Let's examine a some of the winter blooming plants that we can add to our gardens to create that year round beauty and interest. Add some winter color and excitement!
It almost seems an oxymoron; winter blooms. When I first began to discover the potential around me for colorful flowers during the winter "dormant period" I was amazed. By carefully selecting a few of the plant varieties we’ll discuss in this article, you will be able to enjoy beautiful blossoms with even with snow on the ground.
Some of the most useful winter-flowering shrubs in the average landscape are the witch hazels (Hamamelis spp.). These shrubs usually grow around 12 to 20’ tall although this depends on the variety. All have late-autumn to winter blooms that appear like magic on the dark, bare branches. The rounded and open growth habit makes for a lovely addition to the garden in summer as well. Check for hardiness as some varieties are hardy through zone 7 or some all the way through 3 or 4.
Japanese pieris (Pieris japonica) is a broadleaf evergreen shrub that also blooms in the winter with beautiful little strands of buds that look like gems strung on a necklace. The bright red, white or pink blossoms stand out magnificently against the bright green leaves and make a beautiful accent during the cold winter months. As more varieties become available there are a lot of possibilities for today's gardeners.
One of the most well-known winter flowers is the Helleborus spp. flowers. Beginning their bloom time in mid to late winter they are great additions to the garden. The blooms are a magnificent bonus to the dark green foliage which persists throughout the winter. Many varieties grow well in shade making them even more useful. Once you plant a few in your garden they will likely become a favorite.
There is also a bulb that is so well known for blooming in late winter that its common name is glory-of-the-snow (Chionodoxa lucillae). The bright, starlike flower naturalizes readily in the lawn creating a wider sweep of color year after year. Allow the foliage six weeks after blooming before mowing the lawn so the bulbs can gain enough energy to bloom again the following year.
To add some dimension to your winter garden consider Winter Jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum), a rambling shrub that blooms with beautiful yellow jasmine blossoms in late autumn through winter. Train this shrub up a wall or trellis with ease and instead of spreading loosely 4' tall and 7' wide, it will grow up to a maximum of 15' creating a beautiful mass of green leaves and yellow flowers at a time when color in the garden is priceless.
The last winter blooming flower I’ll discuss today is another bulb that appears early in the spring, racing the snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis) to see who will emerge first. The Reticulated Iris (Iris reticulata) is a gorgeous bright blue flower with contrasting yellow and white markings that will bloom for about 3 weeks. Combine with snowdrops or early crocuses for a pre-spring collection that can’t be beat.
Planting a few of these winter blooming plants can increase the year-round interest of your garden by adding splashes of color at unexpected times. See all six ways of using plants for winter interest in the garden.
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