Gardening expert reveals her favorite plant for garden color all year round

The gardening enthusiast reveals a key plant to brighten the winter months

border of heleniums, colorful plants and grasses
(Image credit: Getty)

Summer might still be in full swing, but once the weather begins to cool and the days get shorter as we head into autumn, many of us can start to feel less enthusiastic about spending time in the garden. Compared to the bountiful months of May and June, autumn and then winter can bring harsher conditions with sharp frosts and storms - and, crucially, far fewer hours of daylight.

One avid gardener has shared her secrets to maintaining a vibrant display all year round, including one fiery garden design idea that comes into its own at a time when our gardens are at their most bare. So even though the sun is still shining now and winter seems a long way off at the moment, by planning ahead you'll be able to ensure there's just as much interest in your plot during the cooler months too.  

Gardening enthusiast Sarah Pajwani, who recently appeared on the BBC's Gardeners' World, has transformed her garden in Berkshire, UK, over a period of eight years. 'I came to realize, looking out on the garden, winter is an incredibly important season to have something good to look out on. 

'Because, in Britain, it lasts a flipping long time,' she says. Sarah recommends picking a key plant now that will look good in each of the seasons, including winter. 

Cornus 'Midwinter Fire': garden expert's top pick for year-round color

midwinter fire stems in red

Cornus 'Midwinter Fire'

(Image credit: Alamy)

In one of her garden borders, Sarah decided to plant 'a long curvy backdrop' of Cornus 'Midwinter Fire' - one of our favorite winter garden ideas. This is a hardy, fast-growing shrub that's happy in full sun to part shade, that will look like nothing out of the ordinary for most of the year.

Most of the time, it simply provides a green, leafy backdrop for more vibrant and colorful flowers. 'But, probably from October on, its leaves turn a buttery yellow,' says Sarah. 

'Then, particularly in November, December, January, February, the leaves fall off and you're left with these stems that go from yellow at the bottom through orange, through bright red. I'd say it's the star of the entire garden,' she adds.

midwinter fire in vivid red by a bare tree in winter

The vibrant hues of Cornus 'Midwinter Fire'

(Image credit: Alamy)

Sarah's planting suggestions for spring color

As we move into spring, Sarah says it's all about spring-flowering bulbs, such as crocuses, daffodils, alliums and tulips. These joyful favorites will always bring interest to any garden from around February to May. 

Don't forget, there's plenty of tips on planting bulbs, with advice on when and how to do it, in our dedicated guide. 

pink tulips in flowerbed

(Image credit: iBulb)

Planting choices for late summer color

Sarah suggests planting dierama for a brief burst of color in July, a moment when things get tricky because many of the summer-blooming plants will have faded. She also mentions heleniums, achillea and echinacea.

Penstemon, also known as Beardtongues are good flowers that will keep on going through late summer into winter, as long as you dead-head them regularly. Asters, Japanese anemones and tender salvias are also good options for bringing interest in late summer. 

Helenium Sahin’s Early Flowerer

Helenium 'Sahin’s Early Flowerer'

(Image credit: Alamy)

It just goes to show that stunning flowerbed ideas that look full and exciting every day of the year might be easier than you think, especially if you keep things ticking over with some of Sarah's uplifting suggestions. Which ones will you be planting? 

Millie Hurst
News Writer

Millie Hurst has worked in digital journalism for five years, having previously worked as a Senior SEO Editor at News UK both in London and New York. She joined the Future team in early 2021, working across several brands, including Gardeningetc. Now, she is Senior Content Editor at Ideal Home, taking care of evergreen articles aimed at inspiring people to make the most of their homes and outdoor spaces.