Winter colour flower and stems

Daphne odora ‘Aureomarginata’

Winter Flowers: Bringing Colour to Your Garden in February

You might think that February, deep in the heart of winter, is a dull and lifeless time for your garden, but you’d be wrong! Many shrubs, perennials, and bulbs take advantage of the cool weather to produce long-lasting and vibrant flowers, bringing welcome colour and fragrance to the winter landscape. These plants not only add visual interest but also provide an essential source of nectar for early pollinators. Listen to the audio download as a Wav file

Here are some of the most popular winter-flowering plants, handpicked by the GardenAdvice team for UK gardens:

Winter-Flowering Shrubs & Trees

1. Witch Hazel (Hamamelis mollis) – A stunning deciduous shrub that produces clusters of fragrant, spidery yellow, orange, or red flowers in mid-winter. The flowers appear on bare branches, adding a splash of colour when little else is in bloom.
2. Winter Honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima) – This semi-evergreen shrub is cherished for its small, creamy-white flowers with a strong, sweet fragrance. It blooms from late winter into early spring, often attracting pollinators.
3. Viburnum (Viburnum × bodnantense ‘Dawn’) – One of the most reliable winter-flowering shrubs, producing small clusters of fragrant pink flowers on bare stems from autumn through winter.
4. Mahonia (Mahonia × media ‘Charity’) – An architectural evergreen with striking spiky leaves. In late winter, it produces upright racemes of bright yellow flowers, which are followed by blue-black berries in spring.
5. Cornelian Cherry (Cornus mas) – This underappreciated shrub or small tree produces tiny, golden-yellow flowers on bare stems before its leaves emerge in early spring. It also bears edible red fruits later in the year.
6. Daphne odora ‘Aureomarginata’ – A highly prized evergreen shrub with glossy green leaves edged in gold. In late winter, it produces clusters of intensely fragrant pink to purple flowers, filling the air with a delightful scent. Daphne odora thrives in a sheltered spot with well-drained soil.

Winter-Flowering Perennials & Bulbs

7. Snowdrops (Galanthus) – These delicate, nodding white flowers emerge in the coldest months, carpeting woodland areas and shady borders with their elegant beauty.
8. Winter Aconite (Eranthis hyemalis) – A cheerful sight in February, these buttercup-like yellow flowers emerge early, forming a dense ground cover under trees and shrubs.
9. Crocus (Crocus tommasinianus) – Among the earliest bulbs to bloom, crocuses bring bursts of purple, yellow, and white to the garden. They are an excellent choice for naturalising in lawns and borders.
10. Hellebores (Helleborus niger, Helleborus orientalis) – Also known as Christmas or Lenten roses, these hardy perennials offer a variety of pink, white, purple, or green flowers, often with attractive speckled patterns. They thrive in shady areas and are deer-resistant.
11. Cyclamen (Cyclamen coum) – A delightful ground cover plant with vibrant pink or purple flowers and marbled green foliage. It blooms from mid-winter to early spring and thrives in woodland gardens.

Climbers & Ground Cover

12. Winter Clematis (Clematis cirrhosa ‘Freckles’) – This evergreen climber produces charming, bell-shaped cream flowers with red speckles, adding vertical interest to walls and trellises.
13. Heather (Erica carnea) – A low-growing, evergreen ground cover that bursts into pink, purple, or white flowers in winter, providing colour and nectar for pollinators.

Winter Stems for Colourful Interest

Although this article focuses on winter flowers, it’s also worth mentioning the importance of winter stems in adding striking colour to the garden. While they may not bear flowers, their vivid hues can create stunning winter displays:

• Cornus ‘Midwinter Fire’ (Winter Beauty Dogwood) – This deciduous shrub features fiery orange, red, and yellow stems that brighten up the garden during the colder months. It thrives in moist soils and looks particularly striking when planted in groups.
• Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’ (Red-Barked Dogwood) – Known for its bright red stems, this dogwood adds bold structure and colour to winter gardens. It pairs beautifully with evergreen plants and is best pruned in spring to encourage new, vibrant growth.

With these plants, your garden can remain a vibrant and dynamic space even in the depths of winter. Whether you choose fragrant shrubs like Daphne odora and Witch Hazel, delicate bulbs such as Snowdrops and Cyclamen, or the dramatic coloured stems of Cornus, there are plenty of ways to add beauty and interest to your winter landscape.

Would you like some planting combination ideas? The GardenAdvice team is always here to help you create a stunning, seasonally appealing garden with service such as the GardenAdvice one day gardening course run in your own garden and our MyGardenTeam service enabling you to team up with one of expert gardeners