Gardening tips: flowers that grow in the winter

With all the work you do to keep your property beautiful from spring to autumn, why let your garden die down in winter? By selecting hardy plants that produce flowers when most other plants are dormant, you can bring color and interest into your garden even when the days are colder. The meaning of "winter blooming" depends on the temperature range of a region, though. A plant that blooms in January in a mild climate may bloom in October in a cold climate. However, even if winter temperatures in your region are relatively low, many of the plants listed here should bloom if planted in a location sheltered by shrubs or a wall and where they will receive southern exposure.

Camellia sasanqua

Camellia sasanqua, a different species from the spring-blooming varieties, bears a profusion of apple-blossom-like flowers from autumn to early winter, depending on the cultivar and climate. Varieties with 'Snow' or 'Winter' in their names will survive in temperatures down to -4 oF . This shrub prefers dappled shade, but will tolerate full sun and can grow in many different soil types.

Chinese juniper (Juniperus Chinensis)

During winter or early spring the bluish-green leaves of the Chinese juniper are covered with dainty yellow flowers. This evergreen is available in a variety of sizes and shapes, including creeping groundcovers, upright bushes, and full-size trees, which makes it useful in landscaping. It prefers loamy soil, but is otherwise not especially demanding.

Hellebore

Also known as Lenten Rose, this plant's clusters of drooping, bell-shaped flowers appear from November to March. The evergreen leaves are deep green on top and red underneath, with prominent silver veins. The flowers come in white, green, red, purple, and near-black. Hellebores grow best in rich soil and partial shade.

Honeysuckle, winter varieties

Semi-evergreen and particularly hardy, the unusual honeysuckle Lonicera fragrantissima produces a flurry of small white flowers from winter into early spring. Because of its somewhat sprawling growth pattern, it does best planted against a wall where it will receive support and shelter. Lonicera x purpusii 'Winter Beauty', a hybrid between Lonicera fragrantissima and Lonicera standishii, also blooms in the cold. The flowers of this low-growing, shrubby climber give off a delicate lemony fragrance.

Iris unguicularis

This perennial iris flowers in white, blue, violet, or purple, often starting to bloom in October and continuing through April. If the temperature dips too low, the buds will freeze and die. However, as soon as the weather warms to above freezing, the iris will send out new buds and bloom again. As this Mediterranean plant prefers hot, dry summers, it will thrive when planted on the south side of the house, near the foundation.

Oleaster (Eleagnus x. ebbingei)

Also called Russian olive, this plant not only brings winter flowers, but produces edible berries, as well. From late autumn to early winter, tiny fragrant white flowers appear and are followed by berries that can be used in jellies, jams, and wines. The variegated, glossy leaves add interest during the rest of the year. This evergreen has a rather ungainly growth pattern, can reach up to 10 or 12 feet high, and when planted under a tree will climb to the tree's lower branches. It is hardy and tolerant of exposed and seaside conditions, but not suited to extremely cold winters.

Sweetbox (sarcococca)

Several varieties of this glossy-leafed evergreen are available to bring delicate blooms and a vanilla-like fragrance to the garden in mid to late winter. Sarcococca humilis, S. confusa, and S. hookeriana digna all produce white to cream-white flowers and do best in partial shade and dry soil.

Viburnum

Several species of viburnums offer cold-weather color and fragrance. V. x bodnantense 'Dawn' opens lightly-scented white flowers from November through March. Viburnum x bodnantense 'Deben' produces white flowers in late winter before it drops its leaves. Viburnum farreri puts out pink buds that open to reveal white flowers with an almond scent. Viburnum tinus bears white or pink flowers that are frequently used in winter bouquets.

Winter Daphne (Daphne odora)

Famous for the heady fragrance of its cream, pink, or yellow blooms, daphnes also provide color in late winter. The drawback of this evergreen is that it's not particularly hardy and tends to be short lived. It will live longest in slightly moist but well-drained soil.

Winter Heaths (Erica sp.)

Heaths, relatives of Scottish heathers, are one of the hardiest winter-blooming plants. These low-growing evergreens produce spikes of tiny bell-shaped flowers in light pink, reddish purple, and magenta from late autumn to early spring. The hardiest and easiest to find are the Erica carnea varieties. In a sheltered location, these will thrive even down to -25oF. The fuller E. darleyensis varieties usually do well down to -20oF.

Wintersweet (Chimonanthus praecox)

Another winter-bloomer known for its fragrance, wintersweet can be trained against a sunny wall, where it can eventually reach 12 feet. Between December and March, the variety C. praecox (C. Fragrans) offers large cup-shaped yellow flowers with purple centers. The 'Grandiflorus' type, which has similar flowers with red centers, also blooms in late winter or early spring. Wintersweet grows best in either full sun or partial shade and may take several years to become established before it puts on blooms.

Witch hazel (Hamamelis)

In early winter, the witch hazel unfurls delicately-scented, red or yellow, tassel-like flowers along leafless branches. The seed pods, which split open and send their seeds some 20 feet in the air, have earned the plant the alternate name of snapping hazel. The bark, leaves, and twigs are often distilled in alcohol and water to create an all-purpose astringent for use on bruises and swellings. Witch hazels prefer well-drained, evenly-moist soil and full sun, but tolerates partial shade.

Although few annuals make it to winter, there are a number of perennials, as well as deciduous and evergreen shrubs, whose winter blooms will bring color to your garden during the colder months of the year. To find more plants that are suited to winters in your region, check with a local plant nursery or garden shop.