RHS Harlow Carr: Forget Blue Monday colourful winter blooms set to dazzle following cold snap
With the temperature set to drop this week, the charity is expecting a prolonged display of winter favourites that will last well into February.
Witch hazels, winter-flowering honeysuckle, Japanese quince, hellebores, and snowdrops are all now in full flower after the heat and light of last summer promoted good bud formation, December’s freezing conditions provided the necessar y chilling that plants need to flower, and recent above-average temperatures promoted speedier growth.
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Hide AdWith the forecast suggesting temperatures will fall very slightly over the next few weeks, this flowering is set to continue into February with flowers slower to "go over” in colder conditions.
Tim Upson, Director of Horticulture at the RHS said: “This year has already got off to a colourful start in gardens with plants exploding into flower all at once and riding out what has been a ‘see-saw’ year in terms of weather. Although spring has not yet sprung there is already much to see, with the flash of dogwood stems and heady scent of winter-flowering honeysuckle helping to chase the winter blues away and these dramatic displays are set to continue into February.”