By Andrew Bunting, PHS VP of Horticulture 

As autumn comes to a close and the last leaves fall from the trees, we turn our attention to the approaching winter months. In many parts of the country, temperatures will drop below freezing, and ornamental interest in the garden often declines. Fortunately, there are many winter flowering plants that can add brightness and structure even in the coldest months. These winter flowers can transform a dormant landscape into a garden full of unexpected colors. 

Winter flowering plants are those that reach their peak flowering from mid-December through mid-March. When combined with evergreen foliage, striking winter stems, and trees with vivid bark, these flowers that grow in the winter bring a distinctive charm to the season. In Mid-Atlantic gardens (USDA Zones 5–7), there are many choices of winter flowering trees, shrubs, perennials, and bulbs. 

Below is a list of the best flowering options to help guide your winter garden! 

Winter Flowering Trees  

Winter flowering trees are often the first to announce the season’s quiet magic. Their blooms can appear on bare branches, standing out against the gray landscape. 

Chinese Witch Hazel (Hamamelis mollis) 

At-a-Glance 

• Bloom time: Early January
• Height/spread: Small tree/large shrub 
• Fragrance: Strong 

Key Features 

• Bright yellow, spider-like petals 
• Flowers curl in cold, unfurl in sun 
• Excellent for winter fragrance 

Notable Cultivars 

• ‘Early Bright’ – Blooms as early as 2nd week of January 

Uses / Tips 

• Cut branches brighten indoor spaces in mid-winter 

Hamamelis × intermedia (hybrid witch hazel) 

At-a-Glance 

• Bloom time: February–March 
• Height: Up to 15 ft (tree form) or wide multi-stemmed shrub 

• Fragrance: Variable but often strong 

Key Features 

• Spider-like petals that retract in cold 
• Excellent late-winter color range 
• Many award-winning cultivars 

Notable Cultivars 

• ‘Jelena’ – Copper/maroon/orange tricolor; fragrant; PHS Gold Medal 
• ‘Strawberries and Cream’ – Pink-orange-cream tones 
• ‘Primavera’ – Upright, vase-shaped, golden yellow 
• ‘Wisley Supreme’ – Strong yellow cultivar 
• ‘Pallida’ – Pale yellow; PHS Gold Medal 
• Note: ‘Arnold Promise’ now prone to witch hazel blight 

Uses / Tips 

• ‘Jelena’ is generally more deer-resistant 

Japanese Apricot (Prunus mume)

At-a-Glance 

• Bloom time: January–March (weather dependent) 
• Zone: Best in USDA 6+ 
• Height: 15–25 ft 

Key Features 

• Intense fragrance 
• Flowers in white, pink, red; single or double 
• Stops/starts blooming during warm–cold cycles 

Notable Cultivars 

• ‘Peggy Clarke’ – Deep pink 
• ‘Kobai’ – Semi-double pinkish red; cinnamon fragrance 

• ‘Bonita’ – Rose-red 

Uses / Tips 

• Cut branches perfume entire home 
• Great specimen tree for winter drama 

Winter Flowering Shrubs for Color and Fragrance

Shrubs are the backbone of the winter garden, providing structure, color, and interest when much of the landscape is still dormant. Many winter-flowering shrubs produce fragrant blooms just when the garden needs a lift, brightening even the coldest days. With bold foliage, architectural form, and reliable late-winter flowers, these plants are standout performers that keep the winter garden vibrant and full of life. 

Mahonias – Mahonia spp. 

At-a-Glance 

• Bloom time: Late fall through late winter/early spring 
• Height: 
  • M. japonica: ~5 ft 
  • Compact forms: 2–3 ft 
• Deer resistance: High 

Key Features 

• Holly-like, prickly foliage 
• Bright yellow fragrant flower spikes 

• Excellent architectural winter structure 

Notable Cultivars 

• Mahonia japonica  
• ‘Charity’, ‘Winter Sun’, ‘Marvel’ – Late-winter bloomers 
• M. eurybracteata ‘Soft Caress’ – Fine textured, non-spiny 

• Beijing Beauty™ – Compact, massing type 

Uses / Tips 

• Great for shade and woodland borders 

• Compact types are ideal for grouping and layering 

Sweetbox – Sarcococca spp. 

At-a-Glance 

• Bloom time: Late winter 
• Height: 
  • S. hookeriana: ~12 in (groundcover) 
  • Upright types: ~3 ft 
• Deer resistance: Complete 

Key Features 

• Tiny white, intensely fragrant flowers 
• Thrives in dry shade 

Notable Cultivars 

• S. hookeriana (groundcover) – Fragrant Valley™ (PHS Gold Medal) 
• Upright species: S. orientalis, S. ruscifolia 

Uses / Tips 

• Slow-spreading groundcover for shade 
• Fragrance best appreciated along paths 

• Deer resistant 

Paperbush – Edgeworthia chrysantha 

At-a-Glance 

• Bloom time: Late winter 
• Height/spread: Up to 7×7 ft 
• Zone: 7–9 

• Fragrance: Sweet 

Key Features 

• Silvery flower buds decorative all winter 
• Pendulous yellow flowers in clusters 
• Tropical-looking strap-like leaves in summer 

Notable Cultivars 

• ‘Snow Cream’ – Creamy yellow 

• ‘Akebono’ (syn. ‘Red Dragon’) – Orange-red; smaller, less vigorous 

Uses / Tips 

• Prefers full sun + well-drained soil 

• Excellent specimen shrub for four-season interest 

Wintersweet – Chimonanthus praecox 

At-a-Glance 

• Bloom time: Early January 

• Height: Tall, upright shrub 

Key Features 

• Yellow-cream, bell-shaped, sweetly fragrant flowers 

• Strong fragrance indoors 

Notable Cultivars 

• ‘Luteus’ – Bright golden flowers 

Uses / Tips 

• Great for winter cutting; even small branches scent rooms 

Winter Jasmine – Jasminum nudiflorum 

At-a-Glance 

• Bloom time: Off and on through winter 

• Habit: Scrambling, cascading shrub 

Key Features 

• Bright green stems provide winter color 

• Yellow tubular flowers appear during warm spells 

Uses / Tips 

• Best atop a wall or terrace for cascading effect 

Hellebores: Classic Winter-Blooming Flowers for Shade 

Hellebores are indispensable in winter gardens. They bloom for weeks, thrive in dry shade, and offer extraordinary diversity of color and form. There are dozens of species and hundreds of cultivars. Breeding efforts since the 1990s in Germany and the U.S. led to an explosion of new forms. Below is a list of notable cultivars for gardens. 

General Care 

• Remove damaged leaves in late winter once buds emerge (after severe cold risk). 
• H. × hybridus and H. foetidus self-seed abundantly; transplant seedlings in spring after true leaves form. 
• Water transplanted seedlings immediately. 

Lenten Rose – Helleborus × hybridus 

At-a-Glance 

• Bloom time: Early spring 
• Height: Variable; stout stems 
• Foliage: Broad evergreen rosettes 

Key Features 

• Large 2–3 in flowers 

• Colors: Pink, rose, purple, near-black, white, yellow; spotted and double forms 

Notable Cultivars / Strains 

• Brandywine™ – Mixed colors including doubles, anemone forms, picotee edges 

Uses / Tips 

• Display by floating individual flowers in a bowl 

• Deer resistant 

Christmas Rose – Helleborus niger 

At-a-Glance 

• Bloom time: Christmas in warmer climates; late winter in Philadelphia area 
• Height: 9–12 in 

• Foliage: Coarse evergreen 

Key Features 

• Pure white flowers with golden-yellow stamens 

Stinking Hellebore – Helleborus foetidus 

At-a-Glance 

• Bloom time: Late winter 
• Height: Up to 2½ ft 
• Habit: Upright with deeply cut foliage 

Key Features 

• Light green flowers 
• Fern-like, deeply lobed evergreen leaves 

• Seeds freely in dry shade 

Uses / Tips 

• Ideal for naturalizing under trees 

Modern Hellebore Breeding Series 

Winter Ballet Series (H. × hybridus × H. niger) 

• ‘Liara’ – 18–20 in; light pink with darker veins 

• ‘Linda’ – Cream flowers, yellowish-green center 

Honeymoon® Series 

• ‘California Dreaming’ – Bright yellow 
• ‘French Kiss’ – White with magenta veining 
• ‘Rome in Red’ – Dark maroon 

• ‘Tropical Sunset’ – Yellow streaked with red 

The Rockies Series 

• ‘Grand Teton’ – Blue-grey spiny foliage; maroon flowers 
• ‘Hollowtop Mountain’ – White-marbled leaves; pure white flowers 

• ‘Table Mountain’ – Unique golden emerging foliage 

Frostkiss® Series 

• ‘Anna’s Red’ – Reddish purple; silver-patterned leaves 
• ‘Molly’s White’ – Large stature; outward-facing white flowers 
• ‘Penny’s Pink’ – Bright pink; bronze foliage with pink veining 

Early Bulbs and Flowers That Grow in Late Winter 

Just when winter feels longest, early bulbs push through the soil, offering the first hints of spring. Crocuses, snowdrops, and winter aconites bring delicate color and cheer to quiet landscapes. Their low-growing habit works well in borders, under trees, or in garden beds that need a bright lift. Many also attract early pollinators, adding life and movement long before most plants awaken. These hardy bloomers ensure even the coldest months have beauty and promise. 

Snowdrops – Galanthus 

At-a-Glance 

• Bloom time: Late winter/early spring 

• Deer resistance: High 

Key Features 

• Teardrop white flowers with green markings 
• Highly collectible; celebrated at the Galanthus Gala 

• Deer resistant 

Notable Species 

• G. nivalis (common snowdrop) 

• G. elwesii (giant snowdrop) 

Winter Aconite – Eranthis hyemalis 

At-a-Glance 

• Bloom time: Earliest of all (February or earlier) 

• Height: Very low 

Key Features 

• Cheerful golden-yellow flowers 

• Readily self-seeds to form carpets 

Early Crocus – Crocus spp. 

At-a-Glance 

• Bloom time: Late winter to early spring 

Key Features 

• Early nectar source; naturalizes easily 

• Lovely in lawns 

Notable Types 

• Crocus tommasinianus (“tommies”) – Lavender; prolific 

• ‘Ruby Giant’ – Deeper purple; slightly larger 

Dwarf Iris – Iris reticulata group 

Key Features 

• Small stature for rock gardens and nooks 

Notable Cultivars 

• ‘Harmony’ – Purple with golden markings 

• ‘Katharine Hodgkin’ – Soft blue with deeper blue/yellow accents 

Early Daffodils – Narcissus 

Key Features 

• Deer resistant 

Notable Cultivars 

• ‘February Gold’ – Golden miniature 

• ‘Snipe’ – White reflexed petals; cream trumpet 

How to Design a Winter Garden

Thinking and designing for the winter garden can bridge the aesthetic gap between the blazing colors of autumnal fall color and the overabundance of flowering plants in the spring.  Winter flowering plants can be used in combination with other winter interests to create dynamic displays. Add a few new selections each year to gradually build a garden with dynamic winter interest.