Shrubs as Xmas Gifts

People are often lost for ideas for xmas gifts , as a garden designer near Oxford I always find a keen gardener is always happy to receive a plant. What better present than something to enjoy on the crisp cold days of winter. So I’d recommend  going out and purchasing  a  shrub to add  some delicious scents in the winter gardens.

Small Shrubs for Xmas Gifts

The Christmas box, Sarcocca confusa, is a great evergreen shrub, at this time of year.  It should be planted by a door to benefit from the delicious sweet scent, this can be bought in any local nursery or online.  They are very slow growing so I’d recommend a 2Ltr pot.  These are great shade loving plants.

Skimmia’s are rather spectacular  with their bright red berries, Skimmia japonica subsp. reevesiana is a good one as it is hermaphrodite, so it will produce flowers and berries without another plant needed.

All local nurseries such as Bunkers Hill near Kidlington will sell these or purchase them on line through crocus.co.uk for your xmas gifts

Large Shrubs for Xmas Gifts

If your friend has a little more space in their garden consider Daphne bodnantense ‘Charles Lamont‘ or  ‘Dawn’ as an Xmas gift  Charles Lamont has pale pink flowers while Dawn has bright pink flowers they both fade to white. These are deciduous upright shrubs that are worthy of placing in a large garden.

A delicious scent in the garden is Chimonanthus praecox, commonly known as wintersweet.  This plant is really unremarkable in the summer months and to be honest in the winter as well, except the scent will stop you in your track.  Dantily perched on the stems are waxy yellow flowers with maroon insides, a tiny beautiful flower.  These are best trained on a south facing wall, although you can grow these as shrubs.

I have used these shrubs in my garden designs so if you want some inspiration for your garden please contact Samantha Willis garden design.