Join us on January 12th for an inspiring look at the fresh green growth that defies the winter chill. From the fern-like foliage of cow parsley to the glossy leaves of cuckoo pint and the early buds of honeysuckle, this article will reveal the vibrant plants that bring a touch of spring to the coldest months. Learn about the hardy species that thrive in January and the fascinating ways they adapt to the season. Don't miss out on this uplifting exploration of nature's winter resilience!
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Fresh green growth
Although not coming into flower, a number of plants e.g. cow parsley Anthriscus sylvestris, goosegrass Galium aparine, ground elder Aegopodium podagraria and nettle Urtica dioica are all defying the weather and pushing up fresh, often vivid green growth among dead grass.
The most attractive of these is cow parsley with its more fern-like foliage which seems to defy any cold. It is quite edible but nearly always ignored due to its close resemblance to more poisonous species such as fool’s parsley and hemlock. Instead it was, and probably still is, used in winter bouquets.
In woods the glossy leaves of cuckoo pint Arum maculatum, dog’s mercury Mercurialis perennis, wood anemone Anemone nemorosa, celandine Ranunculus ficaria and possibly the ‘snouts’ of bluebells and attractively spotted leaves of Italian arum Arum italicum may be seen.
Other less noticeable species include docks, sorrels and stitchworts. Honeysuckle is often the first shrub to burst bud and near water it will be marsh marigold, water crowfoot and fool’s parsley that tend to catch the eye.
Everywhere the dead heads of hemlock Conium maculatum, nipplewort Lapsana communis, red campion Silene dioica and Canadian fleabane Conyza canadensis stand out. Some grasses fare better than others, with Cocksfoot Dactylis glomerata, False oat grass Arrhenatherum elatius, purple moor grass Molinia caerulea, wall barley Hordeum murinum and various bents Agrostis spp. are often all remaining in reasonable condition.
The first grass you are likely to see in full flower is the diminutive Annual meadow grass Poa annua, which happily exists among the cracks in London’s pavements. This unassuming plant is regarded as the most common grass in the world. It occurs from London to the southern tip of south America as well as from sea-level to the tops of mountains. It is another plant which can be found in flower almost every day of the year, releasing its seeds most months.
It colonises bare spaces very quickly and even does well in shade. Consequently it has been encouraged to grow round drinking pools in fields so that it stops cattle producing muddy quagmires. As Wordsworth said of the daisy “its home is everywhere”. It used to be called Suffolk Grass as whole fields of it grew there. With the seed not being available on the market, they used to be collected by hand to make lawns of a particularly vivid shade of green.
Leaves
By now virtually all the leaves have fallen from the trees, giving a chocolate chequerboard effect on many woodland floors. There are exceptions. Turkey oaks Quercis cerris are still covered in their dead snuff brown papery leaves which still remain resolutely on the tree. Small, protected beeches Fagus sylvatica also tend to retain their leaves. These are a richer red-brown.
Even some native oaks, depending on their age and aspect may have more than a threadbare appearance. Their leaves can just remain hanging by their tough vascular strands. The saddest-looking of all has to be the famously handsome Himalayan whitebeam Sorbus hedlundi with its large crinkled brown leaves. This rare tree, regarded by many as one of the most beautiful of all whitebeams can be found in the Royal Horticultural Society’s gardens at Wisley. It has leaves which are silvery underneath with rust coloured veins.
Throughout the whole of London evergreen variegated leaves so beloved by gardeners stand out in gardens and window boxes, especially the myriad varieties of ivy with their strong white veins. Of note among these variegated plants is a form of our wild tree mallow Lavatera arborea ‘variegata’. Its small purple flowers, which will come later, are no match for the lush, velvety leaf growth to be seen this month.
