20 Winter Flowers That Add Life to a Snowy Garden or Landscape
The colors really pop against a bed of snow!
When the holiday season is over, and the long winter can start to drag out, we often find ourselves chomping at the bit for spring. Luckily, there's one part spring we can enjoy even as winter drags on: The pretty flowers in our garden!
A well-designed garden will have charms to display all year. Even during the coldest days, you may be surprised to know that many annual flowers, perennials, and flowering shrubs will bloom, without waiting for warm weather or longer days to show off. Some hardy plants bloom in the late fall and hang on long after the snow has fallen. Others start to push out of the ground before the snow begins to melt! And lucky gardeners in mild climates can choose perennials that flower all winter long.
When planting shrubs and perennials in your garden, make sure the plant will survive in your USDA Hardiness Zone. (Find your zone here.) Then read plant descriptions and labels so you know to give a plant what it needs, whether that's full sun, (which is six or more hours of direct light), partial sun, or even mostly shade.
Don't try to cheat because Mother Nature will have none of it! Pay attention to planting times too. Most winter bloomers, including bulbs, need put in the ground in the fall in order for you to enjoy them next winter. Winter-blooming shrubs are best planted in the spring or fall for a show next winter. Now, make your list from our favorite winter flowers so you can plan a spectacular garden that shines in every season.
Crocuses
Sweet little flowers pop their heads up in late winter to early spring. These bulbs—actually called "corms"—do tend to attract rodents, so plant these alongside other less-tasty types of bulbs, such as hyacinths and daffodils, that rodents tend to ignore.
Cyclamen
You might recognize these as a houseplant, but they're actually perennials that do well as ground covers. They like to be under deciduous trees so they can soak up winter sun but be protected from summer's heat.
Camellia
This evergreen shrub has exquisite blooms in late winter to early spring. There are many different varieties that bloom throughout the year, so be sure you're buying one that is a winter-blooming type.
Daffodils
Daffodils are usually seen as one of the first signs of spring, but, depending where you live, they will begin popping up as early as February. Don't worry about snow or freezing temperatures harming the foliage, they're extremely cold hardy.
Snowdrops
Snowdrops are charming, ethereal, perennial flowers that require very little maintenance, are able to carpet the ground when they become established, and bloom in winter as early as January or February, depending on where you live.
Read more: How to Care for Snowdrops.
Ornamental Cabbage and Kale
The gorgeous, frilly heads of these showy plants last most of the winter in mild climates and well into late fall in cold areas of the country. They come in many different colors and forms.
Daphne Shrub
This gorgeous shrub thrives in warmer climates. The daphne shrub has pretty tubular pink or white flowers which appear in late winter and have an amazing sweet, fruity scent!
Learn more: How Do You Grow and Take Care of Daphne Plants?
Winter Jasmine
This shrub has pretty, yellow flowers on arching branches in late winter. It doesn’t have a fragrance like other types of jasmine, but it does offer a bright splash of winter color in mild climates.
Winterberry Holly
This shrub bursts with bright red berries that add cheery color to the winter landscape. Some types are deciduous, while others are evergreen, retaining their leaves. No matter what kind, the gorgeous berries really pop against a field of snow. Plant both a "female" and "male" plant for pollination and the formation of berries.
Mahonia
Large sprays of fragrant yellow flowers appear in late fall to early winter on this evergreen shrub.
Hellebores
These stunning flowers, also known as Lenten roses, bloom in early winter in mild climates and late winter in cold regions. Even though they appear delicate, they’re undemanding and super cold-hardy.
Pieris Japonica
This lesser-known evergreen shrub produces gorgeous white or pink blooms in late winter and early spring that last for a few weeks. It's a must-have for early spring color.
Violas
The brightly colored, charming little “faces” of violas are a welcome sight on chilly mornings. In mild climates, they’ll last all winter long. Many types technically are annuals but they self-seed freely, so they'll often pop up again next year on their own.
Read more: How to Grow African Violets for Year-Round Blooms
Dutchman's Breeches
Whee! These tiny flowers, which bloom around the same time as crocuses and winter aconite, look like a pair of pants drying in the wind. Plant at front of border in groups for best effect.
Pansies
Like their relatives, violas, pansies offer brilliant color in early spring. They’ll survive a light frost and bloom for most of the winter in mild climates.
Spring Snowflakes
Tiny drooping white flowers appear in late winter to early spring, sometimes while there’s still snow (yes, that’s how they got their name!). Plant a bunch of them for the best effect.
Winter Heath
A small evergreen plant with tiny, pink blossoms, heath blooms for weeks and weeks, anytime from January to March. It might even bloom beneath the snow! Make sure you get the winter-blooming variety, as other types flower in summer.
Pussy Willow
The little fuzzy flowers (called catkins!) on these shrubs aren’t bright and showy like a lot of winter bloomers. But they're adorable anyhow! They make great cuts stems to brighten up your kitchen table.
Witch Hazel
Wispy-looking flowers appear on bare branches in February or March on this shrub, even in the coldest climates. Look for a winter-flowering variety, as there are many different kinds.
English Primroses
While some varieties bloom in spring or summer, English primroses bloom in late winter. Their unexpected bursts of color in white, cream, hot pinks, purples and yellows are a welcome show of spring just when you need it most.
Arricca Elin SanSone has written about health and lifestyle topics for Prevention, Country Living, Woman's Day, and more. She’s passionate about gardening, baking, reading, and spending time with the people and dogs she loves.
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