Discover stunning winter-flowering plants and shrubs that bloom through the cold months with flowers, berries, and fragrance.
Who says winter has to be gray? When the days grow short and frosty, a splash of color in the garden can lift your spirits and chase away the chill. From fragrant witch hazel and festive hollies to vibrant camellias and cyclamen, these hardy winter-flowering plants prove that beauty doesn’t hibernate. Let’s explore 10 stunning shrubs and flowers that keep the color coming—even when snow’s on the ground.
You might not think about landscaping in winter, but your yard can be just as beautiful in the winter as in the spring. Imagine a window view of a landscape that is alive with color and texture: bright yellow, red, and white flowers bursting into bloom and lush green, blue, and golden foliage.
Some winter flowers and shrubs can add the extra dimension and vivacity that we need so badly to enliven our spirits amidst the gloom. By learning a bit about plants that exhibit interesting winter features, you can create a garden that will stand out in every season. Filling the garden with color in winter is less challenging than might first be supposed.
10 Best Shrubs and Flowers That Bloom in Winter
1. Witch Hazel
Witch hazel (Hamamelis) looks amazing as a specimen shrub, especially if underplanted with early spring bulbs. This plant’s vibrant spidery flowers in shades of orange, red, or yellow clothe its bare branches and have a spicy fragrance. Expect it to bloom from December to March.
Interestingly, witch hazel has long been used in traditional medicine to treat inflammation and skin damage. Freshly cut rods from the plants were also used for water divination.
2. Oregon Grape
The Oregon grape (Mahonia aquifolium) or holly-leaved barberry is a stalwart evergreen with holly-like leaves. It produces dense clusters of yellow flowers in early spring, followed by ornamental, dark bluish-black berries. The spectacular plumes of flowers have a scent reminiscent of lily-of-the-valley. ‘Charity’ is an excellent variety and is a great focal point for a shady corner.
Both Wintersweet, which smells of honey, and Winter Jasmine are easy to grow and thrive in a sheltered spot. They will both bloom from December to March.
3. Arrowwood Dawn
Arrowwood Dawn (Viburnum bodnantense) is low-maintenance and has delightful, scented pink blossoms. In warm winter areas (such as the South and Pacific Northwest coast), flowers bloom on naked stems from late autumn to early spring.
4. Christmas Rose
The Christmas rose, the earliest blooming hellebore, produces persistent white flowers with just a hint of pink in December and January. Cutting some of their ragged leaves off shows them to perfection; no wonder Victorian gardeners used to display them (still growing) under a sheet of plain glass so that rain didn’t damage the delicate petals. They self-seed profusely and hybridize, too, which adds to the excitement of growing them.
5. Dogwood Tree or Shrub
Dogwood trees and shrubs really pop in the winter with vibrant winter stems. The red twig dogwood bears bright red branches that look beautiful against white snow. Dogwood shrubs come in a range of colors, including the burnished gold of ‘Budd’s Yellow’ yellow twig dogwood, ‘Anny’s Winter Orange’, and Baton Rouge, a true scarlet. My own favorite is ‘Midwinter Fire’, which, true to the name, lights up a dull corner like a brazier.
6. Camellia
Camellia’s vibrant flowers flower throughout winter in pink, yellow, and red. Plus, the glossy leaves are gorgeous. Just be sure to choose a winter-blooming variety.
7. Hardy Cyclamen
Hardy cyclamen (C. Coum) blooms throughout the winter in Zones 5 to 9 with flowers in shades of pinks, purples, and white—plus, the decorative foliage is beautiful.
8. Hollies
Hollies are both traditional and gorgeous, come in red- and yellow-berried varieties, and support a whole range of wildlife, including the Holly Blue Butterfly.
The winterberry (Ilex verticillata) is a species of holly that produces bright red berries that persist throughout the winter and into spring. Sometimes, though, to produce berries, there needs to be both a male and female shrub in the vicinity, so check this if you are buying one.
9. English Yew
English yew grows very slowly, which makes it excellent as a structural plant, good for topiary, and beautiful as dense hedges. Birds love the berries, though they are poisonous to humans and animals. The flowers bloom in late winter.
10. Beautyberry
Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) is a deciduous shrub with gorgeous purple berries in winter and thick green foliage; it supports many bird species.
Winter Blooming Plants at a Glance
| Plant Name | Bloom Time | Flower or Berry Color | Growing Zones | Quick Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Witch Hazel (Hamamelis) | Dec–Mar | Yellow, Orange, Red | 3–9 | Fragrant spidery blooms; great for winter interest. |
| Oregon Grape (Mahonia aquifolium) | Late Winter–Early Spring | Yellow flowers, Blue-Black berries | 5–9 | Evergreen foliage; thrives in shade. |
| Arrowwood Dawn (Viburnum bodnantense) | Late Fall–Early Spring | Pink | 5–8 | Fragrant blooms; low maintenance. |
| Christmas Rose (Helleborus niger) | Dec–Jan | White with Pink Tint | 4–8 | Early-blooming perennial; self-seeds easily. |
| Dogwood (Cornus spp.) | Winter | Red, Yellow, or Orange stems | 3–8 | Colorful winter bark; ideal for snowy landscapes. |
| Camellia (Camellia japonica) | Winter–Early Spring | Pink, Red, White | 7–10 | Glossy evergreen leaves; blooms depend on variety. |
| Hardy Cyclamen (Cyclamen coum) | Dec–Mar | Pink, Purple, White | 5–9 | Compact groundcover; thrives in shade. |
| Holly (Ilex spp.) | Winter | Red or Yellow berries | 5–9 | Evergreen; supports wildlife; some varieties need both sexes. |
| Winterberry (Ilex verticillata) | Late Fall–Spring | Bright Red berries | 3–9 | Deciduous holly; adds vibrant color. |
| English Yew (Taxus baccata) | Late Winter | Greenish flowers, Red berries | 5–7 | Excellent for hedges; slow-growing evergreen. |
| Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) | Fall–Winter | Purple berries | 6–10 | Bird-friendly; striking winter color. |
| Wintersweet (Chimonanthus praecox) | Dec–Feb | Pale Yellow | 7–9 | Honey-scented flowers; thrives in sheltered areas. |
| Winter Jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum) | Dec–Mar | Bright Yellow | 6–10 | Trailing shrub; blooms before leaves emerge. |
| Highbush Cranberry (Viburnum trilobum) | Fall–Winter | Red berries | 2–7 | Decorative fruit; attracts birds. |
| Crabapple (Malus spp.) | Fall–Winter | Red, Yellow, Bronze fruit | 4–8 | Fruit persists through winter; great for pollinators. |
Also considered the flowers of winter are the red berries of highbush cranberries; the red, yellow, purple, and bronze fruit of crabapples; and the variety of fruit and berries offered by cherries, viburnums, and roses.
Take time in winter to see the bones of your yard. Read about Winter Landscaping: Tune in to the Four Winds.
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When it comes to deer, there's bad news and more-positive-but-not-exactly-good news. The bad news is, if they are hungry enough, there's almost nothing deer won't eat. The slightly better news, is that we've lived alongside deer long enough to do a lot of experimentation. Our friends at Rutgers University's New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station put together a very helpful chart that rates plants by their likelihood for deer damage: https://njaes.rutgers.edu/deer-resistant-plants/. Here's another from the Texas A&M Extension service: https://aggie-hort.tamu.edu/archives/parsons/publications/deerbest.html. Over time, some trial and error will lead you to the plants that your particular deer leave alone. Hopefully the suggestions on these lists are enough to get you started on that path.
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