by Cynthia Hight November 24, 2025
It is easy to get inspired to grow new plants. Inspiration can come trips, books, magazines, or other gardener’s yards. You might even find inspiration in the unlikeliest of places.
The other day, I placed one of the US Postal Service “Snowy Beauty” stamps on a card to mail. Always looking for new plants, I studied all 10 stamps. These stamps are designed by Gregory Manchess and feature plants that bloom in the cold: pansy, grape hyacinths, daffodils, camellia, crocus, winter aconite, hellebore, winterberry, ranunculus, and plum blossom.
Some of these are commonly grown here, some are not. For instance, pansies bloom in East Texas throughout the winter. Grape hyacinths and daffodils bloom in early spring. If the right variety is chosen, they will multiply. Each spring, naturalized daffodils bloom along the roadsides. Grape hyacinths have spread throughout one of my flower beds, and I love seeing them bloom each spring.
Camellia also does well in East Texas. It is pretty even when not in bloom, as it stays evergreen. Crocus is an early spring-blooming bulb which is a delight to see. However, rejoice if they return for you as Texas A&M AgriLife states they only do well in the Texas panhandle. The rest of the state does not provide an adequate amount of chill hours, so they are reliable only in zones 4 through 7.
Winter aconite has bright yellow blooms. Unfortunately, it is another winter-blooming plant which does not do well in East Texas. For yellow blooms in spring, consider growing daffodils, forsythia, yellow irises, or Carolina jessamine.
Hellebores will return if you choose the proper variety. They like part shade and moist, well-draining soil. Once they are happy, they will bloom for months.
Winterberry (Ilex verticulata) is a shrub which will grow to 12 feet tall. Deciduous, the red berries stand out on bare stems. Winterberry appreciates moisture and can be striking in winter as a hedge or accent plant. It is native to East Texas. Also native to East Texas, Possumhaw holly gives the same effect.
Ranunculus can be grown in East Texas, though some say they are best grown as an annual. Choose the proper species and if you are lucky, the corms will not rot. If you are not lucky, enjoy them for the short time you can.
The last bloom on the “Snowy Beauty” collection is plum blossom, another bloom commonly seen in East Texas. Some plum trees are grown for their fruit, while others are grown for their ornamental foliage. Both will flower in spring.
It is easy to find inspiration for your garden. The hard part is squeezing all the plants you want into the space you have.
Henderson County Master Gardener Association provides multiple resources at its website: https://txmg.org/hendersonmg/ or direct questions by calling the county extension office at 903-675-6130.
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