These cheerful flowering plants begin producing buds as temperatures cool in autumn and continue flowering right through until spring.
Cyclamen are extremely popular for adding colour during winter, producing masses of flowers in shades of red, white, pink and violet.
Selective breeding has produced many attractive varieties. Alongside the traditional single flowers, there are now frilled forms, double “butterfly” flowers and beautiful variations in leaf marbling. Cyclamen are generally available in two main types — miniature varieties and larger-flowering forms with bigger foliage.
Although usually sold as potted plants, cyclamen grow from bulbs. During the hot summer months, they naturally die down and become dormant before re-emerging into growth as cooler autumn weather arrives.
Because they are winter growers they thrive in sheltered, shady positions and do not require a lot of direct sunlight.
Cyclamen are extremely versatile and grow well in both garden beds and containers. Good drainage is important, as overly wet soil can cause bulbs to rot. Poor air movement combined with damp conditions may also encourage fungal problems such as botrytis.
Pots remain one of the most popular ways to grow cyclamen. Containers allow them to brighten patios, entrances and outdoor living spaces throughout winter. One of their greatest strengths is adaptability — they perform well in a wide range of positions, from sunny patios to sheltered areas receiving very little sunlight.
Cyclamen also look fantastic in hanging baskets where they can be combined with other winter annuals such as pansies. Their bright flowers help lift otherwise dull winter spaces.
For best flowering results, cyclamen benefit from regular feeding. Dried blood fertiliser is particularly effective due to its high nitrogen content, encouraging strong leafy growth and abundant flowers. Flower booster fertiliser can also be applied at planting time and every few weeks during flowering. These fertilisers are also excellent for pansies and polyanthus.
Winter flowering shrubs
Winter gardens benefit greatly from shrubs that provide flowers, colourful foliage and year-round structure. Including a few winter-flowering shrubs is a great way to add cheer during colder months.
Camellias are among the best-known winter-flowering shrubs and many varieties are flowering now. Flower colours range from white through to pinks and rich reds, with both single and double forms available.
Camellias are valued not only for their long flowering season but also their glossy evergreen foliage and suitability for many different garden styles.
Ericas are another useful group for winter colour. Varieties such as Winter Fire and Think Pink provide masses of flowers during colder months and add brightness to the garden.
Leucadendrons are also excellent winter shrubs, valued for their colourful foliage and long-lasting flowers. Their blooms are particularly useful as cut flowers indoors.
Nandinas are extremely popular because of their striking winter foliage colour and easy-care nature. As temperatures cool, their foliage deepens into brilliant shades of red and burgundy. Nandinas suit both sun and shade, tolerate coastal conditions and generally require very little maintenance.
A standout variety is Nandina Pygmy, which forms a neat compact mound ideal for smaller gardens, borders and containers. The foliage begins green with yellow tones before developing strong red colouring through autumn and winter.
Nandina Gulfstream is another excellent selection with more finely divided foliage and brilliant winter colour. It is highly decorative while remaining tidy and easy care, making it perfect for low-maintenance gardens.
Coprosmas provide a similar effect with intense foliage colour becoming more vibrant during cooler weather. Varieties such as Wendy and Evening Glow are especially popular for their rich seasonal tones.
Coprosmas tolerate a wide range of soil conditions and grow happily in both sunny and semi-shaded areas, although they do prefer protection from severe frosts.
If your garden is looking a little dull as winter approaches, adding some of these colourful plants can make a huge difference.
There are also many other excellent winter performers that I haven’t got space to mention including grevilleas, proteas, polygala, coelonema, astartea and hellebores, all of which help keep gardens vibrant during the colder months.
For more gardening information visit www.springvalegardencentre.co.nz.
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