Christmas is coming! It can be a bit tricky buying a gift for a gardener. Who knows what plants they like best or what they have already got? As a gardener myself I know that something that I use a lot is always welcome. So plant labels, cell trays or fertiliser would always be welcome. But these are not exciting gifts to give. A new trowel or spade or secateurs might be a better option.
As a gardener, I like to give plants my favourite as presents. But I know that these can be intimidating for the recipient coming, as they do, with the risk that the plant might die before my next visit. So when I give a plant I always say that I will never ask how it is doing!
But anyone with a garden will welcome a plant of some kind. Hardy plants are perfect Christmas gifts and an important consideration is that the recipient, probably busy making mince pies or pouring sherry when you arrive, will not have to do anything with the plant immediately but can just leave it outside the back door till Christmas entertaining is long past.
Here is my pick of the best plants for winter interest that will make welcome gifts. All are hardy and will bring beauty to the garden. They are suitable for a variety of locations in the garden and there is something for every garden.
They vary in cost from about £10 to £50 or more. Some will be in the covered area at Nags Hall but others will be outside – but, of course, you can get a delicious, warming coffee or hot chocolate once you have chosen your plants.
There are other plants you may prefer but these are my Top Ten, listed in approximate cost order, from least expensive to most expensive.

Christmas rose (Helleborus niger)
Ideal for Shady and semi-shady borders in rich soil. Avoid waterlogged soils.
Good points Lovely flowers from November to March. Small enough for every garden.
Bad points Unlike other hellebores the flowers are only white, though they do age to pink. It is not as amenable to poor soils as other hellebores.

Sarcococca (Christmas Box)
Ideal for Shady gardens and even dry soil under trees.
Good points Neat evergreen shrubs that are hardy and can be clipped. The flowers are sweetly scented and perfume the air. Flowers in January. Lots of red or black berries
Bad points The flowers are small and not showy. Leaves may turn yellow in bright sun.

Viburnum ‘Dawn’
Ideal for Full sun or partial shade in any soil. A tall, upright shrub that withstands pruning.
Good points The scented, pink flowers open in flushes from November to March. Both fragrant and colourful.
Bad points None – this is a shrub that should be in every garden

Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’
Ideal for Full sun or part shade in any soil – it tolerates waterlogging and clay
Good points The one-year old stems are brilliant red in winter
Bad points It needs hard pruning every one or two years to keep it compact and upright with the brightest stems. It is rather dull in summer. If not pruned it becomes more spreading but will produce small white flowers and berries.

Lonicera purpusii (and Lonicera ‘Winter Beauty’)
Ideal for Sun and part shade at the back of borders and where it can be sniffed in winter. Easy to grow.
Good points The small, creamy white flowers open through winter and have a crisp, fresh, lemon fragrance. It is hardy and easy to grow
Bad points It is rather dull in summer

Ilex (holly)
Ideal for Sun and part shade. There are many kinds, some of which have variegated foliage. Plants tend to be male or female and only females (with a male nearby for pollination) will bear berries. ‘J C Van Tol’ is the exception and is both male and female – but has plain green (almost non-spiny) leaves.
Good points Easy and adaptable and you can clip them to make them into topiary. The flowers attract bees and the berries will feed birds. They tolerate a wide range of soils.
Bad points You need a female to get berries and the names can be confusing – ‘Golden Queen’ and ‘Silver Queen’ are male. ‘Golden King’ (a form of Ilex x altaclarensis) is female and berries well (see photo).
This one would be a good choice for lovers of ‘Downton Abbey’. Ilex altaclerensis is the latinised form of ‘Highclere’ where it was filmed. Hollies do not like waterlogged soils.

Garrya elliptica ‘James Roof’
Ideal for Sun or part shade. It is often planted against shady walls but can be grown as a free-standing shrub where it grows to about 2m high.
Good points The grey tassel flowers expand in late winter and festoon the shrub. It is hardy but benefits from the protection of a wall in exposed gardens.
Bad points It is evergreen but not exciting in summer. Always look for ‘James Roof’ which is a male. Male plants have the best catkins and unnamed plants may be female which are less attractive.

Chimonanthus praecox (wintersweet)
Ideal for A sheltered, sunny spot. Ideal as a wall shrub against a sunny south- or west-facing wall. Well-drained soil is best.
Good points The small, straw-yellow flowers stud the branches in winter and have the most amazing perfume.
Bad points It can take several years to start blooming after planting and is rather dull in summer

Camellia
Ideal for Sun and part shade or in pots. In acid soil.
Good points The large flowers, which open in spring in most kinds are beautiful. The glossy, evergreen foliage is handsome too.
Bad points Camellias must be planted in lime-free soil. The flowers, opening in early spring, can be damaged by late frosts so are best planted where they are not exposed to early morning sun (facing east).

Hamamelis (witch hazel)
Ideal for Sun and part shade. The flowers are hardy and withstand frost, opening in January.
Good points The spidery flowers have a spicy scent and can be shades of yellow, orange and red. The plants have a naturally spreading, elegant habit and the autumn foliage is usually beautiful.
Bad points Witch hazels need an acid or neutral soil, ideally rich in organic matter. They will not grow on thin, chalky soils. They struggle in heavy, wet clay and in dry, sunbaked situations. A spot in part shade, under the high branches of overhead trees is ideal.