­Garden­pedia

Mahonia is a charming plant that grows in almost all kinds of soils and weather conditions. It’s medium sized and reaches around 8 to 12 feet in height. The plant is resistant to most of the garden pests and, due to its durability and coarse texture, it’s considered invasive in some US states. However, if you are planning to make your garden wildlife-friendly, mahonia is your answer – the plant gives edible fruits, which you can make jam with.

Mahonia doesn’t like soggy wet soil. Grow in a partial shade spot and prune it after flowering.

Named after an Ancient Greek goddess, you can be certain this flower will possess intricate beauty and fragrance. Daphne is an evergreen shrub with shiny and green foliage, and it reaches around 3 ft in both height and width. Its flowers look like little crosses, dyed in white to dark pink.
Sow the plant on a spot that will be lit by the morning sun each day, or under a dappled shade. It doesn’t need frequent pruning or watering – do it only when it’s necessary. A way you can help daphne grow faster and easier is to plant it in slightly elevated beds.

Christmas rose is a part of the evergreen perennials. It’s relatively small and reaches around 10 to 15 inches in height. Legend has it, a little shepherd asked the angels for a gift to give to newly-born baby Jesus. At that moment, a beautiful Christmas rose appeared out of the snow as a holy present.
The plant is durable and easy growing. It loves partial shade and grows best in a moist but well-draining soil. Christmas rose blooms with white flowers which get a hint of pink when they age.

Winter jasmine is one of the easiest to grow plants in your garden. It doesn’t have any pest problems, nor it is prone to typical plant diseases. In addition, the winter jasmine can tolerate any weather and any soil type.
Winter jasmine will look best if you decide to use it to cover slopes and walls in your garden with almost no efforts needed from the gardener’s side. It spreads easily but it’s not an invasive plant. Although it doesn’t have any special requirements as far as outer conditions are involved, winter jasmine will surely grow best under full sun. Prune it as soon as flowering kicks in.

Camellias are easy growing shrubs or small trees that love light shades and hate frost. During winter, protect from freeze with horticultural fleece or bubble wrap.
However, with proper garden care, you will have beautiful camellias blooming during the coldest of seasons.

Plant them in late spring and prune after flowering. A slightly acidic soil will benefit the delicate flowers, as well as a cool and dry winter.

Dubbed as one of the most durable plants, snowdrops are pest-free. Their white delicate flowers grow best in a moist, but well-drained soil under the shade of a tree.
During most of the year, the snowdrops are dormant beneath the ground level. Therefore, the area where you plant them may look barren. To avoid that, you can plant ferns on top to conceal the space.

Nemesia is a versatile plant that serves many purposes. This flower can be used as a ground cover, edging plant, container plant or in a hanging basket. Due to its shape and its frequent bicolour flowers, nemesia reminds of orchids. It reaches 1 ft height and prefers soil, which is rich in organic matter.

Grow nemesia under a full sun or afternoon shade. Cooler temperatures work fine for the plant, as it fits the British climate.

Violas are perennial plants, which can be grown as annuals. Plant them in autumn and you will get a 365-day year round blooming cycle. The once wildlife plants were cultivated during the Dark Ages as domestic, and today violas are even present in the cookbooks of experimental chefs.
Violas are easy to grow and easy to spread – however, if you live in a forestry area and you’ve got the occasional wildlife visitors, such as deer and rabbits, you should know that they like to snack on violas. Deterrents such as human hair, chives, garlic, onions and moth balls can help chase them away.

This beauteous plant comes in a range of white to pink and purple colours. It’s one of the most heat and drought hardy domestic decorative plants, however, it’s not frost-resistant. It belongs to the mustard family which probably explains its strong fragrance. Sweet alyssum is highly sought after in alpine rock gardens.
Tolerant to any soil, sweet alyssum will only prefer moderate moisture and good drainage. The best way to ensure the plant’s longevity is to trim it immediately after blooming.

Snapdragon’s name comes with its flowers’ resemblance to a dragon head. Children are arguably its biggest fans – they like to squeeze the flower’s sides so that its “mouth” opens and snaps shut.
The flower is able to bloom in winter and can handle frost. It comes in almost all ranges of colour, except blue. Grow under full sun with well-draining soil.