Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Prostratus’
Despite the wintery showers this last week there is still plenty of foliage in the garden. I do like evergreen foliage. I know that there are many winter shrubs which have flowers before the leaves but I like to see some green outside on a grey day. One of the stalwarts of my garden is the prostrate rosemary which grows over the patio wall. It has been there some 6 or 7 years maybe even longer and has come through at least two very cold winters. I tend to take it for granted but at this time of yet it is a star not just for me but for the bees that feed on its nectar.
Choisya ternata Sundance
Choisya is another plant which really earns it keep in the winter. I know there are some that don’t like the yellowish foliage but I find it welcome.
Melianthus major
And it wouldn’t be a foliage follow up post without featuring my favourite Melianthus major which just glows in the winter sun.
Watsonia pallida
Close to the Melianthus is a collection of Watsonia pallida which is looking particularly good in the sun at the moment. I do like the strappy leaves they provide a nice contrast throughout the year to other foliage such as Geranium palmatum below
The Acanthus mollis foliage is still looking good although you will see that some of the leaves are spattered and this is mud which has been splattered up in the heavy rain we have recently had. I do like the glossy leaves which is lucky as it is an impossible plant to remove from the garden!
Dryopteris erythrosora
Many of the ferns are looking good with their wintergreen foliage. I particularly like the Dryopteris erythrosora (Autumn Fern) as the leaves are yellowish and come the summer they will take on a more orangeish hue. Like some of the other foliage on this post this plant seems to catch the winter sun very well.
Euphorbia pasteurii ‘Phrampton Patty’
Finally a sun kissed Euphorbia pasteurii ‘Phrampton Patty’ which is thriving having been planted a year ago.
So those our my foliage highlights this month. For more foliage posts visit Pam over at Digging