The Best Winter Flowers for Your Garden

Winter doesn’t have to mean dead flowers, drab colors and a lifeless backyard. There are certain flowers that can still bloom and add a rich, vibrant appearance to your garden, even during the winter months. Let’s take a look at a few of the best winter flowers for your garden.

Hydrangeas

Well known as a summer flower, these plants bloom large orb-like bulbs in many bright colors. But the hydrangea is also a tough plant and can withstand temperatures into the 20s, which is great for places with warmer climates and milder winters. The soil’s pH level plays a big role in the color of your hydrangeas, so if you’re looking for blue flowers then your soil should be in the 5.2 – 5.5 range.

English Primroses

If hydrangeas are the leading summer flower, then spring’s would certainly go to primroses. They commonly bloom in spring and are usually the first to do so. However, there are types of primroses, such as the English Primrose, that bloom in winter and go until late spring. English primroses feature clusters of bright flowers that sit atop long stems with leathery, green leaves. They do best planted in shaded areas and watered regularly.

Poinsettias

Commonly known as the Christmas plant, the poinsettia is a very popular holiday plant with bright petals that traditionally appear in red, but can also be pink or white. It’s no surprise that it’s among the best winder flowers you can plant in your garden. Poinsettias should be given full sun and regular water. If the plant feels dry when touched, it should be watered. Poinsettias have tough flowers, but leaves should not be in contact with window panes or other cold surfaces that can injure them.

Snapdragons

Snapdragons actually bloom best and brightest in cold weather, making them a great winter garden choice. They are frost-tolerant and come in many colors such as red, yellow, white, pink and orange. They are easy to care for and make for great cut flowers as well. Snapdragons prefer full sunlight and need to be watered regularly, but be careful not to overwater them. The soil should be well-drained.

Violas

Violas are incredibly durable and lasting, even when covered in a bout of winter snow. They make great winter flowers because of their lasting bloom and color, even in the coldest months. They don’t make the best flowers for summer, however, as the the heat and humidity can be too much for them. Violas come in several bright colors and like full sun and well-drained soil.