At this time of year, when attention turns to the changing colours of autumn, conifers have a big role to play as they can provide year round colour.
This makes these hardy evergreens also the perfect choice for the Horticultural Trades Association’s (HTA) Plant of the Month for October, championed by Olympic rower Alex Gregory MBE.
Conifers are visually stunning and can transform a garden into something quite magnificent.
With several hundred varieties of conifers available in the UK in different colours, heights and shapes, there is one to suit every type of garden and they look just as good in a container on a patio or balcony as they do in a more spacious setting.
Not only do they add height and texture to a garden, conifers can provide scent and taste to indulge in.
Varieties such as the Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata ‘Atrovirens’) release a citrus and pineapple scent when their leaves are rubbed.
‘Cupressus Wilma’ is ideal for growing in large pots and containers or planted outside near doors and windows where the lemon scent can be enjoyed when brushing against the foliage.
Another variety of conifer, the juniper (Juniperus communis ) comes in a huge range of sizes and shapes from upright tall specimens to ground cover.
Not only are they stunning to look at, the berries are used in flavouring gin.
The diversity of form, texture, and colour is unmatched by any other group of plants in the garden.
They can be used as single specimens to spectacular effect, or combined to contrast with other plants such as deciduous trees, shrubs, perennials and grasses. The dwarf and miniature varieties are extremely suitable for alpine, scree, and trough gardens.
Being hardy, easy to care for and long-lasting, conifers are the ideal choice for the inexperienced gardener looking for a low maintenance but high impact plant.
One life-long fan of conifers is Alex Gregory MBE, Team GB Olympic Gold Medal Rower.
“Conifers have always been a part of my life.
“From the early days of climbing in their branches, to the family pilgrimage we took to the Californian giant redwoods,” said Alex.
“There’s something fascinating about the variety of sizes, colours and shapes conifers provide, they really are a feast for the senses. Every garden should have at least one conifer.”
National Conifer Week runs until October 5 – look out for it being highlighted at garden centres across the country.
