Winter doesn’t mean your garden has to appear bare, brown, and depressing. Plenty of winter flowers bloom during the darkest, coldest times of the year, just when you need color the most! Some, such as bulbs, need to be planted in the fall for late winter flowers, while others can be planted in early to late fall before cold weather sets in for the year. Snowdrops and winterberry are obvious choices—they have those names for a reason, after all. Surprising plants like ornamental kale can bring unexpected color and lovely texture to your winter garden. And some varieties of fragrant flowers like camellias and shrubs like witch hazel bloom in the middle of winter.
Many annuals, perennials, bulbs, and flowering shrubs offer winter color that will brighten an otherwise barren landscape. Whether you live in the snowy north or sunny south, there’s a winter flower that will grow in your garden. Just make sure if you’re planting perennials or shrubs that they are suited to withstand winters in your USDA Hardiness zone.
The other thing to remember is that you must plant perennials in the fall so that they can get established at least six weeks before the ground freezes in your area. If you’re not sure when that is, your local university co-op extension service can give you an estimate. Bulbs also must be planted in fall in order to enjoy late winter and early spring flowers.
Ahead, our favorite winter flowers will thrive even when snow still is on the ground. You’ll love watching for them to poke through and signal that spring is around the corner.
BARBARA FISCHER, AUSTRALIA.//GETTY IMAGESPansies and Violas
Pansies and violas bloom for most of the winter in mild climates, and some types perk back up in the spring in cold climates. They’re technically annuals, but many varieties drop seeds so they’ll pop up again the next spring.
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NAZAR ABBAS PHOTOGRAPHY//GETTY IMAGESDaffodils
These sunny little flowers are usually the first ones to crop up in the early spring, but depending on where you live they may bloom as early as February. Plant these bulbs in the fall for late winter/spring blooms.
JACKY PARKER PHOTOGRAPHY//GETTY IMAGESHellebores
These exquisite perennials are known as Lenten roses because they bloom around the time of Lent in some climates. They appear in mid to late winter, depending on where you live. Despite their delicate appearance, they’re tough as nails.
JOHNATHAN A. ESPER, WILDERNESSCAPES PHOTOGRAPHY//GETTY IMAGESWinterberry
It’s not really a flower, but the bright red berries of winterberry, a type of deciduous holly, make this a must-have for any winter garden. Make sure to buy both a male and female plant (so that pollination occurs) if you want berries.
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PHOTOS FROM JAPAN, ASIA AND OTHE OF THE WORLD//GETTY IMAGESLily of the Valley Shrub
This showy plant blooms when least expected in mid to late winter! Hundreds of bell-like flowers dangle from fine stems on this striking evergreen shrub.
PEJFT//GETTY IMAGESWinter Aconite
When you’re weary of winter, these petite flowers appear, often when snow still is on the ground. Their buttercup-yellow blooms are also welcome to early-season pollinators.
WESTEND61//GETTY IMAGESWitch Hazel
This adorable shrub boasts wispy yellow or orange flowers in late winter or very early spring. Their whimsical appearance makes them a fun addition to the landscape. Be sure to plant the winter-flowering variety because there are many different types.
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MARTINRLEE//GETTY IMAGESPrimrose
These dainty flowers are some of the earliest perennials to bloom in late winter to early spring, depending on where you live. With hundreds of types, be sure to choose a type of primrose that can survive winters in your USDA Hardiness zone.
ANWARABEE//GETTY IMAGESCamellia
Camellias bloom from late fall to mid spring, depending on the variety. Their huge blooms are reminiscent of roses. Make sure to choose a winter-blooming type that is hardy in your part of the country.
CLIVE NICHOLS//GETTY IMAGESGlory of the Snow
As the name indicates, this charming late winter bloomer appears when snow still may be present on the ground. Plant this bulb in fall for late winter and early spring blooms. Glory of the Snow is best massed for the most impact.
PHOTOS FROM JAPAN, ASIA AND OTHE OF THE WORLD//GETTY IMAGESMahonia
This evergreen shrub has leathery frond-like leaves and dramatic sprays of bright yellow flowers that appear in late fall or early winter. Read the plant tag to make sure it’s a type suited to survive winters in your region.
DIGIPUB//GETTY IMAGESOrnamental Kale
Ornamental kale has pretty ruffled foliage that lasts well into winter in mild climates. Its bright pink or yellow leaves bring welcome color to an otherwise faded garden.
SZABOLCSKISS//GETTY IMAGESWinter Jasmine
The cheery bright yellow flowers of winter jasmine are a welcome respite from dreary winter days. Blooming in late winter to early spring, this vining shrub may not be as fragrant as other types of jasmine, but it’s a lovely addition to the landscape.
GARY MAYES//GETTY IMAGESCyclamen
This flower is often sold as a houseplant, but in mild climates cyclamens in shades of pink, white, lavender and fuchsia are used as a cheerful ground cover. They prefer winter sun and summer shade, so plant them beneath deciduous trees.
DARRELL GULIN//GETTY IMAGESCrocus
These petite flowers look lovely peeking through the snow! They’re favorites of digging rodents, however, so make sure to plant inside a cage of chicken wire, or plant other bulbs that the pests don’t like, such as daffodils, nearby.
PHOTOS FROM JAPAN, ASIA AND OTHE OF THE WORLD//GETTY IMAGESDaphne
The sweet scent and pretty flowers of daphne shrubs are a lovely sight in the late winter to early spring garden. Their fruity fragrance is a reminder that spring is on its way.
If you choose the right perennial or shrub for your USDA Hardiness zone, your plant should do just fine. Read the plant tag to understand its care needs, then make sure you plant where it receives the correct amount of light (for example, full sun, part sun, or part shade).
Annuals will live just one season, though in warmer climates they may last throughout much of the winter. Plant them in the fall and enjoy them until the first hard freeze. In mild climates, they may last until the following spring when warmer weather causes cool season flowers, such as pansies, to fade.
The most essential gardening tool is a trowel. This tool is invaluable because it allows you to dig small holes for planting seedlings and plants, make furrows for planting seeds, and weed between other plants.
House Beautiful’s longtime garden writer Arricca Elin SanSone has more than 15 years of experience growing edibles, annuals, perennials, and shrubs. She also trials new cultivars and field tests tools and garden products in her own garden.
