Seasonal Confusion
December in Cornwall presents its own peculiar gardening paradox. Whilst the rest of Britain settles into winter’s dormancy, here we’re often caught between seasons—one moment pruning roses in a T-shirt, the next battening down against Atlantic gales. This month I’ve been reflecting on this as I’ve watched my Camellia ‘Cornish Snow’ come into flower alongside the magnificent Dahlia imperialis in full bloom, a sight that would seem impossible anywhere else in Britain.
The mild, maritime climate that makes Cornwall such a gardener’s paradise also creates its challenges. Plants don’t know when to sleep, growth continues sporadically, and the usual gardening calendar becomes more of a rough guide than gospel. We’re gardening in a perpetual state of seasonal confusion. Yet this unpredictability is part of Cornwall’s charm—where else can you have the choice between Tazetta Narcissus and a bunch of roses to dress the Christmas table?
Griselinia littoralis (Image: Getty)
What to Do This Month
December is the perfect month for planting hedgerows and shelter belts, taking advantage of the soil’s residual warmth whilst plants slip into their winter reverie. But here in Cornwall, our hedgerows tell a rather different story—one of botanical immigration and maritime survival. Walk any coastal lane and you’ll find traditional natives like blackthorn and hawthorn happily rubbing shoulders with Chilean Luma apiculata and New Zealand Pittosporum—non-natives that have earned their place through sheer bloody-minded resilience to salt winds.
When planning new hedging, I’ve come to embrace this distinctly Cornish approach. Native species like field maple, holly, and gorse provide the backbone, but one shouldn’t overlook the naturalised exotics that have proven their worth in our maritime crucible. Griselinia littoralis forms impenetrable windbreaks with the determination of a Victorian governess, whilst Olearia traversii shrugs off salt that would decimate hornbeam hedging.
For exposed gardens, plant shelter first, beauty second—a lesson learned the hard way. Once you’ve created that essential shelter, you can indulge in more tender delights within its protection. Cell-grown trees and hedging plants are worth every extra penny—they hit the ground running with urgency that our challenging conditions demand.
Mulch (Image: Getty)
If You Do Just One Thing
Mulch around tender plants with bracken, straw, or compost. Even in mild Cornwall, sudden temperature drops can catch subtropical plants off guard, and a protective layer can make all the difference between survival and disappointment.
Plant of the Month
Camellia sasanqua ‘Crimson King’ (Image: Getty)
Camellia sasanqua ‘Crimson King’
This remarkable autumn-flowering camellia brings colour just when it’s needed most. Unlike spring-flowering cousins, C. sasanqua varieties bloom from November through February, providing elegant single flowers in deep crimson. The glossy evergreen foliage provides year-round structure, whilst the flowers are remarkably weather-resistant. Perfect for sheltered spots in partial shade, thriving in Cornwall’s acidic soils.
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