Five favourites: winter-flowering plants
There is nothing more cheerful, in a long dark winter, than spotting those first plants in flower - a pop of colour on a gloomy day to remind you that not everything has gone to sleep, and that Spring is just around the corner.
When so much of the garden is dormant or bare at this time of year, there are some plants we always love to include in our designs to bring a touch of cheer. From shrubs, to climbers, to tiny perennials, here are five of our favourite winter-flowering plants.
Snowdrops
Despite their tiny size, there’s something a little bit magical about the humble snowdrop. They’re perfect growing in pots, as in this picture, or at the front of a border where they stick their heads out of the soil in January. Hard to spot from a distance, including snowdrops in your garden gives an excuse to get out and take a walk even in the coldest months, and we love gardens that are used all year round.
Snowdrops are best planted “in the green” rather than as bare bulbs, so once you see flowers appearing elsewhere, this is the best time to order some for planting!
Read more about planting and growing snowdrops in our snowdrop guide.
2. Hellebores
An absolute staple of the winter garden, gorgeous hellebores are always one of the very first flowers to spot in the winter months.
They’re very easy-going, needing hardly any care, beyond an annual prune when the leaves start to look tatty. And the thick evergreen leaves blend into the background once the flowers are over, acting as a perfect foil for new Spring-flowering plants.
Check out our hellebore guide for all the info on how to grow these beauties.
3. Winter-flowering clematis
(Clematis cirrhosa)
A gorgeous climbing plant, that flowers from December through to February, the winter-flowering clematis comes in various different flower colours, from cream to pink-tinged, to pink speckled (take a look for Clematis cirrhosa var purpurascens ‘Freckles’ for the mostly speckly variety).
The flower heads of these clematis always nod downwards, so this is perfect for growing up something tall, in order to properly see the flowers. As it’s an evergreen plant, it’s great for a fence, and also looks especially good growing up and through the branches of a deciduous tree, where its flowers can be admired before the tree’s leaves come into bud.
Another easygoing plant that needs little maintenance.
4. Witch hazel
(Hamamelis mollis)
This is a plant with a small, fairly-inconspicuous flower, but what it lacks in size it more than makes up for in colour and scent.
The flowers of witch hazel are a vibrant yellow, ranging from pale yellow to a deep, almost orange colour. For the richest-coloured flowers, look out for Hamamelis mollis ‘Jelena’.
All are richly-scented, so you may smell a witch hazel before you spot it, especially on a sunny day.
5. Camellia japonica
One of the earliest shrubs to flower, camellia flowers usually open in late Winter to early Spring, unfurling rose-like bowls of flowers from buds.
This is an easy-going evergreen shrub, with glossy green leaves, that you often see in front gardens, bringing a splash of cheer when the flowers appear. Flower colours range from whites to bright pinks, though we’re especially fond of the more muted dusty pink varieties.
They grow well in part shade, and need little care beyond an occasional prune, and watering in the Summer months if it’s especially dry. They do prefer ericaceous soil - so are best for areas with acidic soils - growing especially well for us here in Swansea.
