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Plants for Winter interest
My Mum has requested a shrub for her Birthday (end Nov) to go in a new border in her North facing clay front garden. She doesn't want anything that will take much maintenance or grow too large as she doesn't like working out the front much. She specified, low maintenance, flowers, maybe scent (she doesn't want much)! It might also get quite dry because she has a large Sorbus and some other shrubs there already.
I have ordered her these:
Skimmia japonica subsp. reevesiana
(skimmia (berry-bearing)
Lonicera × purpusii 'Winter Beauty'
(winter honeysuckle)
Sarcococca confusa
(sweet box)
Does anyone have these shrubs already and can you give me any advice on care/maintenance. If any are really unsuitable I can just pop them in my garden! 
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Sarcococca is an excellent shrub for shade and no trouble at all. Lovely scent and looks OK all year
The Lonicera is not a shapely shrub but again a lovely scent. It might not like the dried out clay in summer and doesn't offer anything in that season
I don't grow skimmias, I have done but I don't like the way the leaves often look pale and sick.
In the sticks near Peterborough
I don't grow skimmias either because I have alkali soil but here is a site that gives advice. http://www.gardenfocused.co.uk/shrub/skimmia.php
I have a winter honeysuckle, lovely smell, but it's true that is just a rather messy green bush in summer.
Thanks Nut and Busy. Perhaps she could sandwich the Lonicera in between some other things to distract from the messy look in Summer? I was thinking the Skimmia and Sarcococca could go nearer the tree where it's more dry and shady.
The skimmia won't like it too dry so it may not be happy, but if you get some FYM in the soil to make it more retentive it might be ok. I also have Osmanthus burkwoodii in a similar site and it has lovely fragrant white flowers too. Not very exciting but a nice contrast to some of your other planting and seems very easy
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
She was talking about maybe putting some hellebores in there too. I don't think she wants any bare soil at any time of year because cats like to poo out front which drives her mad! Perhaps I should keep the Lonicera for my garden as it is more of an untidy wildlife effort and find her something better.
Hellebores would be very good but she does have to go out and remove all the old foliage as soon as the new shoots appear in winter/spring depending on variety. This removes old and possibly infected foliage from the plant but also allows it to show off its new flowers and fresh foliage.
Whatever you plant, do work in as much well rotted manure and/or garden compost as you can before planting as this will improve drainage when wet but also moisture retention when dry. Once everything is planted and watered mulch with something like chipped bark or cocoa shells in agood, thick layer as this will reduce weeds.
Have you thought about a choisya ternata Sundance? Golden foliage all year and orange smelling blossom in late spring/early summer once it gets established. Happy in clay and shade.
My favourite plant at this time of year is the winter jasmine - Jasminum nudiflorum. Always looks good in summer too but saves its lovely yellow flowers for November onwards.
I think she would like the choisya, I have that one in my own garden and she was there when I got it. I'll have to see what she makes of what I've got her and how much space is left. How hardy is that Jasmine Marion?
Why not out in bulbs near the front door, snowdrops, crocus, daffs, tulips alliums etc and top with forget me nots?
A A Milne
I have planted a sarcococca this year. It's grown already and has berries from last year that are turning red, as well as loads of flower buds. Can't wait for the scent!