Vinca Difformis Ssp. Sardoa

A friend asked me what could she plant to give her interest in her South London garden at this time of the year, and heading towards Spring, and I came out with some hopefully useful suggestions (below), but I forgot to mention Vinca difformis ssp. sardoa (above). What a great plant for winter colour!

And evergreen foliage, which always looks vibrant and fresh. Its generous-sized flowers are a very pleasing pale violety blue, which flower from December until April or May and then again intermittently for the rest of the year. What’s not to love! This is no delicate little periwinkle. It’s a robust plant that grows to about 60cm high and it’s even starting scrambling much higher up an old tree trunk. As with other Vincas, it’s happily romping away in its shady spot, but it’s easy to pull up (and transplant elsewhere) if it’s getting a little too exuberant.
And she could also plant: Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Dawn’ for a delicate wee flower and a stonkingly sweet scent,

Sarcococcas for more ‘knock-your-socks-off’ perfume (also with evergreen foliage),

Hellebores (this one above is the very upright ‘Anna’s Red’) from now and well into March,

snowdrops from now into February/March (try Eurobulbs for great -‘in the green’ snowdrops to plant in March for next year’s display),

rich Chaenomeles blooms (aka flowering quince) for late February,

which I saw as gorgeous front garden hedging in Stockwell last year

(red and white varieties equally stunning-and great for supplying early nectar),

crocuses in Feb,

and Cardimine quinquefolia for delicate lilac flowers in March.

Plus all your Narcissi, Daffodils and Jonquils from now until April and May (start ordering bulbs for these in September for autumn planting).

P.S. The lovely Wendy Shillam @Rooftopvegplot also suggests planting an autumn flowering Cherry tree for beautifully delicate flowers at this time of year. Thanks Wendy!