What to plant now in the garden for instant colour?

GDB2222

I really want to add some instant colour to our garden. What’s a good thing to plant at this time of year, please?

We have been to the garden centre and planted primulas and pansies, and they seem to be surviving the very cold weather. The plan is also to put in some early bulbs, if I can still dig into the soil. Any other suggestions, please?

Also, we have a window box quite high up, so something for there that’s tall enough to be seen from the ground or will drape over the outside of the window box would be good.

Lola_balola

Cyclamen are beautiful this time of year and will return year after year.
if you wanted to spend a bit more then a Hellebore or two would look lovely. 

twopenny

I second the Helebore. There are lots of new varieties that are beautiful, long flowering and any bees that are out and about love them.

I have cyclamen planted with Lambs Ears and the grey foliage sets them off.

Varigated hebe is tough and adds a bit of sunshine, mines still flowering a bit.

GDB2222

The pansies I planted are looking a bit dry. Do I dare water them in this freezing weather?

twopenny

You can use luke warm water in the morning

If the ground is actually freezing then they won't be taking up water that's there, if you're in a really cold place with ice and snow then perhaps wait a day or two when the temps are supposed to go up.

They're tough little things, they should recover like us once it gets warmer

Woolsery

GDB2222 said:

I really want to add some instant colour to our garden. What’s a good thing to plant at this time of year, please?

Flags. A Ukrainian one if you want to virtue-signal your solidarity, or a Russian one if you want your wheelie bin to go missing and its contents strewn all over your garden in pretty patterns. My personal advice is to put up the flag of St George, especially draped from an upstairs window. That will lead to some very colourful language from any neighbour trying to sell their house in the current market!

When the snow clears and the ground unfreezes, you might also want to consider a few shrubs too, like variegated hollies, or maybe Elaeagnus ebbingei, 'Limelight' which is looking pretty good right now in my garden.

OK forget the flags!

greenbee

Woolsery said:

GDB2222 said:

I really want to add some instant colour to our garden. What’s a good thing to plant at this time of year, please?

<snip>

OK forget the flags!

There are always Christmas lights🎄 

[Deleted User]

@GDB2222 are you only thinking along the lines of annuals/bedding or permanent established plants ?

GDB2222

[Deleted User] said:

@GDB2222 are you only thinking along the lines of annuals/bedding or permanent established plants ?

Just annuals/bedding please. 

Woolsery

greenbee said:

Woolsery said:

GDB2222 said:

I really want to add some instant colour to our garden. What’s a good thing to plant at this time of year, please?

<snip>

OK forget the flags!

There are always Christmas lights🎄 

How many watts? Think of the children!

Bellis daisies are cheerful things in the not entirely permanent, but tough. department. They're for another year now. This is not an endorsement of the source:

https://www.gardeningdirect.co.uk/blog/how-to-grow-bellis.html

Katiehound

Annuals- calendula- usually  a fixture once you grow a few & they seed themselves. Some are still flowering.

hebes are good but I think my variegated one will be a dodo soon- leaves look weird (transparent)  You get evergreen foliage and flowers.