Winter Flowering Plants and Shrubs In UK

All the winter gardens on magazines look like they are right out of a fairytale. And you wonder why yours look so dead and sad? Well, it is all about what flowers and shrubs you choose to nurture in your garden, trust me.

Many people do not know that you should select your flowers according to the seasons. Not all flowering plants survive a harsh winter, whereas; some shrubs and plants thrive in it.

Here is a list of best-winner flowering plants and shrubs that will turn your pale garden into an enchanted one in a blink.

Skimmia Rubella

Having Rubella in your garden brings a nice contrast because of its dark green leaves and bright pink flower. It is a perennial shrub that can be used as a border of your garden or for hedging. If you plant your shrubs around May, then you might see some fruits around July. The buds stay during the winter and bloom in spring around April. Plant them in some moist soil, preferably under a shed, and fertilize them often.

Silver Margined Holly Topiary

Your common Hollys are pretty but, ever thought of getting a silver margined one? Well, you should. The light cream border contrasts the dark green leaves perfectly. And the best thing, you may grow it as a shrub or as a small tree in a pot. It bears a white flower during spring, and later during the year, they give you red berries. The foliage and the red berries give off a very festive feel.

Chinese Witch Hazel

This ornamental deciduous, small plant is native to China and bears unique flowers around late winter, which gives a strong spicy fragrance. The flowers have yellow and reddish ribbon-like petals and, they bloom on bare branches as most leaves turn yellow during autumn and shed.

Winter Honeysuckle

Sounds very English, right? Well, don’t be a fool; this ornamental shrub is native to China. Know to us as kiss-me-at-the-gate, sweet breath of spring, Chinese honeysuckle, so on. You can call this shrub deciduous or semi-evergreen and, it works perfectly for your hedge.

The flowers bloom in pairs around January and stay throughout the spring. It got a sweet lemony fragrance and abundant nectar that attracts honeybees. You can prune your bush right after the flowering season as it grows right back up for the next season.

Pansies

Hey, do not be a pansy! We all use it but, it got nothing to do with the flower but with the French word pensee. In fact, pansies are hardy! Plant them around October or November and, you will have a beautiful garden full of pansies throughout the whole of winter. Just make sure you have then a sunny spot. I do not think they are good winter-flowing plants as they are robust and vibrant throughout spring.

Winter Aconites

All winter flowers are hardy, but we tend to forget about Winter Aconites in between all of them. Bulb me up buttercups are beautiful bulbs that bloom bright yellow flowers during late winter and early spring.

They have their charms and blooms only when it is sunny. Plant them near a tree, and you will have happy little aconites! Remember, Winter aconites have no fragrance, and they are annual, so if they like where you placed them, they will come back again next year! 

Snowdrop

Some say that snowdrops symbolize purity and innocence and, some say it is sympathy and consolation. But most people accept that this is the prettiest winter flower. Don’t let the looks deceive you because those flowers are poisonous when ingested, and in many countries, it is illegal to pick. There is a meager chance that you will get your hands on snowdrops but, if you do, it would be worth spending the few extra pounds.

Erica Carnea

 Low maintenance evergreen shrub with needle-like leave and bears enigmatic purple and pink flowers in a bunch. Each flower is bell-shaped and is facing downwards. They bloom even when there is snow and turn your garden into an enchanted Disney forest.

Hellebores

Want flowering plants that will bloom even in the dead of winter? Get some Hellebores that will adore your snow-covered garden.

Winter Jasmine

“The flower that welcomes spring” is literally the name of this plant. This slender deciduous shrub bears beautiful star-like yellow flowers and, it is again native to China! Perfect for planting during fall, right before winter starts. Just a tiny bit drawback is that it is toxic to human and, pets so, make sure you keep your distance.

Wintersweet

Native to China, but very commonly found in Japan today. It is an ornamental flower plant that adorns the barren branches of the tree with little yellow flowers. Those flowers have magenta and maroon specks at the center that makes them look more enchanting. Those flowers are very delicately scented and blooms during January and February.

Pussy Willow

Plush furry catkins come to the barren branches during early winter, which will remind you of cuddly kittens on winter nights. It is rather a unique plant to have in one’s garden.

Mahonia Japonica

This evergreen shrub has a leathery leaf and gives you fragrant yellow flowers along with blue and black colored berries. The berries might look very tempting but, they are not to be consumed by humans. Your mahonia might get a bit leggy, so do prune it from time to time to keep it in good shape.

Winterberry

It might shed all its leave during winter but, in the backdrop of the snow-clad garden, the red cherries will pop and welcome Christmas like no other. The barren branches will be adorned by a bunch of bright red cherries and attract little critters.

Cyclamen

During the dead of the winter, Cyclamen adds beauty and aesthetic to the grounds with arrays of flowers from dark magenta to pink to white. When not blooming, they have beautiful dark green pointed leaves that add a pattered coverage to your garden floor, turning it into a mystical forest.

Winter Sun

This broadleaf evergreen shrub is a cross between Berberis and Hortensis. It gives fragrant yellow flowers during winter and, the shrub looks like the rays of the sun. It also bears berries that most birds love to feast on.

Skimmia Japonica ‘Temptation’

Temptation suites the name of the plant as they bear tempting red berries throughout the winter. During early winter, they do bloom white cream-colored flowers and have dark green foliage. The dark green leave helps both the flowers and the berries to grab all the attention it deserves.

Eve Price

It is a beautiful flower-bearing shrub that gives you clusters of pale ping bundles during late winter and spring. The dark green leathery textured leave gives a pop to the pale pink fragrant flowers and the cherry-like fruits. Those fruits will attract all kinds of small birds as they feed on them happily. Good news, it is also said that Eve price is non-toxic to dogs!

Dawn

This unusual ornamental winter flower bloom throughout winter and spring. They are handsomely fragrant, so plant them near a seating area where you can enjoy them. This plant is a cross between Viburnum and Bodnantense. They might lose their leave but bear bright pink and white flowers during late winter and throughout spring.

Darley Dale

This shrub is full of a head of purple flowers that looks like bells. Loved by all because of its long flowering season and attracts enough bees with its sweet nectar. They have dark green foliage that makes the flower pop more. This beautiful shrub is a hybrid between Erica and Darleyensis.

Pieris

Another flowering plant that blooms when it is least expected. When your entire garden is sleeping during mid-winter, Pieris will shower your garden with flowers and bring it back to life!

Cyclamen

Those are perennial flowing plants that work perfectly for covering the ground. Make sure you plant those near a deciduous plant since they like bright winter sun and a bit of a shade during the summertime.

English Primrose

Those delicate five-petalled flowers come in a variety of colors. Make sure you have the right once that survives the winter. English primrose usually comes around mid-winter and stays till late spring.

Daffodil

Add an extra bit of color to your snow-clad garden by planting some daffodils. They might look fragile but, daffodils can take frosty nights. Most people think that they only springtime flowers and represents the new beginning but, once you see your daffodils bloom in winter, you will know their true beauty! 

Camellia

The bright scarlet-colored Camellia looks like fallen rubies scattered on a snowy garden from far away. Those are gemming that bloom in the heat of a cold frosty winter. Want to have a fairy garden? Then this is a must-have!