Cheering reds

Hazel Sillver looks at the best plants to get in the ground now for scarlet berries, bark, flowers and leaves to brighten the dreary months of autumn and winter

- Hazel Sillver

DURING the bleak months of autumn and winter, when skies are grey, a splash of red in the garden lifts the spirits. Blazing-scarlet foliage brightens the scene on overcast days; and in snow and frost, vivid-red bark and stems add drama and beauty.

For most gardeners, bright-red fruit is usually the top choice, since it injects colour and attracts birds at the same time. Rose hips, crab apples, and the berries of cotoneaster, firethorn and holly will all provide birds (such as thrushes, waxwings and blackbirds) with a rich supply of nutrients.

Leaves that blush crimson when the seasons change prevent the garden from being a bland, rotting scene in midautumn. Red acers (such as ‘Bloodgood’) and winged spindle (Euonymus alatus) compete for the most brilliant scarlet foliage. And the magnificent stems of dogwood ‘Sibirica’ glow sealing-wax red in the barren depths of winter.

Add warmth and earthiness

These bold fire-engine reds look wonderful paired with the more mellowred tones of claret and dark raspberry, which add warmth and earthiness. For instance, Japanese wineberry (Rubus phoenicolasius) forms a wonderful web of rust-red stems in autumn and winter, and some elephant’s ears (such as Bergenia ‘Bressingham Ruby’) become a glossy shade of burgundy during the frosty months.