Plant(s) of the Month: December flowers

What a mild 2025 December we are having! So mild, the weather is confusing some plants, such as lavender, Calendula and yellow-flowered Phlomis, out in flower at present.

One of the joys of winter is admiring all the window boxes, the wide variety of beautiful Christmas door-wreaths and observing what’s flowering in front gardens whilst out strolling.

I’ve seen Camellia japonica coming into flower and Camellia sasanqua (in Linda B’s garden) already flowering; Abutilon megapotamicum cascading over a boundary fence, just covered in red-yellow lantern-like flowers (very Christmassy); a mature Fuchsia shrub in full flower, reminding me of the twinkling lights on a Christmas tree.

Also cascading are the many flowers of Clematis ‘Freckles’ (in Linda W’s and Kathy A’s gardens). Arches of winter-flowering jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum) are lighting up boundaries, as is Mahonia, the insects attracted by their lily of-the-valley-like yellow spires.

Viburnum x bodnantense, with its fragrant, pink flower clusters can be seen in parks and gardens, and in the recently re-landscaped Hanover Square (with the pedestrian in mind) a mass of Viburnum tinus is in full bloom, accompanied by Choisya ternata, coming into flower once again.

Rosa x odorata ‘Mutabilis’ is also in full bloom and has been for weeks, its peach-pink-cream petals acting as a complement to neighbouring Daphne odora ‘Aureomarginata’, now coming into flower a month early and marrying up with the pink-cream buds of the variegated Yucca gloriosa.

Growing in Ali H’s garden is the Australian shrub, Correa backhouseana, which has small neat, evergreen leaves with furry undersides and beautiful, pale-green tubular flowers. Correa varieties come in cream, red-yellow and even white, the latter sounding very appealing.

And, lastly, ivy and Fatsia seed heads will soon be disappearing as birds raid the plants, so you’ll need to get in quick if you want some for your Xmas decorations, along with the red, orange and yellow berries of Berberis, much loved by the Fieldfare, flocks of which are now coming into the UK from chillier Northern Europe.

Christmas outdoor lights are looking fabulous in our neighbourhoods at present, shimmering and sparkling amongst the shrubs.

But it’s even more cosy bringing garden flowers and foliage into our homes to nestle amongst our indoor lights for that extra, extra sparkle!

Happy Christmas Everyone!

Anna L