At a time when much of the garden sleeps, winter flowers are all the more precious for their scarcity; an irrepressible bunch, undaunted by wind, frost or even a blanket of snow. Many are small, yet t

Toby explains how creating cold-weather beauty went from unusual to must-do

These elite seasonal performers really ‘do what they say on the tin’!

From grasses to ferns and herbaceous perennials, these choice winter evergreens light up borders with colour and texture, says Sue Fisher

Try our pick of the most beautiful plants you can buy now

While the world lies muted and still, winter-flowering shrubs release their secret perfumes – vanilla, clove, citrus and almond – showing us that beauty and hope thrive even in the coldest corners of the garden