Pink pussy willow, Salix gracilistyla ‘Mount Aso’.

Then brush up on your botanical Latin and use leftover bubble wrap to insulate pot plants

Plant this If you’re looking for a plant that channels the Pantone colour of the year, Living Coral, look no further than Japanese pink pussy willow, aka Salix gracilistyla ‘Mount Aso’. Furry coral catkins dangle from this hardy shrub in late winter and early spring. Height and spread: 1.5m each way; plant in full sun.

Read this The winter gardening lull is the time to brush up on your botanical Latin. Understanding the scientific naming of plants can unlock a whole world of meaning. Get yourself A Little Book Of Latin For Gardeners by Peter Parker (Little, Brown) to get up to speed.

Wrap this Wondering what to do with all the bubble wrap accumulated over Christmas? Wrap it around container-grown plants such as bay and olive trees, and agapanthus to insulate the roots in cold snaps. Sworn off plastic? Use burlap instead, or move pots to the shelter of a wall.