-grown trees with strong leaders. See the \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003eseasonal expectations guide\u003c\/a\u003e for honest advice on flowers, fruit and frost.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"19cm \/ 3L","offer_id":58369826783615,"sku":"ERIOROSE19","price":32.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/eriobotrya-japonica-rose-anne-fruit.jpg?v=1790064545"},{"product_id":"grevillea-juniperina","title":"Grevillea juniperina","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrevillea juniperina\u003c\/strong\u003e, the \u003cstrong\u003ejuniper-leaved grevillea\u003c\/strong\u003e, proves an Australian shrub can be genuinely British-garden hardy: rated H4 and taking around -10C in free-draining soil, it mounds into a dense, fine-textured evergreen dome studded with clusters of spidery, nectar-laden flowers from late winter through spring, and often beyond.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe needle-fine foliage reads like a soft conifer until the flowers open and give the game away, curling red, orange or yellow filaments that early bees mob when almost nothing else is flowering. It asks only for sun, lean soil and the one golden Proteaceae rule: no ordinary fertiliser, ever.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e full sun; a bank, gravel bed or open border edge.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e acid to neutral, free-draining, low in phosphorus; no standard feeds.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e a mound to around 1.5 m tall and 2 m wide.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e H4, around -10C established with winter drainage.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eUse it to soften the base of \u003ca href=\"\/products\/banksia-integrifolia\"\u003eBanksia integrifolia\u003c\/a\u003e in an Australian corner, edge a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/drought-tolerant-plants\"\u003edry garden\u003c\/a\u003e, or hold a windy \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coastal-plants\"\u003ecoastal bank\u003c\/a\u003e. Its out-of-season nectar earns a spot among our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pollinators\"\u003eplants for pollinators\u003c\/a\u003e and the wider \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e range.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNursery-grown, well-branched plants. Winter honesty as ever in our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003eseasonal expectations guide\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"17cm \/ 2L","offer_id":58369905164671,"sku":"GREVJUNI17","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/grevillea-juniperina.jpg?v=1790065083"},{"product_id":"daphne-laureola-philippi","title":"Daphne laureola subsp. philippi","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDaphne laureola subsp. philippi\u003c\/strong\u003e is the pocket edition of the \u003cstrong\u003espurge laurel\u003c\/strong\u003e: a low, dense evergreen dome of glossy, dark, whorled leaves, only ankle to shin high, that quietly steals late winter with clusters of lime-green bells breathing a soft honey scent at dusk. The first bees and moths of the year know exactly where to find it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis Pyrenean subspecies keeps all the native toughness of our woodland spurge laurel, H5 hardy, chalk-tolerant, happy among tree roots, in a form small enough for the front of any shaded planting.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e partial to full shade; woodland conditions.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e humus-rich, moist but well-drained; chalk tolerated.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e 30-40 cm tall, a little wider; slow and permanent.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e H5; plant once and never move it.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eTuck it beside a shaded path where the February scent earns its keep, at the feet of \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hydrangea-aspera-hot-chocolate\"\u003eHydrangea aspera\u003c\/a\u003e or among \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-shade\"\u003eplants for shade\u003c\/a\u003e, and let it feed the earliest \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pollinators\"\u003epollinators\u003c\/a\u003e. Note all daphnes are toxic if eaten; plant with gloves and site thoughtfully.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNursery-grown plants of a form rarely offered. Quiet, permanent, and part of the connoisseur's corner of \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"17cm \/ 2L","offer_id":58370082046335,"sku":"DAPHLAUR17","price":32.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/daphne-laureola-philippi.jpg?v=1790065576"},{"product_id":"distylium-blue-cascade","title":"Distylium racemosum 'Blue Cascade'","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDistylium racemosum 'Blue Cascade'\u003c\/strong\u003e is the evergreen American designers now reach for where box, laurel and photinia keep failing: an arching, layered cascade of leathery blue-green foliage from the witch-hazel family, punctuated in late winter by small ruby flowers along the stems. It looks quietly exotic and behaves like infrastructure.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHeat, drought, cold snaps, wet clay: distyliums absorb them all, and 'Blue Cascade' adds the best blue tint and weeping habit in the group. Rated H5, it holds its colour through a British winter without a mark.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e sun or partial shade.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e almost anything, clay to sand, acid to neutral.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e 60-90 cm tall, 1.2-1.5 m wide in arching tiers.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e H5, no caveats.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eMass it as living groundwork beneath the drama of an \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eexotic border\u003c\/a\u003e, let it spill over a wall, or use it to floor a light \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-shade\"\u003eshade planting\u003c\/a\u003e beneath \u003ca href=\"\/products\/schefflera-taiwaniana\"\u003eSchefflera taiwaniana\u003c\/a\u003e. The dependable understudy of the \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e stage.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNursery-grown, well-branched plants. Season notes in the \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003eseasonal expectations guide\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"17cm \/ 2L","offer_id":58370093220223,"sku":"DISTBLUE17","price":21.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/distylium-blue-cascade-flower.jpg?v=1790066170"},{"product_id":"mahonia-leptodonta","title":"Mahonia leptodonta","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMahonia leptodonta\u003c\/strong\u003e is the mahonia for people who love the winter flowers but wince at the coarse municipal foliage: a rare Chinese species with unusually fine, elegant, spiny leaflets that read closer to a stiff fern than a car-park shrub. Soft yellow flower clusters open in late autumn and winter, followed by bloomy blue-black berries the birds strip in spring.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOur plants are seed-raised from the celebrated \u003cstrong\u003eChambers collection\u003c\/strong\u003e, so each seedling carries its own subtle character, exactly how collectors like their rarities. Rated H4, it wants only wind shelter and woodland light.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e partial shade to sun; woodland edge ideal.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e humus-rich, moist but well-drained.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e upright to 1.5-2.5 m over the years.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e H4, around -10C; shelter from freezing winds.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eLayer it beneath \u003ca href=\"\/products\/schefflera-taiwaniana\"\u003eSchefflera taiwaniana\u003c\/a\u003e in an exotic woodland, among \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-shade\"\u003eplants for shade\u003c\/a\u003e, and beside its cousins \u003ca href=\"\/products\/mahonia-soft-caress\"\u003e'Soft Caress'\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/mahonia-x-media-winter-sun\"\u003e'Winter Sun'\u003c\/a\u003e for a study in mahonia refinement. Winter nectar earns its \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pollinators\"\u003epollinator\u003c\/a\u003e badge within \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGenuinely scarce, seed-raised plants. Season notes in the \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003eseasonal expectations guide\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"13cm \/ 1L","offer_id":58370093318527,"sku":"MAHOLEPT13","price":28.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/mahonia_dd8ed25d-9427-4d52-bd61-e1674949e774.jpg?v=1789652743"},{"product_id":"stachyurus-chinensis-celina","title":"Stachyurus chinensis 'Celina'","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eStachyurus chinensis\u003c\/em\u003e 'Celina' lights up the end of winter with long chains of pale yellow bells hanging from bare branches.\u003c\/strong\u003e The flower strings form in autumn and open from late winter into early spring, each one packed with dozens of small cup-shaped flowers. On mature plants they can reach over 20cm, noticeably longer than on most stachyurus.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness and seasons.\u003c\/strong\u003e Rated H5 by the RHS and holding the Award of Garden Merit, it is hardy to around -15C. It is deciduous: flowers first on bare purplish stems, then dark green leaves through summer that colour up in autumn.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere it fits.\u003c\/strong\u003e It prefers partial shade, shelter from cold winds and moist, humus-rich soil that is neutral to acid. It does not need a true ericaceous bed, but it dislikes chalk. Use it in a woodland planting, a \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/growtropicals.com\/collections\/plants-for-shade\"\u003eshady border\u003c\/a\u003e or trained against a wall, where the hanging flowers show against the brickwork.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat you receive:\u003c\/strong\u003e a young shrub in a 19cm (3L) pot. From autumn it may be leafless, with next spring's flower strings already visible on the stems.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"19cm \/ 3L","offer_id":58562233860479,"sku":"STACHCHINCEL19","price":39.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/stachy.jpg?v=1790781539"},{"product_id":"hamamelis-x-intermedia-arnold-promise","title":"Hamamelis × intermedia 'Arnold Promise'","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eHamamelis × intermedia\u003c\/em\u003e 'Arnold Promise' covers its bare winter branches in spidery, bright yellow flowers with a sweet scent that carries on cold, still days.\u003c\/strong\u003e Each flower is a tuft of narrow, crimped petals about 3cm across. In autumn the broad, hazel-like leaves turn red and yellow before they fall.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness and seasons.\u003c\/strong\u003e Rated H5 by the RHS, hardy to around -15C, and holder of the RHS Award of Garden Merit. It is one of the later witch hazels, flowering from late winter into March, and the petals curl up in hard frost and open again as it thaws. It is leafless from late autumn until after flowering.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere it fits.\u003c\/strong\u003e A slow, open, vase-shaped shrub that eventually reaches 2.5 to 4m, so give it room at the back of a border or as a winter focal point. It flowers best in sun or light shade, in neutral to acid soil that stays moist; it will not thrive on chalk. Underplant it with \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/growtropicals.com\/products\/sarcococca-confusa\"\u003esweet box\u003c\/a\u003e for scent at ground level.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat you receive:\u003c\/strong\u003e a young shrub in a 19cm (3L) pot. Plants this size are typically 40 to 60cm tall and a few years from their full display: expect a scattering of flowers in the first winter or two, with more each year as the branches lengthen.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"19cm \/ 3L","offer_id":58617817432447,"sku":"HAMAINTARN19","price":35.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/hamamelis.jpg?v=1791550792"},{"product_id":"mahonia-magical-winterfern","title":"Mahonia Magical Winterfern","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eMahonia\u003c\/em\u003e Magical Winterfern is a compact evergreen with leaves that look more like a hardy fern than a holly.\u003c\/strong\u003e Long, finely divided leaves are held in neat tiers around upright stems, and from late autumn each stem is crowned with upright spikes of scented yellow flowers that carry on into midwinter.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness and seasons.\u003c\/strong\u003e A recent introduction from a Dutch breeder, it has no RHS rating yet. It is sold as winter hardy, and we class it as H5, to around -15C. Flowers open from October or November into January, a valuable source of nectar for winter bees, and blue-black berries can follow. The leaves are spiny but much softer than on most mahonias.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere it fits.\u003c\/strong\u003e This is a true shade plant. Give it a north- or east-facing spot in humus-rich soil that stays moist. At about 1 to 1.5m after ten years, it suits a \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/growtropicals.com\/collections\/plants-for-shade\"\u003eshady border\u003c\/a\u003e, a woodland edge or a large pot by a north-facing door. See the rest of our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/growtropicals.com\/collections\/mahonia\"\u003emahonias\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat you receive:\u003c\/strong\u003e a young evergreen plant in a 21cm (4L) pot.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"21cm \/ 4L","offer_id":58617818513791,"sku":"MAHOWINTFERN21","price":44.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/mahonia_137d8097-3932-4374-a9d8-fe2d3592a074.jpg?v=1791550513"}],"url":"https:\/\/growtropicals.com\/collections\/winter-interest-plants.oembed","provider":"GrowTropicals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}