Talking about gardens over the years, one question always comes up: how do we create interest and colour all year round? The time of year that requires the most thought is, naturally, mid‑winter.

Here in the southern hemisphere, we’ve reached the winter solstice. In Dunedin, the sun now shines for barely eight and a half hours a day. While our first instinct is to think about flowers for winter colour, it’s just as important to look to other forms of seasonal interest.

Winter gives us a fresh opportunity to show off the structure and character of our gardens. With the lush green leaves and bright flowers of summer gone, plants with striking stems and bark take centre stage. The vivid red stems of Cornus siberica (Red‑Stemmed Dogwood) are spectacular at this time of year, as is Acer palmatum ‘Senkaki’ (Coral Bark Maple), especially when lit to highlight its pink‑red winter glow. For smaller gardens, Betula jacquemontii ‘Dazzler’ (White Himalayan Birch) offers a ghostly white framework that seems to shine in moonlight.

It can be tempting to completely tidy the garden in autumn, but one of the strongest gardening trends now, is to let nature take its course. Leaving seed heads and dried stems on perennials through winter adds texture, provides decoration, and feeds wild birds when food is scarce. Roses with hips left on—such as Rosa rugosa, R. canina, and R. ‘Penelope’—are especially beautiful. Other perennials that hold their form well include Eryngium planum (Sea Holly), Echinacea (Coneflower), Rudbeckia (Black‑eyed Susan), Sedum (Stonecrop), Nigella (Love‑in‑a‑mist), poppies, and grasses like Calamagrostis (Feather Reed Grass) or our native Festuca coxii (Blue Fescue).

Evergreen plants also step into the spotlight in winter. Nandina domestica (non‑invasive Sacred Bamboo) intensifies to bright reds and oranges, as does Pseudowintera ‘Red Leopard’ (Horopito). Choisya ‘Sundancer’ (Mexican Orange Blossom) and Coleonema album (Breath of Heaven) bring brilliant lime‑green foliage. For a bold splash of colour, try the New Zealand native Lophomyrtus ‘Red Dragon’, paired with a group of Heuchera (Coral Bells) as groundcover.

Variegated foliage adds interest. Pachysandra ‘Silver Edge’ (Japanese Spurge) makes a lovely groundcover, while the new Carex ‘Feather Falls’ softens garden edges. For smaller gardens, Pittosporum ‘Elizabeth’ stands out with its pink‑and‑white variegated leaves.

Winter is also the perfect time to introduce non‑plant features that lift the garden. Coloured plant pots—deep blues, terracotta, mustard, or charcoal—add instant vibrancy and help frame key plants. Garden seating, whether a simple wooden bench or a painted metal chair, creates a focal point and invites you to enjoy the winter light. Sculptures and statues add personality and structure, standing strong when the rest of the garden is resting.

As always, if you’d like guidance on what to plant for winter colour in your area, we’re here to help.

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Winter Gardens That Shine!