The jewels of the winter garden, gaultheria are go-anywhere plants which are invaluable for providing a splash of sophistication and colour even in the coldest months of the year. Like its close relatives, the heathers, gaultheria is a tough evergreen, low-growing and versatile, as happy in a container as edging a winter border. The glossy green leaves shine in low winter sun and the whole plant is smothered in brilliant lipstick red or snowy white berries right through winter. Gaultheria grows best with a little shade and does best in acid soil – if yours is neutral or alkaline, simply grow your plants in containers of ericaceous (acidic) compost instead.