Walking in a flowering winter wonderland

By Dana Garmon (iris28)
January 12, 2013

Winter doesn’t have to be a time for your garden to sleep. A winter flowering wonderland can be one of the many faces of your garden. As things slow down and fall comes to an end, many gardeners hightail it inside to pore over catalogs and sulk for the winter; just waiting for those first green shoots to emerge. You don’t have to spend the winter wishing and hoping. Stop counting down the days until the Old Farmer's Almanac says, ''It's safe to garden again; the last frost date has passed.'. You can create a winter flowering wonderland.

(Editor's Note: This article was originally published on December 27, 2009. Your comments are welcome, but please be aware that authors of previously published articles may not be able to promptly respond to new questions or comments.)  

While a winter-flowering garden may not look as lush and colorful as the summer garden, it has its own calm beauty; it's all part of the many moods of nature.  A winter flowering garden will help you beat the winter doldrums by getting you outside even for a little while.  Although there is a dead of winter where not much will flower,  you can plant the right plants to make the gap between fall and spring much smaller.

There are some excellent ways to create a winter flowering garden; it all depends on the look you want.  If you have the space, you can make a garden just for winter flowers.  It may not be much to look at in the spring and summer, but with most plants you will have some nice foliage.  You also have the option of using containers.  You can add winter beauty by keeping your containers going with winter flowering plants.  There is also the option of mixing winter flowering plants in your flower beds.  This idea is my favorite because as things fade, new flowers emerge almost seamlessly.  If you plant something for all bloom times you  will create a nice transition.

Late fall to early winter

Late fall blooming plants are great to start your winter flowering garden.  If you keep them deadheaded and watered, you can keep them going until the first hard frost.

• Heath aster (Symphyotrichum ericoides)
• Chinese gentian (Gentiana sino-ornata)
  
• Obedient plant, false dragonhead  (Physostegia virginiana)
• Shasta daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum 'Esther Reed')
• New York aster (Symphyotrichum novi-belgii)
• Russian stonecrop (Sedum kamtschaticum)
  
• Showy stonecrop and other ground cover sedums
• Candytuft Iberis 'Alexander's White'
• Garden mums 

Heath aster	Chinese gentian	New York aster	Candytuft

Mid- to late-winter

• Snowdrop
• Crocus most varieties
  
• Trumpet narcissus 'Rijnveld's Early Sensation'
• Scotch heath, winter heath (Erica carnea)
• Feburary daphne (Daphne mezereum)
• Helleborus or lenten rose
• Japanese Pieris

Snowdrops	Crocus	Helleborus	Winter daphhne

Late winter to early spring

The time from late winter to early spring is the home stretch; the hard part is over.  Somehow we managed to survive along with our gardens.  The flowers that bloom during this time are proof that spring is near and we need to get ready.  Enjoy this time because it won't be long before we will be out dividing, planting and sweating.

• Blackfoot daisy (Melampodium leucanthum)     
  

  Reticulated iris	Primula	Dianthus
  Creeping phlox	Lungwort	Allium
  Pansy	Blackfoot daisy	Daffodil

• Lungwort, (Pulmonaria 'Berries and Cream') and many other lungworts
• Ornamental comfrey
• Persian stonecress (Aethionema schistosum)
• Bulbs such as allium, narcissus, tulips, hyacinth
• Alpine rock cress
• Siberian squill
• Lilac
• Creeping phlox
• Primrose (Primula)
• Anemone, Grecian windflower
  
• Dianthus
• Some English daisies
• Bergenia cordifolia
• Viola and pansies
• Reticulated iris and other iris types

Flowering trees and shrubs that bloom at this time are beautiful, as well as many  other plants not listed.  Some alpines are also great for blooming in cold weather.

Planning a flowering winter wonder isn’t hard. Start by shopping the nurseries early; many retailers sell things as they flower.  Check PlantScout for vendors that have some winter-blooming plants available.  Many people pass up winter-blooming plants because they are eager for spring and summer flowers, so remember to include them in your spring purchases.  Now is a good time to take a look at your winter space and plan a serene winter flowering wonderland. 

Photo credits

1. Thumbnail courtesy of kennedyh
2. Heath aster courtesy of frostweed
3. Chinese gentian courtesy of Todd_Boland
4. New york aster courtesy of Daylilyslp
   
5. Candy tuft courtesy of kniphofia
6. Snowdrop courtesy of Galanthophile
   
7. Crocus courtesy of Todd_Boland
   
8. Winter daphne courtesy of growin
9. Primula courtesy of altagardener
   
10. Creeping phlox courtesy of Todd_Boland
    
11. Lungwort courtesy of Galanthophile
    
12. Blackfoot daisy courtesy of frostweed
    
13. All other photos are the author's

About Dana Garmon   For me gardening is an art form, stress reliever and a source of joy. I'm a wife and a mother to three boys. We have two dogs, a cat and 5 fish so it's a full house. I'm pretty eclectic. I like to collect plants (among other things). My main goal with my garden is to make my house into the secret garden. Something to look at , and color everywhere

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Discussion about this article:

Subject Topic Starter Replies Views Last Post Winter Gardens milet 0 5 Jan 14, 2013 5:04 AM WINTER FLOWERS hdown_y 4 69 Jan 17, 2011 11:06 AM Weigela Wine and Roses AngelaRose1966 0 17 Jun 14, 2010 9:21 AM Winter gardening ladyfoz 0 23 Jan 21, 2010 9:00 PM Iceflowers only - here in Ontario! binibusybee 3 44 Jan 3, 2010 4:33 PM

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