White Flowers for Winter Containers
White flowers for winter containers. Previously I have looked at flowers to create a calm garden for summer and white and cream flowers for autumn. So let’s look at some of the plants that are in bloom or provide a good display in winter. I’ve selected plants that usually respond well to growing in containers, which you can move close to your door to enjoy as you dash past, trying to avoid the rain.
Single colour displays add a sense of calm and cohesion and white will lift a dull corner. Or, if you want to make one plant in particular stand out in a display, surround it with white or pale cream flowers and light foliage to really help it pop!
Skimmia japonica ‘Finchy’
Skimmia are evergreen plants that prefer to grow in shade or partial shade. ‘Finchy’ is a bushy shrub with dark, glossy leaves. During autumn, flower heads form, and I think the unopened buds are delightfully eye-catching at a time when so many plants are dying back for the winter. The buds remain throughout the winter and open in March and April. The tiny white flowers release their sweet scent, therefore, making this plant ideal for planting near the door and in seasonal containers. Move pots, tubs and containers close to the house during the cooler months. This is a male variety, so won’t produce berries, but will help with pollination of nearby Skimmia. Height and spread 60 to 80cm (2 to 2ft 8in). Grow in acid or neutral soil or peat-free compost. It is hardy throughout most of UK and Ireland.
Fatsia japonica ‘Murakumo-nishiki’
You will find this in most garden centres labelled Fatsia ‘Camouflage’ and right now, it is covered with globe-shaped flower heads with tiny white flowers that have white petals and a cream centre. By spring, these will have become black, inedible berries. This hardy, evergreen foliage is green and gold variegated, with splashes of darker green. Over time, this plant will need a very large container, alternatively, grow in the ground. Mature height and spread 200cm (6ft 6in). However, younger plants are ideal for container displays for several years. Grow in a sheltered position, in partial shade. It prefers east- or west-facing gardens and moist, but well-drained soil or compost.
Narcissus papyraceus
Most commonly known as the ‘Paper White’ daffodil, the flowers of this perennial bulb are highly fragrant, and often grown in containers for inside the home. The strap-like leaves are blue-green and the flowers grow in clusters of up to 10 flowers on each stem. Height 35cm (14in). Hardy throughout most of the UK and Ireland. Grow in a sheltered position in a west- or south-facing spot, in full sun or partial shade. They prefer soil that is constantly moist during the growing season, but not waterlogged. Stand the container on small feet to raise it off the ground to ensure good drainage.
Cyclamen coum subsp. coum f. pallidum ‘Album’
Cyclamen have delicate-looking blooms, but don’t be fooled by their appearance, Cyclamen coum are tough little plants and will form a mat of leaves that spreads over time. Make sure that you have bought hardy cyclamen as those sold for indoor growth will not survive our winters. Height 8 to 20cm (3 to 8 inches) and spread 10 to 20cm (4 to 8 inches). Available in a variety of colours from white to dark red, and most shades between. Cyclamen coum subsp. coum f. pallidum ‘Album’ has white flowers that often have a purple mark at the base of each petal. Flowers are held on pink-brown or purple stems adding even more interest to your winter display.
Hellebore x hybridus ‘Double Ellen White’
Hellebores grow in a wide range of colours and forms and many cross-pollinate freely. I spotted this plant at Aberglasney Gardens in Carmarthenshire and was instantly drawn to it. Multiple layers of sepals protect the tiny tubular petals at the centre, forming a slightly shaggy-looking flower. ‘Double Ellen White’ is semi-evergreen, meaning that it is evergreen except during severe winters. Grow in neutral to alkaline peat-free soil or compost. Provide a sheltered spot in full sun or partial shade and it will continue to produce flowers throughout the cooler months. Height and spread 35cm (14in).
Viola odorata alba
White sweet violets have long been one of my favourite low-growing plants. The dainty flowers appear in late winter and very early spring. They are nestled among and also, held above the heart-shaped leaves. The whole plant reaches just 10cm to 15cm (4 to 6in) height and spread. Grow in any type of soil, in a sheltered spot in partial shade. If you can find a spot with some winter sun, but that is more shaded during summer, the plants should thrive. You can propagate by division, but as they will self-seed readily, it is usually easier to allow them to increase in number naturally. Hardy throughout UK, Ireland and northern Europe and ideal white flowers for winter containers
Ornamental brassica
These decorative cabbages are available in a range of colours and leaf shape. Choose one with white or cream variegation to add an intense splash of colour to a container. They prefer fertile soil or compost that does not become waterlogged. Grow in partial shade for the strongest colour in the leaves, but will grow in full sun too. Hardy throughout UK and Ireland, it grows to 40cm (16in) height and spread 30cm (12in).
Hedera helix ‘Variegata’
English ivy is usually a grown as a climber or used as groundcover, where in a smaller garden it can become a bit of a thug. However, in containers, it works well as a trailing plant that will tumble over the edges of the pot or tub, softening the edges and adding another dimension to the display. The leaves of these evergreen plants have white or cream edges and markings. Easy to propagate from cuttings, or by layering. The stems produce roots when they touch the soil or compost, simply remove a rooted section and transfer to a new container or site in your garden.
Galanthus nivalis
Snowdrops are usually the first bulbs to flower from mid to late winter. There are so many varieties to choose from, and I don’t know a huge amount about them, so I will leave naming individual varieties to the Galanthophiles among the team at Amateur Gardening. That said, I know enough to know that I like the flowers, I relish the first sighting of them early in the year and I think they are an ideal addition as white flowers for winter containers. The common snowdrop grows to 15cm (6in) in height and each bulb produces one flower that hangs down and sways in the breeze. Each fragrant flower has green markings on the inner segments.
Best purchased ‘in the green’, in other words, after they have flowered, they can be lifted and the clumps are divided. Which means a little forward planning is required to include them in your winter containers. A few years ago, I bought some in the green and grew them on in small pots until I was ready to plant them into containers in the late autumn.
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