These winter-flowering annuals and perennials help bring a little color to gardens in milder climates.
For others, winter is an opportunity to coax more color out of the ground.
The following plants all offer winter flowers and a few can tolerate a little frost.
Credit:Peter Krumhardt
It’s usually grown as an annual, but is a short-lived perennial in Zones 9 and warmer.
It can withstand temperatures down to about 28 F if well established.
Andy Lyons
2.
Credit: Justin Hancock
Calendula
The cheery yellow, cream, or orange blossoms ofcalendula(Calendula officinalis) light up a garden.
Also known as pot marigold (though not related to marigolds), calendula flowers are edible.
The peppery petals may be used as a garnish for salads or stirred into cream cheese or dips.
Credit:Andy Lyons
Growing Conditions:Full sun and well-drained soil
Size:up to 3 feet tall
3.
Honeywort
This may be the most unusual-looking winter-blooming flower.
Honeywort is considered a hardy annual or short-lived perennial, depending on where it grown.
Credit: Craig Summers Black
It blooms in winter in Zones 9 and warmer.
In Zones 7-8 it can be planted in fall for an early spring bloom.
The plant can tolerate light frosts but a hard freeze will kill it.
Credit: Kritsada Panichgul
Growing Conditions:Full sun to light shade and well-drained soil
Size:2-4 feet tall
Zones:7-10
4.
Keep the flowers blooming in winter by mulching the plants well and covering them during frosts.
Size:up to 8 feet tall
5.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Pansies
Pansies(Violaxwittrockiana)are the reliable standbys for cool-weather blossoms.
Their engaging “faces,” or top petals, come in bold or pastel colors.
Remove spent flowers to promote repeat blooming.
Credit: Cynthia Haynes
Pansies will bloom all winter in warmer climates.
The blooms often smell like an aromatic spice, such as nutmeg or cloves.
Sweet William (D. barbatus) reaches up to 2 feet.
Credit: Richard Hirneisen
Cheddar pinks (Dianthus gratianopolitanus) and maiden pinks (Dianthus deltoides) are also part of the family.
Size:up to 2 feet tall
Zones:3-10, but varies by species
7.
This cold-weather perennial offers an abundance of creamy-yellow flowers that bloom on bare stems in January or February.
While it is the hardiest member of the jasmine family, it is not fragrant.
Size:4-10 feet tall
Zones:6-9
8.
Hellebore
Blooming in late winter,hellebores(Helleborusspp.)
are tough perennial plants that are also sometimes called winter roses.
The flowers come in white, yellow, pink, maroon, chartreuse, and bicolored.
While the flowers typically hang downward, newer varieties boast flowers that face upwards so are easier to see.
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