When many flowers and plants have died down for the season, winter-loving and blooming plants emerge to light up the garden with color and texture. Hardy and frost-tolerant, winter plants are oftentimes evergreen to retain their foliage and color throughout the entire winter. Their bright blooms provide warmth to a winter garden, especially amidst a fresh winter snow. Nestled within containers or along a front garden, they create a magical display to the garden.
Giant snowdrop (Galanthus elwesii) is a perennial flower that emerges in winter to light up the landscape. Growing less than 6 inches tall, giant snowdrop have large, white flowers that appear to be nodding down to the garden. Signaling spring is on its way, giant snowdrops are ideal planted along a flower border for their low growing habit. Frost-tolerant, giant snowdrops have a clumping form that requires a fall planting. To plant in other areas of the garden, divide giant snowdrops after they flower. Giant snowdrops grow best in full sun to part shade and moist, well-drained soil. Plant giant snowdrops in U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) hardiness zones 3 to 9.
Lenten Rose (Helleborus orientalis), also called Christmas rose, is a winter-blooming evergreen perennial flower that grows in erect clumps. Growing 12 to 18 inches wide, Lenten rose flowers keep the winter landscape with color and vibrancy. Their nodding, saucer-shaped flowerheads grow 2 ½ inches wide and in a wide range of colors including, yellow, purple, pink, white and green. The dark green foliage on Lenten rose is shiny and leather-like with a toothed edging around each leaf. Frost-tolerant, Lenten rose flowers bloom in temperatures below freezing, even during a hard snow. They grow best in full shade and well-drained, nutrient-laden soil. To promote fresh new growth, cut back flowering stems once they've bloomed. Divide after flowering to grow in other areas of the garden. Plant in USDA zones 3 to 8.
Winter's Hope Camellia
Winter's hope camellia (Camellia 'Winter's Hope') is an evergreen plant with a slow growth rate and bright blooms. Growing 8 feet tall and wide, winter's hope produces semi-double white flowers beginning in fall to last through winter. The leaves on winter's hope are dark green and leather-like to remain with color throughout the season. The spreading form and pendulous branches makes for a classic flowering shrub to grow as a specimen plant among the garden. Winter's hope camellia grows best in light shade and moist, well-drained soils that are acidic. Plant in USDA zones 6 to 9.