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10 plants to protect over winter

Agapanthus 'Enigma' bloom

10 plants to protect over winter

BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Published: Wednesday, 18 March 2020 at 8:36 am

Not all plants are hardy enough to withstand a UK winter – we show you which ones to protect.

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The damp and cold can take their toll on our gardens, so spare a thought for tender plants struggling to survive in sub-zero temperatures.

Protecting tender plants takes little effort, and often all that's needed is a layer of horticultural fleece. This lets in light, air and water at the same time as providing vital insulation. Even plants that can withstand temperatures down to -5°C will benefit from some protection.

Agapanthus

Agapanthus 'Albus'

White, orb blooms of Agapanthus 'Albus'

Some species of African blue lilies are hardier than others. Keep spares in pots under glass or wrapped in fleece for the winter until hardiness is proven. Mulch hardy deciduous agapanthus planted in borders.

Banana

Banana planted in grasses

Banana planted amongst grasses

In milder areas, the hardier banana, Musa basjoo, can withstand winter, especially with a mulch spread over the roots and a thatch of straw to protect the crown. In colder regions, or for more tender species like Ensete ventricosum, lift and pot up the plants, then overwinter them under glass.

Canna

Canna 'Centenaire'.

Crimson Canna 'Centenaire'

Cannas overwinter underground as rhizomes. A 10cm duvet of mulch helps insulate against frost. In colder areas, lift plants in autumn, pot up and keep frost-free and barely watered until spring. Harden off before planting out in late May.

Cordyline

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Cordyline australis

Plain green-leaved cabbage palms and those with cream variegations tend to be tougher than those with striped or red-tinted leaves. Tie the leaves in an upright bunch, then protect with fleece or hessian strips.

Echium pininana

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Spire of tiny mauve Echium pininana flowers

These exotic natives of Madeira and the Canary Islands must reach a good size to flower. Your best bet is to plant echiums in a sheltered spot and wrap them with a double layer of fleece for the winter, giving them a chance to bloom the following season.

Melianthus major

Serrated, silver foliage of honey bush, Melianthus major

The honey bush is mainly grown for its exotic blue-green foliage. Protected plants in mild areas sometimes grow large enough to produce spikes of deep reddish-brown flowers. Wrap the foliage securely with fleece until there is no danger of frost.

Olive

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Young fruit on an olive tree

Olea europaea lends a Mediterranean feel to any garden, but cold winds and severe frosts can disfigure its foliage. Move small potted plants under glass for the winter (need not be heated). Protect permanent plantings with windbreaks or fleece in colder areas.

Pelargonium

Pelargonium 'The Boar'

Coral pink Pelargonium 'The Boar'

Keep pelargoniums in a frost-free greenhouse for the winter, ideally as young plants taken as cuttings during the summer. Or, lift undamaged plants from the garden, trim back, pot up and bring in. Prune and take cuttings in spring.

Pineapple lily

Pineapple lily in flower

Eucomis produces a spike of flowers under a tuft of bracts in summer, then dies back. Move potted plants under glass for winter, or wrap the pots in hessian and move to a sheltered spot. Mulch over the top of planted bulbs.

Tree fern

Large tree ferns should be wrapped up for the winter. Either cover the crown by bending old fronds over it, filling it with straw and putting a cap of fleece over the top, or simply wrap the entire plant in hessian.

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