So that the garden does not take on its gloomy appearance as soon as the cold weather arrives, it is in your best interest to plant plants and shrubs capable of flowering in winter. Contrary to what one might think, there is a wide choice among the hardy, even very hardy plants, which do not flinch under severe frost or even under snow and bloom profusely under the most difficult conditions. Here is twelve plants and shrubs with beautiful winter flowers absolutely essential to enjoy a cheerful and colorful garden under the frost.
1 – Hellebore (hellebore)
Hellebore, from the family of Ranunculaceae, is a hardy evergreen plant that brings a note of gaiety to the garden from December. There are many species, and the one that flowers from November to March is nicknamed the christmas pink. We love the flowers of Hellebore, of great beauty, with a large diameter and in the shape of wild roses, available in sumptuous colors. Some hybrid varieties can bloom until mid-spring. To plant in autumn, in the shade or partial shade, in rich and cool soil. The flowers hold well in a vase.
2 – La Viorne (Viburnum)
With its sumptuous clusters of pink flowers blooming from November and perfume the garden until marchthe Viburnum, from the family of Caprifoliaceae, deciduous or evergreen, takes on sumptuous colors in autumn. Sometimes it produces flowers fragrantin the shape of trumpets, in winter or spring depending on the species or variety. It is planted in the sun, sheltered from the prevailing winds, in rich, cool soil.
3 – The Cyclamen coum (Cyclamen)
This plant of the family of Primulaceae is also called Caucasian Cyclamen or Cyclamen of Kos. It is the essential little plant to have very beautiful flowers in winter, pink or white on foliage marbled with white. This Cyclamen naturalizes over time and replants spontaneously. It is installed in autumn without moderation to generously flower the garden. The Cyclamen coum finds its place in the lawn or under leafy trees where it thrives particularly well because it likes semi-shaded to shady exposures. Rustic, it likes rich, draining, cool soils in winter. In summer, it tolerates dry soils especially well.
4 – The Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum)
No, the Chrysanthemum is not reserved for cemeteries! It is an annual or perennial plant of great beautywhich it would be a shame to miss in the garden, which blooms profusely from June until early winter depending on the species. The Chrysanthemum comes in a multitude of varieties and bright colors. Easy to grow, it does well in large pots or in the ground in a sunny position. It shows little concern in terms of soil since it tolerates any type of soil.
5 – The Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis)
The Snowdrop belongs to the family of Amaryllidaceae. Here is a beautiful winter flower that lives up to its name since it is quite capable of emerging from a snowy carpet in the heart of winter, and more precisely between January and February. We love its delicacy as much as this little floral note that helps us get out of the gloom.
6 – Liverworts (liver)
These are alpine herbaceous plants of the family Ranuculaceae. Winter does not scare them. They are blooming february and until April. The extremely beautiful flowers of these very hardy perennials can be white, blue, pink or purple. In the language of flowers, they symbolize trust.
7 – Iris nain ou Iris des garrigues (A shining rainbow)
The dwarf iris belongs to the family of Iridaceae. It is one of the plants that we look for to have flowers from February. Its foliage can be plain or marbled and the flowers, depending on the variety, are white, purplish blue or yellow. The dwarf Iris is the anti-grey mine of the gardens in winter. It is installed in stony corners or in the lawn, in a sunny position.
From winter flowering shrubswe cannot miss the following species.
8 – Le Sarcococca
It is a shrub of the family of Buxaceae and kind Sarcococcdawith evergreen glazed foliage whose sculptural flowers with the scent of lily of the valleypink or white in color, bloom in abundance from November to February. It then covers itself with small decorative berries. It thrives in tough spots in the garden where it’s usually hard to grow plants.
9 – Winter Jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum)
Incomparable for bringing a touch of delicacy in the middle of winter thanks to its beautiful abundant yellow flowers which appear before the leaves. The flowers of this Jasmine of the family of Oleaceae are odorless. The flowering period begins from December and ends in April.
10 – The fragrant Daphne (Daphne smells)
This shrub with a bushy form and fragrant evergreen foliage of the family of Thymelaeaceae does not exceed 1.20 cm in adulthood. Its growth is slow. Its purplish pink or immaculate white flowers bloom in generous panicles Starting from February. It is a still little-known shrub that deserves its place not far from the house. All you have to do is open the window to enjoy its captivating scents.
11 – The Mahoney
There are many species belonging to the genus Mahonia. These are shrubby plants, from the family of Berberidaceaewhich bloom profusely, depending on the variety, from october. Flowering ends no later than April. We love its foliage which turns red in autumn and its yellow flowers which bring a touch of enchantment to the outdoor space.
12 – Japanese Quince (Chaenomeles japonica)
This ornamental shrub, from the family of Rosaceaeis a pure marvel with its flowers of a more or less bright pink, white or red, which can be admired from February to the end of April, even from the month of January at the slightest thaw. Its abundant flowers are breathtakingly beautiful and truly enchant the garden during the winter season.
Male dogwood, Pyracantha, Hamamelis (hardy down to -20°C), are other plants to plant in the garden to take full advantage of their decorative asset thanks to their winter flowering which puts balm to the heart. In addition, many of them produce berries that birds can easily feed on because they are very fond of them.