Flowers in your yard during WINTER!

Typically, I dread the winter. Don’t get me wrong, many gardeners secretly welcome the frost (because we are tired of watering, picking, canning, pruning, and weeding). But more than anything, I just think that everything looks dead and it is depressing - very depressing. I started a mission to find plants that look great all winter long. I even found a few plants that actually bloom in the winter.




My favorite plants of all time are heaths and heathers. These are low, sun loving, evergreen, acid loving plants that come in all colors – both flower color and foliage color. There are hundreds of cultivars to choose from, and if chosen well, you can have a yard bursting with flower and color even in the dead of winter.

Erica Carnea ‘Sherwoods Early Red’ blooms from November to February. It is 8” tall and 18” wide.

Calluna Vulgaris ‘Autumn Glow’ blooms from November to January. 12”x18”.

Calluna Vulgaris ‘Finale’ blooms from October to November. 16”x20”

Calluna Vulgars ‘Hiemalis’ blooms from an amazing October to January. It is 14”x 20”

These are all hardy to zone 4 and up to 8.



Hellebores are also known as Lenten Roses or Christmas Roses. These not only flower as early as February, but are also evergreen (a much needed attribute in our climate zones). What makes these even more diverse is their ability to grow in the shade. Go ahead and try some of these. Plant them where you will see them in the winter time - maybe by your front walk.

Witch Hazel Hamamelis is a versatile shrub with year round interest and flowers when not much else is in bloom. Yellow / white flowers adorn this shrub when you least expect it. You may know it from astringent your mother used. Try this shrub and you’ll smile every winter when you look at it. Usually hardy to zone 3 and will tolerate full sun to part shade. This has the potential to reach 12-20 feet, so choose the right location even if you plan to keep it pruned.



Winter is such a good break for me as a gardener. Not only does it help me recharge physically, but it also gives me a chance to daydream about what I want to do in the yard in the spring. When I drive up to my house and see colorful flowers and foliage it makes the winter a little less dreary, and I secretly hope my neighbors are a little envious. Most importantly, it keeps my blooming season longer and that makes me SMILE!