The Early Winter Garden 2024

We are told that Winter is imminent but, if truth be told it appears little different from our Autumn. We have experienced excessive amounts of rain and tantalisingly short periods of sunny settled weather. It has proved very difficult to plan ahead and impetuous buying has left my nursery area crowded with plants awaiting planting. I always promise myself to learn a lesson but my long suffering wife frequently reminds me that I haven’t!

During the seemingly endless weeks of winter small patches of colour in my garden are fortified by architectural plants which provide year round interest. Although not the easiest of plants to succeed with, those accustomed to arid conditions can conversely enhance the often wet winter garden, subject to judicious drainage and careful selection. By ‘judicious’ I mean the addition of copious amounts of grit to your soil to give a ratio of at least 60-40 in favour of grit and even more for heavy soils.

One of my favourites is Agave montana (feature image) which although originating from north east Mexico grows at an altitude where snow and sub zero temperatures are frequent, hence its common name Mountain Agave. Although fairly tolerant of wet conditions it demands a free draining soil to succeed. My own plant, which was purchased as a small seedling, is four feet wide and three feet tall and survived the ‘beast from the east’ without a blemish. It has large spiky deep green leaves which are enhanced by lasting imprints, patterned on older leaves by younger ones. Its only fault is its total absence of offsets or pups, requiring it to be propagated by seed. Not generally available in garden centres but small plants are easily obtained from specialist nurseries on line.

Yucca gloriosa has two variegated forms which both have a place in my front garden and often receive comment. Originating from the southern United States, it is commonly called Spanish Dagger, in reference to its long pointed leaves. Most commonly seen in the form Yucca gloriosa ‘Variegata’ with the dark green leaves narrowly edged with yellow, it provides form with muted colour, and appears as hardy as the species. However, I consider that the form Yucca gloriosa ‘Bright Star’ is more striking and showier. The variegation is exaggerated by a wide band of creamy gold which transforms to a rosy pink hue as temperatures fall. As might be expected this is much slower in growth than other forms and is supposedly more tender. This form does not produce as readily as others the renowned 3 feet flower stalks of white bell-like flowers, which appear in my garden late in the year and justify the epithet ‘gloriosa’. All forms are frequently available in garden centres in Spring and on line.