Five plants that are ‘hard to kill’ and perfect for winter

Even the most skilled gardeners will know that the winter months can wreak havoc on your plants.

The colder temperatures can make it difficult for plants, trees and flowers to thrive and grow. If you don’t work on them, they often won’t survive until spring.

But if you still want your garden to look presentable while it’s cold outside, you’ll be happy to know that you can add certain plants that can withstand the colder climates.

Garden experts at Homegrown garden centre have lifted the lid on five ‘hard to kill’ plants that could be worth picking up.

Described as ‘low-maintenance plants that do the work for you’, here is a list of expert-recommended patches of greenery.

Pyracantha

Pyracantha is a beautiful shrub with attractive flowers and beautiful red, yellow or orange berries in autumn and winter.

Often found against a wall or fence, it makes an excellent evergreen hedge and can withstand the colder winter temperatures.

It also provides color throughout the seasons, with white blossoms in spring, dense green leaves and an abundance of vibrant berries in a choice of yellow, orange or red.

Callicarpa

Known as the beauty berry, Callicarpa bears dense clusters of small, jewel-like, purple-blue berries against bare stems. The dark green foliage also comes into its own in autumn, turning golden brown and red before falling.

Callicarpas are medium-sized shrubs and look good in a mixed border, or planted as a specimen near a path or window.

Cotinus coggygria

Also known as the ‘smoke tree’, this specimen has round, deep purple leaves that become redder in autumn and become large, pinnate and pink in summer.

Shrubs come in all sizes and can be used as focal points, hedges, ground covers, backdrops and more. Many shrubs are great for wildlife and provide valuable food and shelter, which is extra important in winter.

Japanese Azalea

The Japanese Azaleas are part of the Rhododendron family and show off beautiful large flowers in the spring, but can also thrive in the winter.

They are known as ‘semi-evergreen’ because they produce small green flowers during the colder months that are then replaced in the spring.

This makes the Japanese azalea a great decorative garden plant, even in winter.

Euonymus alatus

Finally, another shrub, this plant is a great option to add to your garden this winter.

Also known as the burning bush, this plant comes into its own during the colder months, with the leaves turning a vibrant strawberry red.

It is a popular choice for this time of year as the plant is hardy and versatile, meaning it can survive until spring.