PERHAPS you have had your fill of snow already, following the unseasonably cold and early start to winter, or perhaps the coldest weeks are yet to come. Although the days may be getting imperceptibly longer, the New Year usually brings with it the deepest freeze of the season.

Snow though, or no snow, there are still a few plants out there that can bring a bit of pleasure on even the darkest and chillest of days. One such is the Snowberry or Symphoricarpos albus as it is more correctly and scientifically known. This small shrub has lovely clusters of waxy white ball like fruits held among its bare branches. Like shining pure white marbles or tiny globe lights among the twigs, they are quietly satisfying and surprisingly long lasting. Break them open and you will find a snowy sparkling white pulp surrounding the two seeds. Birds do eventually eat them, but as in all the best berrying garden plants, they are far from their favourites and will last a long time on the bare shoots.

This plant spreads slowly by suckering and occasionally by self sown seedlings but can be easily kept in check if need be. Usually though, its spreading habit can be quite an asset as it can be left to happily colonise slightly shady areas beneath trees where it makes for an excellent and trouble free ground cover. It grows to about a metre in height, and although not the showiest plant in the summer garden, is certainly one of the more useful. It thrives in full sun and good soils, but can also fill those marginal spaces with no fuss, providing useful cover for birds and excelling at out competing the weeds.

Its flowers in summer are small, modest and pretty in shades of pink, opening in small clusters at the tips of the branches. These later go on to develop into the groups of pea-sized fruits, which lighten and brighten the branch tops through from autumn’s leaf fall right through into the New Year.

The berries are said to be poisonous, though seldom sampled as we have a natural inbuilt aversion to the look of white fruits. Interestingly, over in their native North America their ghostly whiteness led to their alternative name of ‘Corpse Berries’ and they were believed to provide sustenance to wandering ghosts.

Chris Crowder is head gardener at Levens Hall

chris.crowder@me.com

Jobs to do this week:

While everyone else is leafing through the holiday brochures, now is the time to get in all the plant and seed catalogues and start to plan for the planting year ahead. Order your seed supplies, and early deliveries of plants such as cabbage, cauliflower and lettuce from specialist growers.

If you are interested in growing giant onions, it is traditional to sow their seed on Boxing Day or thereabouts.

Check those stores of overwintering ornamental tubers and rhizomes like dahlias and cannas. Remove any that have rotted and make sure they have not become so dry they are shrivelling up.