Container gardening is great fun at any time of year, but it’s especially satisfying during the winter months when there’s not much else happening in the garden. You can use container plants to brighten up a patio, balcony or a dull corner of the garden. A pot or planter brimming with cheerful colour will lift your spirits on the gloomiest of days.
Ideally, position a few pots where you can see them from indoors for an instant mood lift, whatever the weather. While the winter plant selection is narrower than in spring and summer, it makes the job of choosing them easier! Pick the right plants and you’ll be rewarded with joyful, long-lasting displays right through to the warmer days of spring.
Paul Parker, CEO of plants and perennials specialists J. Parker’s, shares eight of his winter container favourites with House Beautiful UK:
1. Skimmia japonica “Rubella”
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‘Skimmia japonica “Rubella” is a great pick for a winter container display,’ says Paul. ‘This dwarf evergreen shrub is not only hardy but also currently in bud. There are generally two varieties of skimmia to be aware of. One produces red buds and the other white, with both progressing to delicate white flowers.’
2. Cupressus Gold Crest 
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Thanks to its lush, bright foliage and its rigid, upright structure, the Cupressus Gold Crest is perfect for pots and container displays. ‘They look excellent standing guard outside a front door,’ says Paul. ‘Also, their pine scent is a festive welcome to any home at this time of year.’
3. Erica (winter flowering heather)
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‘Where Calluna heather flowers from summer through autumn, Erica heather is the winter-flowering variety,’ he explains. ‘Accustomed to alpine climates, this plant is very hardy and suited to most environments, even in gardens that are exposed. This evergreen shrub produces a delicate display of flowers from December through to February.’
4. Cyclamen
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‘Coming in a variety of bold colours, cyclamen is a great addition to brighten up your container displays in winter,’ recommends Paul. ‘They are low-maintenance and hardy perennials that require water sparingly. You should ideally plant cyclamen in a sheltered area, away from harsh winds, such as against a wall or under a taller plant.’
5. Gaultheria
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‘These evergreen, low-growing shrubs produce festive, bright pink-red berries throughout the winter. They are perfect for hanging baskets and containers and look great when underplanted with trailing ivy. Gaultheria berries are ideal for attracting birds to your garden, and when crushed, they produce an antiseptic scent.’
6. Callicarpa
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Callicarpa, also known as Beautyberry, due to its ‘striking berry clusters that last for months on end throughout the winter’ is another top pick, says Paul. ‘This distinctive deciduous shrub is popular with florists for cut flower arrangements.’
7. Camellias
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‘Camellias are the perfect statement plants for your winter containers, and they make a lovely Christmas present for friends and family,’ he suggests. ‘They provide colour and interest flowering in early spring, when much of the garden is still in dormancy.’
8. Fatsia 
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‘The Fatsia evergreen shrubs can be grown in pots and are perfect for adding a touch of architectural interest to your garden,’ says Paul. ‘They need to be planted in a sheltered spot and are fairly fast-growing. Once established, these hardy shrubs will add interest to your winter displays.’
If you still want to plant some others, here are seven more classics for winter containers based on colour and foliage.
FOR COLOURWinter-flowering pansiesViolasPrimulasPolyanthusBedding daisies such as bellis perennis FOR FOLIAGESmall ornamental grasses such as carex Hardy evergreens such as ivy, which looks wonderful trailing from the edge of a container or hanging basket 
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How to keep your winter containers healthy
Reduce watering — containers can dry out even in winter, so check the soil regularly and only water when it feels dry. Do not water if frost is forecast.
Ensure pots have drainage — this allows excess rainwater or melting snow and ice to run through so plants don’t become waterlogged.
Raise containers off the ground — pot feet or bricks will help improve air flow and drainage.
Keep pots protected — where possible, place in a sheltered spot away from harsh winds. Grouping pots together can help create some insulation.
Mulch your pots — top with compost or wood chips to help insulate the soil.
Protect your plants — if frost or snow is forecast, wrap your pots to help prevent damage to plant roots. You can use horticultural fleece, bubble wrap, hessian or wool felt. Tie wrapping securely to keep it from blowing off in strong winds.
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Our favourite celebrity gardeners
David Beckham
David Beckham is a dedicated gardener at his Cotswolds home, where he tends to a large vegetable patch and enjoys harvesting produce like carrots, courgettes and onions himself.
You can follow all of his green-fingered projects over on his Instagram, and his wife Victoria Beckham frequently shares updates on her Stories, too.
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Jo Whiley
Jo Whiley is not only a celebrated broadcaster but also a passionate gardener. She has spoken about the joy she finds in her garden, particularly in creating naturalistic planting schemes and encouraging wildlife – and she has even collaborated on several RHS garden over the years.
Follow her on Instagram for the occasional tour of her garden.
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Kate Moss
In 2022, former supermodel Kate Moss left the hustle and bustle of London behind and permanently relocated to her Cotswolds home in Little Faringdon, where she reportedly grows her own veg. More of a secret gardener, Kate doesn’t post about her green activity, but you can find numerous photos of her countryside plot online.
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Will Young
Pop Idol’s first-ever winner, Will Young, is not just passionate about singing. His garden makes a frequent appearance on his Instagram feed and he has spoken about how spending time surrounded by greenery helps him ‘deal with his PTSD’.
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Stacey Solomon
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Jim Carter
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