Winter can be a tough season for flower lovers and gardeners. There are less sun and colder temperature, and many plants go dormant until spring. But that doesn’t mean your garden has to die too. There are plenty of flowers that bloom and thrive during winter. Certain flowers, even edible ones, survive in winter, which makes it possible for gardeners to enjoy gardening. Here are the seven best flowers for a winter garden that will keep you busy in your garden.
Comparison Chart
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | DETAILS | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seed Needs Swiss Giants Pansy Twin Pack Seeds | Winter-flowering pansies are the favorite of a gardener – suitable for containers and window boxes that flash amazing colors. | ||
| Outsidepride Viola Johnny Jump Up Plant Flower - 5000 Seeds | Johnny Jump Up likes cold to warm temperatures, so at mid-summer, they can wilt a little. We suggest limited shade in warmer regions. Viola flowers can withstand a wide variety of soils. After planting them, you can apply general purpose fertilizer once a month after. | ||
| Perfect Plants Frostproof Gardenia | Frostproof gardenias are perfect for winter. Their flowers appear fantastic in pots and walls while running across the garden. | ||
| 250 Aubrieta Seeds - Cascade Purple Flower Seeds | Aubrieta flowers are hardy annuals to Southern Europe but has naturalized in the United States. Dense clusters of cascading purple flowers may blossom during the growing season if their blooms are cut back. | ||
| Shishi Gashira Camellia | The Shishi Gashira Camellia is one of Camellia’s recognized varieties of flowers. They are plants that survive cold weather, although the flowers can be affected by frost. Therefore, putting them undercover is crucial while they’re blooming. | ||
| Big Pack - Calendula Flower Seeds (4,500 Seeds) | Calendula flowers are one of the herbal treatments to cultivate as they are efficient and elegant garden flowers. Calendula has a vivid yellow and orange color, which is attractive and soothing. | ||
| 3 Containers of Hellebore/ Hybrid Lenten Rose | Hellebores are sometimes referred to as the Christmas Rose since they bloom in midwinter. Look for Hellebore Orientalis variations for dazzling color, in green, white, and also dark red. |
![Seed Needs Swiss Giants Pansy Twin Pack Seeds](https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B00RA1X6FS&Format=_SL500_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=gardensimply-20&language=en_US" alt="Seed Needs Swiss Giants Pansy Twin Pack of 600 Seeds Each" width="250" height="250" border="0" draggable="false"></a>)
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What Can You Do to Prepare the Best Flowers for Winter Gardens
- Plant flower bulbs in the spring.
- Remove any dying plants or dead leaves.
- Drain garden hoses and irrigation system so that water will not freeze inside.
- After the first frost, you must cut back perennial flowers.
- Spread the compost to your garden to provide nutrients to last the winter.
- You should label your garden, so you know where not to plant.
- Cover the garden with much to protect the plants from cold temperature.
A Detailed Review on the 7 Best Flowers for Winter Gardens
Seed Needs Swiss Giants Pansy Twin Pack of 600 Seeds Each
Winter-flowering pansies are the favorite of a gardener, suitable for containers and window boxes that flash amazing colors.
Product Highlights
The pansy is another go-to winter-flower. Those are some of the most common flowers to buy in a garden shop. Pansies come in several different types, and you can pick the colors you want for your garden. When growing pansies in a bowl, they do exceptionally well and can thrive indoors.
The Good
Since the pansy can withstand low temperatures, frost-protection methods such as covering them with mulch or pine straw are essential. You can protect them from strong winds that may dehydrate the pansies. Pansies may also be cultivated in late winter, and they can bloom in early spring.
The Bad
Swiss giant pansies can resist frigid temperatures, but it can be weakened by snow. You may want to cover them in non-woven cloth to protect them.
PROs
- Low maintenance
- Blooms from September to March
- Partial shade
CONs
- Flowers may look weak
Outsidepride Viola Johnny Jump Up Plant Flower - 5000 Seeds
Johnny Jump Up likes cold to warm temperatures, so at mid-summer, they can wilt a little. We suggest limited shade in warmer regions. Viola flowers can withstand a wide variety of soils. After planting them, you can apply general purpose fertilizer once a month after.
Product Highlights
Violas are incredibly robust and strong, even though coated of snow, making them the best flowers for winter gardens. Because of their lasting bloom and light, they render perfect winter flowers even in the coldest months. They don’t make the best summer bulbs because the sun and humidity may be too intense for them. Violas come in several light shades, and they like full sun and well-drained soil.
The Good
Violas are hardy bedding flowers that like the sun or little shade. They also generate an abundance of dainty flowers on compact growth. You can try planting dwarf upright variety such as Viola ‘Sweeties’ or a stunning trailing viola like ‘Allspice Mixed,’ which is suitable for winter hanging baskets. Many Violas also have a lovely sweet scent, making them ideal for hanging outside your kitchen window or planting by the back door in containers.
The Bad
Johnny Jump Up is hard bloomers and mostly reseeds. They also sprout or germinate slowly, and I suggest using a warm germination pad.
Perfect Plants Frostproof Gardenia
Frostproof gardenias are perfect in winter. Their white flowers appear fantastic in pots and walls while running across the garden.
Product Highlights
Frostproof Gardenia is a typical blend of broad flowering crocus. Gardenia brings you white blooms that can complement indoor or outdoor gardens. Though popular for blooming in the spring, select species of flowers in the fall or winter may blossom.
The Good
You may remember Gardenia flowers from your neighborhood’s lawns and yards. They are common and hardy flowers in most places, which are sure signs of spring. They still bloom in the middle of winter occasionally. You can buy the bulbs from several garden shops. When planted, they lie dormant in the fall before the conditions are correct to thrive and bloom.
The Bad
Gardenia requires a bit of maintenance and well-drained soil that includes organic matter such as compost, manure, or humus peat.
PROs
- Easy to grow
- Deer resistant
- May grow in the lawn or backyard
CONs
- You must apply 2 inches layer of mulch in the late fall
250 Aubrieta Seeds - Cascade Purple Flower Seeds
Aubrieta flowers are hardy annuals to Southern Europe but has naturalized in the United States. Dense clusters of cascading purple flowers may blossom during the growing season if their blooms are cut back.
Product Highlights
Aubrieta care involves keeping the plants well maintained in the summer and gently trimming back. You can plant back the plant after blooming to scatter to promote another flush of flowers. In June to October, flowers emerge and stimulate to bloom again by cutting back the spent bulbs.
The Good
A compact and quick-growing Aubrieta flowers are tolerant of drought and resist heat. They thrive under minimal shade to complete light, with almost any soil. Throughout early spring, you can sow seedlings from wildflower seed but can’t tolerate extreme frost. Aubrieta is a nearly endless flower parade. Such heirloom honey-scented flowers are deer resistant, which also draw beneficial insects to your flower yard.
The Bad
Seeds of Alyssum can be sown in early spring as temperatures rise. Alyssum seedlings can’t hold up under an intense freeze.
PROs
- Great groundcover flower
- Lovely scent
- These annuals don’t need much attention
CONs
- They can get leggy and stretch out
- A bit slow to grow
Shishi Gashira Camellia
The Shishi Gashira is one of Camellia’s recognized varieties of flowers. They are plants that survive cold weather, although the flowers can be affected by frost. Therefore, putting them undercover is crucial while they’re blooming.
Product Highlights
Camellias fall to early bloomers in the spring, and their flowers appear anytime from October to March. However, they cannot bloom until late spring in colder areas. Camellias are produced from seed, unlike rooting cuttings, air-layering, or grafting. The flowers would not make camellias duplicates from where they grew. Camellias Japonica is Alabama’s designated national flower. They are also known as “cold rose.”
The Good
Camellias require partial shade, but some morning light is tolerated. Total sunlight destroys the foliage, but maximum shade significantly decreases flowering. Varieties of white and light pink blossoms need more shades than dark colors flowers. Camellias need mildly acidic and well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0-6.5.
The Bad
It’s difficult to predict what would its growing pattern looks like, flowering period, foliage emergence, or flower before it begins to develop and mature.
PROs
- Rich with anti-oxidants and vitamins
- Stimulates wound healing
- Produces edible oil and tea
CONs
- They tend to grow weak
- You have to apply fertilizer before the foliage
Big Pack - Calendula Flower Seeds (4,500 Seeds)
Calendula flowers are one of the herbal treatments to cultivate as they are efficient and elegant garden flowers. Calendula has a vivid yellow and orange color, which is attractive and soothing.
Product Highlights
The calendulas are among the most common winter bloomers. The pot marigold is another common term since they grow well in pots and planters. They last long in vases, allowing them for indoor flowering. They are easy to take care of, even though you’re on vacation. This daisy-like yellow to orange flowers prefers to bloom in full sunlight and may foliage from late fall to early spring.
The Good
Calendula flowers have several advantages that might surprise you. Herbalists recognize for decades, the advantages of calendula flower and research are beginning to support those claims. Calendula includes flavonoids and linoleic acid that tends to reduce inflammation. Another way the calendula can help is in wound healing by promoting the production of tissue and collagen. You can use calendula oil and ointment to treat minor skin conditions.
The Bad
In general, the calendula is considered safe, but individuals with allergies to Asteraceae (daisy) can have rashes and other allergic reactions.
PROs
- Edible and medicinal flower
- Promotes wound healing
- You can make lotions, soaps and essential oils
CONs
- May induce unbalance-menstruation
- Rare allergic reactions
3 Containers of Hellebore/ Hybrid Lenten Rose
Hellebores are sometimes referred to as the Christmas Rose since they bloom in midwinter. Look for Hellebore Orientalis variations for dazzling color, in green, white, and also dark red.
Product Highlights
There are several hellebores varieties, many of which bloom in winter and may last for many months. It is a smart choice to place them in an elevated flower bed or on a hillside. It means you will appreciate to the max the vibrant flowers in the cold winter months. Hellebore flower blooms from December to January. Hellebore is a fragile flower that requires special care.
The Good
The hellebore flowers’ leathery foliage appears strongest when sheared in late winter before new growth emerges. Annual manure or compost application can help improve the production of your hellebores. Provide plenty of water as they are aggressively developing during spring and fall. In the summer season, you should relax, as the heat allows hellebores to fall asleep.
The Bad
Hellebores require more nutrients than other plants to support blooming flowers. In the summer months, hellebores sleep. The usage of pot liners at this period is not advisable.
PROs
- Great companion plants
- Cold tolerant flower
- Actively grows in spring and fall
CONs
- May contain toxins that are harmful to pets and humans
- A bit delicate flower
Conclusion
Winter doesn’t mean your flower will have to die and bring a lifeless garden. Some flowers still bloom and add rich color during cold months. After taking a look at our seven best flowers for winter gardens, this guide has given you the chance to bring back those colors in your garden. It’s best to pick the right flowers that shoot your requirements and style to appreciate the beauty of the winter garden. Find out more about flowering plants.