Beat the winter blues with gorgeous annuals, perennials, and shrubs that flower through the coldest days.
Some winter blooms add subtle beauty to the winter garden, others scream for attention.
Either way, thewinter gardenis anything but boring.
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A subdued backdrop of dormant trees and shrubs allows even the more modest winter blooms to stand out.
double-check low-growing winter bloomers like cyclamen and pansies are not buried by too many leaves or too much mulch.
And give winter showstoppers such as camellia a prominent place to shine.
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Consider potting some of these winter bloomers in containers to dress up the porch or patio.
Mixing annuals, perennials, andflowering shrubscarries color from the ground plain upwards and allows for creative pairings.
If you have children or pets, pay attention to plant toxicity when selecting plant material.
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Several plants on this list are harmful if ingested.
Unlike other mahonias, this hybrid is not considered invasive.
It makes a lovely addition to shade gardens and is perfect for massing in borders.
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Plants are drought tolerant once established and resistant to deer.
Common names correlate to holidays seasons during which the species bloom.
Traditional camellias bloom for several weeks.
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As a rule,Camellia sasanquavarieties bloom October through December andC.
japonicaflower February through March.Combine several species and varieties to produce a continuum of blooms from fall to spring.
Nodding pink to purple blooms emerge in late fall to early winter.
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Flower stems coil tightly after flowering, lowering the developing seeds to the soil.
Keep plants on the dry side during summer dormancy.
The fragrant, trumpet shaped blooms attract a variety of native bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies.
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Plants grow as a twining vine that benefits from an arbor or trellis for support.
Unsupported plants will grow as a mounded groundcover.
Carolina Jessamine tolerates a range of growing conditions, including periodically wet or dry soils.
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Yellow cup-shaped flowers are surrounded by a collar of bright green leafy bracts.
Plants are tolerant of black walnuts as well as deer, making them a hardy selection for woodland plantings.
But the real draw of witch hazel are song birds, who feast on the fruits and seeds.
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Common witch hazel can grow rather large and does not flower until plants are six years old.
Sunny yellow blooms nearly cover the bare branches in January to February before plants leaf out for the season.
The wiry stems can grow very dense.
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Plants benefit from rejuvenation pruning when overgrown, cutting plants back hard after they complete blooming.
Winter jasmine is drought tolerant and adapts to a variety of growing conditions.
Pansies and the closely related Johnny-jump-up (Viola tricolor) are exceptions.
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Though technically perennial, pansies and Johnny-jump-ups are sold as annuals because they wither in the heat.
Plant them in winter containers or mass along walkways and borders.
Snow Drops
Winter-blooming bulbs are a great way to add texture and interest to the winter garden.
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Several types of bulbs poke their heads out of the ground before the snow has melted away.
The bulbs naturalize well and perform beautifully in woodland prefs, rock gardens, and pollinator plantings.
They are quite adaptable, tolerating clay soil, black walnut trees, and deer.
The bloom season begins with dark rose-purple buds that appear in winter.
Buds open to star-shaped, rose-pink blooms in late winter or early spring.
Good drainage is essential to growing healthy daphnes.
Plants tend to be short lived, but are easy to root from stem cuttings.
