Winter in the garden is often seen as a dreary time of hibernation or preparation for the warmer seasons ahead. However, many plants are at their floral best during the coolest months and winter’s gloomy days can be brightened with some wonderful colour. From short-lived annual flowers that bring pops of colour into garden beds and pots, to perennials and shrubs that perform year after year, there are many winter flowering options. Here are my five favourite winter flowers to inspire you to grow some at your place!
Pansies & violas
The beautiful blooms of pansies and violas are an absolute delight in winter. These low-growing annuals are available in a rainbow of flower colours, from snowy white to pretty pale blue, mauve, orange and sunshine yellow. Many have interesting ‘whisker’ patterns on their petals, while others have multi-toned flowers or petals with different colours. Traditional violas include ‘Johnny jump ups’, which have masses of petite purple and yellow flowers. Recent introductions include trailing pansies, which spread up to 70cm across and are perfect for filling flower beds or growing in pots and hanging baskets. Head to your local garden centre during winter to choose your favourite flower colours. Feed pansies and violas every one to two weeks with Yates Thrive Roses & Flowers Liquid Plant Food, which is rich in flower-promoting potassium.
Hellebores
Also known as winter roses, hellebores are perennials that produce fascinating flowers in the depths of winter. They give the appearance of being delicate plants but are quite hardy, being tolerant of dry conditions and frost. They’re particularly suited to growing in the dry shade underneath trees, which can be notoriously difficult areas to establish plants in. Flower colours range from deep magenta to light pink and white, with some varieties having gorgeous flecked petals. Hellebores can also be grown in pots and be brought inside for up to six weeks in a brightly-lit room, which is a wonderful way to make the absolute most of their winter floral display.
Kalanchoe
There is a dazzling array of kalanchoes, but one of the most colourful is Kalanchoe blossfeldiana. Sometimes called flaming Katy or Christmas kalanchoe, it produces vivid pink, orange, yellow or red flowers during the coolest months. They’re a type of compact succulent with green waxy leaves, and make perfect potted plants in a sunny, frost-protected spot. Being a succulent, they need a gritty and free-draining potting mix like Yates Speciality Potting Mix Cacti & Succulents and a pot with good drainage holes.
Camellias
Camellias are cool-weather heroes, with sasanqua camellias flowering predominantly during autumn and japonica camellias during winter. Japonica camellias do best in a sheltered position with filtered sun all day or just gentle morning sun and afternoon shade. They love moist but well-drained acidic soil and can also be grown in pots. Their flowers range from single blooms with exposed stamens (which birds and bees adore) to varieties with striking frilled petals or multiple layers of petals. Japonica camellias are wonderful shrubs for bringing winter colour into dull, shaded areas of the garden.
Daphne
One of the most divinely perfumed shrubs is daphne. Its pink (or sometimes white) flowers have an intensely sweet fragrance that reminds me of a sugary and vibrantly coloured “fruity” breakfast cereal. It’s an absolute treat during winter, when burying your nose in a cluster of daphne flowers can’t help but put a smile on your face. Daphne can be a bit temperamental and needs very well-drained but moist, slightly acidic soil and dappled shade to do well. In areas with heavy clay soil, it’s best to grow daphne in a pot with good drainage holes, filled with a quality potting mix like Yates Premium Potting Mix with Dynamic Lifter.
