Bare BEAUTY

When the last of the autumn leaves have dropped, it’s time for colourful bark, stems and seed heads to take centre stage

- CHRIS MORLEY

Structural splendour

There’s so much to enjoy in the winter garden – plants with richly coloured stems and bark, as well as interesting silhouettes and textures, can create mesmerising focal points that are a joy to look at on drab days. So don’t be in a hurry to cut down faded herbaceous perennials – many hold their shape and have fascinating seed heads in muted palettes that provide a feast for birds and a winter hideout for insects.

Standout stems