skip to main content
The Royal Parks web site uses cookies. By browsing you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Read our cookie policy
  • Home
  • Royal Parks
  • Support
  • Media Centre
  • Careers
  • Shop
  • About us
  • Contact us
  • searchsearch
The Royal Parks menu
  • Visitor information
    • The parks after lockdown
    • Opening times and getting here
    • Visitor Information Centre
    • Volunteer Rangers
    • Free minibus service in Richmond Park
    • Accessibility information
    • Parking in Richmond Park
    • Deer safety advice for Richmond Park
    • Tick bites and Lyme Disease
    • Oak Processionary Moth
    • Flying drones in Richmond Park
    • Park regulations, legislation and policies
    • Contact Richmond Park
  • Map of Richmond Park
  • Food and drink
    • Pembroke Lodge
    • Roehampton Cafe
    • Refreshment points
  • Things to see and do
    • Upcoming events in Richmond Park
    • Isabella Plantation
    • Wildlife
    • King Henry's Mound
    • 'The Way' - St Paul's Cathedral Tercentenary Gates
    • Sports and leisure
    • Ian Dury Bench
    • Children's playgrounds
  • Latest News
    • Sign up to the Richmond Park newsletter
    • Update on parking charge proposals
    • Weather station data
  • About Richmond Park
    • History and Architecture
    • Landscape History
    • Richmond Park in film
  • Donate
searchSearch
  • The Royal Parks
  • Visitor information
    arrow_drop_down
    • The parks after lockdown
    • Opening times and getting here
    • Visitor Information Centre
    • Volunteer Rangers
    • Free minibus service in Richmond Park
    • Accessibility information
    • Parking in Richmond Park
    • Deer safety advice for Richmond Park
    • Tick bites and Lyme Disease
    • Oak Processionary Moth
    • Flying drones in Richmond Park
    • Park regulations, legislation and policies
    • Contact Richmond Park
  • Map of Richmond Park
  • Food and drink
    arrow_drop_down
    • Pembroke Lodge
    • Roehampton Cafe
    • Refreshment points
  • Things to see and do
    arrow_drop_down
    • Upcoming events in Richmond Park
    • Isabella Plantation
    • Wildlife
    • King Henry's Mound
    • 'The Way' - St Paul's Cathedral Tercentenary Gates
    • Sports and leisure
    • Ian Dury Bench
    • Children's playgrounds
  • Latest News
    arrow_drop_down
    • Sign up to the Richmond Park newsletter
    • Update on parking charge proposals
    • Weather station data
  • About Richmond Park
    arrow_drop_down
    • History and Architecture
    • Landscape History
    • Richmond Park in film
  •  
  • Donate
    • Home
    • Royal Parks
    • Support
    • Media Centre
    • Careers
    • Shop
    • About us
    • Contact us
  • Richmond Park
  • 
  • Things to see and do
  • 
  • Isabella Plantation
  • 
  • Monthly plant diaries
  • 

December in the Isabella Plantation

Early winter flowers and bark

Winter Flowers

Hamamelis mollis, the "Witch Hazel", has very fragrant yellow tassel flowers. Two large shrubs stand by the gate to Broomfield Hill.

Mahonia bealii, whose racemes of yellow flowers smell like "Lily-of the Valley", can be found set back in woodland to the south of the Acer Glade.

Lonicera x purpusii 'Winter Beauty' can be found by the Bluebell Walk on the east of the Acer Glade, at this time of year it bears fragrant cream-coloured flowers.

Prunus x subhirtella 'Autumnalis', the "Autumn Cherry" can be found growing set back from the path leading to Wilson's Glade from the top gate. Following autumn tints to the leaves, this small tree produces semi-double, white flowers from November to March.

Garrya eliptica grows alongside the Main Stream path, this evergreen shrub bears long greyish green catkins at this time of year.

Sarcococca confusa, a small evergreen shrub grows alongside the Main Stream and produces very fragrant white flowers this month.

A single stand of Viburnum x bodnantense 'Dawn' grows in a glade just off the Main Stream this upright shrub bears densely packed clusters of sweetly scented, rose-tinted flowers throughout the cold winter months.

Trees and Shrubs with Coloured and Textured Bark

Salix alba 'Chermesina' ('Britzensis'), the pollarded willows by Peg's Pond, have amber and red stems.

Cornus sericea var.'Flaviramea' nearby under the weeping willow, and also adjacent to the Bog Garden, has smooth greenish yellow stems.

Cornus alba 'Siberica' has bright red stems. Two groups are set back behind the Heather Garden, others in the Bog Garden along with Cornus sanguinea 'Midwinter Fire' with its brilliant flame red, orange and yellow stems.

Betula nigra, the "River Birch", has papery shredding buff coloured bark. One may be found by the path above the Heather Garden, and the other towards the top of the Main Stream.

Betula jacquemontii, three young birches with striking white bark stand on the lawn above Thomson's Pond. Several multi-stemmed forms of this tree can be found in the woodland area near the wild stream in the northern part of the Garden.

Prunus serrula, set back on the lawn east of Thomson's Pond, has gleaming mahogany-red bark peeling into curly shreds.

Several 'snake-bark' acers may be found throughout the Garden as well as other species of birch, all with interesting bark.

Acer griseum, the "Paperbark Maple" grows in the wet lawn area by the top gate and also in Wilson's Glade, as well as other areas of the garden. This beautiful tree not only has good autumn colour but also a great colour to its trunk, which is particularly obvious in the winter months, as the old bark peels off to expose the cinnamon coloured underbark.

Heather Garden

Erica X darleyensis comes into flower this month in its pink and white forms.

Erica vagans, the Cornish Heath, has tawny seed heads which remain decorative all winter.

Erica lusitanica, the tall Portugal Heath, bears slightly fragrant tubular white flowers opening from pink buds throughout the winter.

Nandina domestica, the "Sacred Bamboo" provides a stunning backdrop to the heathers in this area, its leaves tinge red in autumn and winter and it also bears a profusion of spherical red fruits.

Download a printable version (PDF 1942.32 KB)

Help us improve our website by providing your feedback.

Website user survey

close

search
Explore the Royal Parks
  • Hyde Park
  • Kensington Gardens
  • Richmond Park
  • Bushy Park
  • St James's Park
  • The Green Park
  • The Regent's Park and Primrose Hill
  • Greenwich Park
  • Greenwich Park Revealed - Park Restoration Project
  • Brompton Cemetery
  • Victoria Tower Gardens
  • Grosvenor Square Garden
Support the parks
  • Make a donation
  • Give a significant gift 
  • Leave a gift in your Will 
  • Run, cycle or swim for the parks
  • Hire The LookOut, Hyde Park
  • Become a partner
  • Corporate volunteering
  • Tributes in your local park
Media Centre
  • Press Releases
  • Royal Parks News Permit
  • Filming and photography
  • Royal Parks Image Library
  • News Archive
  • Trooping the Colour media accreditation
About us
  • Who we are
  • What we do
  • Procurement
  • Partner organisations
  • Publications
  • Friends of The Royal Parks
  • Contact us
  • Modern Slavery Statement
Connect with us
Follow us on Twitter
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Instagram
Watch our videos on YouTube
The Royal Parks

The Royal Parks is a registered charity (No. 1172042) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England & Wales no. 10016100 (VAT No. 261 4640 19)

Copyright © The Royal Parks 2016-2022 | Head Office: The Old Police House, Hyde Park, London. W2 2UHTerms & Conditions | Privacy Policy

close

Subscribe to our eNewsletter today

Be the first to hear our latest news and read about upcoming events, learning and volunteering opportunities, fundraising and park improvement projects when you sign up to our mailing list.

Aerial view of Regents