A winter garden of eternal life in London

There is one garden square in London that is alive with colour and shape and abundant flora throughout the year. Even in the darkest days of winter and in the uncertainty of pandemic, its continuous flowering provides a sense of eternal hope for all who live around it and have access to it.

For National Garden Scheme CEO, George Plumptre, who looks out across the square, the two acre garden has provided hope and solace throughout the lock-downs, not least the latest one in January. He’s been sharing the delights of the garden square on his twitter feed since last March and here we share some January delights.

: The Corsican hellebore is also called the holly-leafed hellebore on account of its handsome serrated evergreen leaves which form generous clumps. The clusters of its cool apple green flowers continue from now to spring.

: I wrote about early-flowering mahonias in November, now their cheery yellow flowers are an even more welcome sight in the garden. Some are neat and symmetrical like this one, others less tidy, but nearly all are blessed with delicious scent, just cut a few stems to take indoors.

: I’m always impressed by the few plants which continue to produce impressive new foliage in the depth of winter. Stars in the square are acanthus with its luxuriant shiny leaves bigger than plates and melianthus with its dramatic serrated edges. Refreshingly vigorous in January.

: The very idea of a rose blooming in January is uplifting, let alone the glorious cherry-red colour of ‘Bengal Crimson’ which flowers on and off for much of the year in the square garden. It is one of the romantic group of China roses which all have a lovely relaxed habit.

: Even in midwinter the square garden’s shy rarities perform. One is definitely this Correa, a tiny family of evergreen shrubs from Australia considered until recently too tender for UK gardens. You can see why this one is called ‘Ivory Bells’. I love the buds, like little acorns.

: One of the most characterful families of shrubs that perform in winter are the witch hazels. Their uniquely recognisable spidery flowers in shades of red, orange and yellow appear on bare branches. I think they’re nicely kooky, but they’re also reliable and pretty easy to grow.

: Hellebores are probably the most numerous flowerers in the square garden right now, with clumps scattered in most areas. Ours are mainly the characteristic mixture of creamy white and shades of pale pink and mauve. I like the combinations of flowers and buds and the soft colours.

: Of all the winter scented delights there is something special about daphnes. There are different ones, but their neat shape and gorgeous scent is universal. The little pink buds that open to waxy clusters of tight white, intensely fragrant are unforgettable.

: In the depths of mid-January any scattering of colour is welcome, so the little Japanese Quince tree is particularly welcome. It produces its wonderful pink flowers without fail every year and you can understand why it has been used on Japanese porcelain designs for centuries.

: One of the real pluses of many winter flowering plants is how long they last. This winter-flowering jasmine is a good example; I featured it in November, it’s still flowering two months later and will go on for a good few weeks. Constant cheer.

: On a gloomy January day a collection of camellias brings some welcome colour and warmth. A quartet are all flowering in the square garden right now and many others are covered in buds for the coming weeks. Gardening is all about expectation.

: Back to work with an uplifting burst of colour. These are the salvias I photographed in early November and they’re still flowering. I particularly like the way the low winter sun illuminates them so subtly, a real shot in the arm when most needed, as gardens always provide.

: It’s impossible not wonder at the enormous canopies of our plane trees which give the square garden so much of its character. Their stature is most impressive now when their bare branches are set against the clear winter sky, rather than when clothed in layers of summer foliage.

: Panda alert! We have some handsome clumps of bamboo in the square garden, at this time year their richly coloured canes and pale evergreen foliage are particularly striking. I like the expectation of the view through them, and the range of cane colour.

Click here to learn more about the Eccleston Square garden – which usually open for the National Garden Scheme each year in May – and a virtual visit in spring and summer 2020 please click here