Welcome to The Sunday Gardener

It is hard to resist Hellebores with their speckled and attractive flowers. Hellebores have a lot going for them, low maintenance, easy to grow, clump forming and tolerant of partial shade.

Hellebores look good just as one or two plants to lighten the winter gloom. If you have a larger area, particularly with some shade with shrubs and trees, it is a great setting for Hellebores which form clumps and will grow quite densely. More tips and images.

This is Garrya elliptica, and whilst it is a fairly modest evergreen shrub most of the year, in late winter and early spring it comes into its own with lovely tassels. 

If you are looking to plant a shrub with winter interest, check out growing Garrya elliptica. Apart from a sheltered spot, it is easy to grow and suitable for most conditions, including partial shade. 

My favourite winter scent, Lonicera fragrantissim the Winter Flowering Honeysuckle. It doesn't look much, but packs a real punch with a wonderful scent at this time of year. Easy to grow on any soil type, it grows well in both sun or partial shade.

Tips for growing Lonicera fragrantissim

If you are looking for a winter combination, Snowdrops and Hellebores are great together, and you could add Cyclamen. For a long flowering display coming into flower slightly later, you could also plant Pulmonaria and Primula vulgaris for a fabulous late winter and early spring display. These plants all like the same growing conditions, which is why they make an ideal combination. Plant into good fertile soil, and partial shade with woodland cover.