Five Favourites, December 2025

I was expecting it to be a challenge this month, finding five ‘favourites’ in my garden. Would I find anything at all?! Winter came early and we had snow and ice in November. But as I wandered around the brown and soggy garden, camera in hand, waiting for something to grab my attention, I was surprised to find so much beauty. In fact I had to narrow down my choices! So here are five plants I am enjoying in December. Should you wish to join me with YOUR five favourites, please do, and leave a link below!

1. Naturally a grass had to be included – I love all my grasses any time of year, but in winter they stand out even more. And I must admit this was among my favourites  in October too: Miscanthus ‘Federweiße’ (or ‘Silberfeder’).

This tall, elegant grass bowed to the ground when we had snow, and looked lovely with frost on its feathery plumes too, but it has recovered well and is as upright again now as in August.

2. Foliage also stands out more in the winter – so many perennials and shrubs are now simply bare stems, or have even shrunk back completely, but a few seem to come into their own now. One of these is Epimedium.

The leaves have such striking patterns and colouring. Eye-catching.

3. My third choice is also foliage. This surprised me most of all as I thought this evergreen shrub usually only sends out flame red shoots in the late winter/early spring. But the new shoots on Photinia fraseri ‘Dicker Toni’ (Fat Toni!) are already quite prominent and I am so glad I added a second one this summer to The ‘Edge.

Their glossy leaves, both the green and the red, add some cheerful winter interest and add a bit of protective cover for the smaller birds too. (We have a lot of birds of prey!)

4. Number four is Violas. I have several new ones that I planted up in containers in the autumn. A severe frost will make them shrivel and look like they are done for the year, but these amazing little plants will then raise their heads as soon as it warms up again and shine! I expect when we get longer periods of temperatures below zero, or very damp weather they will die back, but as soon as some spring sunshine arrives they will start growing again. I rarely lose one as long as they are a bit sheltered from rain and snow and if I have dead-headed them and removed any mouldy leaves.

5. So now, what will be number five? More foliage? Another grass?  Maybe a solitary flower?

No.

Seedheads!

These gorgeous fluffy seedheads are Chrysopsis speciosa ‘Sunnyshine’, also known as Heterotheca villosa ‘Golden Sunshine’. The flowers of the Chrysopsis were also among my October favourites. I have recommended this plant before, and have yet to meet anyone else who has experience with it. The seedheads – on sturdy tall stems – really do stand up well to wintry weather, and this winter I must keep an eye on how long they actually do remain standing.

So, it was a very pleasant task choosing my favourites this time after all  – my garden always comes up with a few surprises! I wonder what your favourites in your own gardens are? Leave me a comment and share, or join me with a post. I shall next be posting Five Favourites in mid January… more surprises? I hope so!



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