Guest Author - Hellie T.

February is known as a cold wet month when very little is done in the garden. However here are some plants that will flower in February and brighten your days.
Make sure you plant them somewhere that you will be able to see from the house or will be able to get to easily in the wet muddiness of February!



Helleborus niger or Christmas rose

Prefers a spot in part sun with well-drained soil.
Grows to 12 inches or 30cm. It has white or pale pink flowers.
The orientalis version has purple flowers and viridis has green flowers.






Eranthis hyemalis or winter aconite.
This has lovely bright yellow cup shaped flowers. It prefers a well drained spot in part shade but with rich soil. Reaches 2-4 inches or 5-10cm.




Bergenias
-have pinky rose or white coloured flowers. They are evergreen clump forming perennial with large leaves that like a well drained spot in the sun. However bergenias are very tolerant and will grow in most soils and situations.








Primroses start to flower in February if the weather is not too cold.




Snowdrops are in flower throughout February and no one can surely resist their delicate beauty.


Crocus – there are many varieties so look for the early flowering ones and if possible plant in informal groups or use pots that you can place by your doors.

Pansies – you can now get winter flowering pansies that will flower all through the winter for you.

If you have the space then why not plant
Daphne laureola
Which is a small evergreen shrub growing to 18 inches or 45cm . It has slightly fragrant pale green flowers in February followed by black berries later.
It likes a sunny spot with well drained soil.

Salix repens or creeping willow has lovely silky grey catkins that change to yellow as February progresses. It likes a sunny spot with moist soil and will grow to only 2 feet or 60cm.

Salix hastate wehrhahnii has silver grey catkins and bright green leaves. It grows to 3-4 feet or 91cm to 121cm.


Enjoy your garden!