by Lydia Holley February 10, 2025
Years ago, I made a goal to have something blooming in my landscape throughout the year. Spring was easy. Summer had numerous options. Fall was fun with asters, mums, spider lilies, and others to choose from. But winter? Winter was tricky. But with a little planning and planting, I succeeded. Right now, even though my daffodils have not yet opened, I have a camellia in bloom. It’s big, bright pink flowers are satisfying to a gardener’s soul.
Both Camellia japonica and Camellia sasanqua’s colorful flowers are easy to spot even from an inside window. But to get flowers throughout the winter, you may need to add some plants which are not as showy. Sometimes, a bloom is treasured, no matter how tiny. If you would like to add more flowers to your winter landscape, consider trying some of the plants listed below, just be aware that some may not reliably return or live for more than a few years.
Bulbs: Glory-of-the-snow (Chionodoxa forbseii), hellebores, and Siberian squill (Scillia siberica). I grow hellebores and have grown Siberian squills. They are both a joy to see, though you may have to look hard to see their blooms.
Shrubs: Daphne and paperbush (Edgeworthia chrysantha), both of which I have grown. Paperbush was especially exciting but every few years their blooms were frozen by an unexpected late frost.
Other shrubs to try are Oregon grape holly (Mahonia aquifolium), Japanese pieris (Pieris japonica), and sweet box (Sarcocca confusa). I have searched my garden for a place to put these, but as of yet, do not have the room. Perhaps some day.
As expected, several shrubs which bloom in late winter have the word winter in their common name. These are: wintersweet (Chimonanthus praecox), winter jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorium), and winter honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima).
Looking for a shrub that not only blooms in winter but remains evergreen? Japanese skimmia (Skimmia japonica) may be just the plant you are searching for.
If you want a vine that blooms in the colder months of the year, try winter flowering clematis (Clematis cirrhosa). As a bonus, it remains evergreen.
Sometimes a small bulb or shrub is not what is needed. If you are looking for something larger, some small trees will also bloom in winter. Consider cornelian cherry (Cornus mas), witch hazel (Hamamelis), or viburnums. Although there are numerous viburnums, check the plant tags. Some will flower in winter while others will not.
Related to witch hazel, Chinese fringe flower (Loropetalum) can grow as either a shrub or a small tree. Its pom-pom-shaped flowers are worth growing even if they do not bloom especially early.
If you are interested in a winter-blooming ground cover, you may want to look into winter heath (Erica carnea). Check the spread and hardiness zone as different cultivars may be appropriate and others may not be.
Sometimes it is the tiniest thing that can bring us great joy. A bloom on a cold day when everything else is dormant can bring a world of delight.
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