The winter solstice arrives quietly, the shortest day slipping in with little ceremony. In the garden, everything feels suspended. Frost holds the edges of fallen leaves, the soil settles into its long exhale and even the familiar shapes of roses seem to rest. This stillness is not an ending but a pause, a moment when the year hesitates before turning back toward the light.

Roses and Christmas may seem unlikely companions, yet the flower has held a place in midwinter traditions for centuries. At a time of year when daylight is brief and the garden lies still, the rose has often stood for continuity, memory and the promise of renewal. Its presence, whether symbolic, preserved or coaxed into late bloom, has long brought a touch of grace to the festive season.

A winter walk often reveals more than you expect, especially when you start gathering what the season gives you. For generations, people have stepped out into the darker months to collect what the hedgerows have to offer: evergreens, seedheads, berries and, of course, rose hips. A wreath made from these finds feels honest and seasonal, shaped by the garden and the landscape rather than by anything store-bought. It is a small way of bringing winter’s character indoors.

In the stillness of December, when frost feathers the garden and bare branches trace strong silhouettes against pale skies, it is easy to think of another age. A Dickensian Christmas feels close at hand: lantern light on cobbled streets, mist in the air, and behind brick walls and wrought-iron gates, old roses resting through the cold. Though they are bare now, many of the varieties we grow today were already cherished in Victorian times, rooted in gardens that knew the same cold, the same darkness, and the same deep anticipation of return.

Winter draws a different map across the garden. Borders lose their summer softness, the air grows crisp, and each plant stands in its true form. Roses, perhaps more than anything else, reveal their strength now. Their branches hold the memory of last season’s bloom, and beneath the soil they gather themselves for the next. Looking after them at this time of year becomes less a checklist of jobs and more a steady, reassuring conversation with the season ahead.

Winter has a way of showing roses as they really are. With the leaves down and the flowers long gone, the plants stand in their most open, honest form. This is when the hips become noticeable. On wild species roses, these fruits are not just a seasonal leftover. They are small clues about the landscapes that shaped each plant. If you look closely, they reveal far more than you might expect.

Giving a rose at Christmas is a thoughtful and much-loved gesture. Even in winter, when the garden rests and the days grow quieter, a rose carries the promise of colour and new life in the year ahead. Often, though, roses are bought well before they are given. If yours needs to be kept for a short while before Christmas Day, or before it can be planted, caring for it is wonderfully simple. Roses are far more patient than they appear and will remain at their best with just a little attention.

As autumn settles and the days take on a crisp, silvery light, the garden begins to quieten. Blooms fade, leaves fall, and roses offer their final gesture of the year. Their hips, glowing in reds and soft oranges, brighten bare stems like small lanterns and bring warmth to the stillness of the season. These fruits have long carried a nostalgic charm, recalling winter walks, simple festive gatherings and the comforting traditions of Christmas. Rose hips are easy to collect. Choose firm, brightly coloured hips and snip them with a short length of stem attached. A gentle rinse is enough to prepare them for craft or cookery.

As the garden rests and daylight draws in, Christmas becomes a lovely moment to surprise the gardener in your life with something thoughtful. The right gift can brighten the quieter months and carry the promise of beauty when spring returns and the roses wake again.

When we speak of “shade” in the garden, it is important to be precise. Few roses will prosper in deep shadow, but many are perfectly happy with four or five hours of sunlight a day. Think of those north-facing walls or quiet spots that bask in morning or evening light. These are not wasted spaces; with the right roses, they can become some of the most enchanting areas of the garden.

A living wall has a way of transforming a space, turning a simple surface into a quiet theatre of petals, scent and shifting light. When English Roses form the foundation, the display becomes generous and enduring. Their repeat blooms, soft colours and naturally graceful habit bring depth and character to any vertical space, whether it is a boundary fence, a warm house wall or a tucked-away corner that needs a little life.

There is a sense of calm purpose to Highgrove. The private residence of His Majesty The King is also home to one of Britain’s most admired organic gardens, a living expression of harmony between beauty and sustainability. Every plant is part of a greater whole. Every decision is made with the long view in mind.