A list of some of our favourite plants that thrive in winter gardens.
As winter has us in its chilly embrace, a select ensemble of plants step into the spotlight, defying the season’s dormancy.
Some of these winter showstoppers give us a show of vibrant berries, striking bark, and unexpected blossoms, turning cold, grey garden days into a vista of colour and texture.
Dive into our collection of the best winter plants, that not only survive but thrive in winter, ensuring your garden stays captivating all year round.
1. Phylica Plumosa
‘Flannel flower’. Stunning, interesting flowers and foliage. Cream-white flowers with a soft cinnamon scent. They attract bees and pollinators – an ideal choice for the environment. An added benefit is that they are hardy, tolerating dry and coastal conditions.
2. Helleborus
Known as the “Winter Rose“. Helleborus flower during the winter season into spring, adding enchantment to the garden. These plants are simply amazing, with their magical foliage and stunning flowers that come in an array of shapes and colours.
3. Pieris japonica
Also known as ‘Lily of the Valley Bush’. A captivating winter flowing shrub with stunning foliage and cascading bell-shaped blooms. Foliage emerges in a bronze-red colour and matures into a dark shade of green, providing year-round interest to the garden.
4. Grevillea
A remarkable shrub known for its abundance of unique flowers, particularly during winter. Renowned for its exceptional hardiness. What sets the Grevillea apart is its extraordinary blooms, which enchant both humans and birds alike.
5. Daphne Odora
Magnificent scent! Flower late winter and spring. An age-old favourite for good reason. Comes with pink (Leucanthe) or white (Alba) flowers.
(Be careful they do not get too much water. Root-rot can be a problem.)
6. Banksia ‘Birthday Candles’
A beautiful low growing shrub that reaches around 60cm high. Orange-yellow flower spikes that are produced for a long time from autumn to spring. Hardy, unique and perfect for coastal environments.
7. Camellia
Camellias are a real favourite for winter flowering plants. Beautiful flowers in tones of pink, white, and red. Japonicavarieties: Perfect for shady positions, often grow in a tree-like form. Sasanqua varieties: Ideal for hedging and tolerate more sunlight.
8. Protea
Protea flowers present as big heads, fluffy petals (bracts) and soft hues of pinks, lime and white. A great winter bloomer, typically flowering from autumn to spring. Most are low maintenance and cold hardy (young plants require protection from heavy frosts).
9. Bergenia
A fantastic groundcover and gap filler. Flowers through winter and spring. Tolerant of many conditions, including full sun and part shade. Flowers can be deep pink, light pink or white. Easily divided.
10. Azalea
Some varieties of azaleas start flowering in autumn, while others bloom in winter and continue into spring. These shrubs offer a profusion of colourful flowers, giving the winter garden a pop of beauty through a sometimes dull season.
It’s not just about the flowering plants in winter – let’s take notice of plants with spectacular foliage:
Leucadendron
During winter certain varieties of Leucadendron display mesmerising shades of red foliage, adding warmth and visual interest to the landscape.
Nandina
Some are put off this plant because of it’s reputation of being a little ‘old school’ (*treading carefully here so as not to offend any Nandina-lovers out there!). But some varieties might surprise and delight you. This versatile plant undertakes an incredible transformation throughout the seasons. In winter, Nandina showcases its magnificent foliage.
