In many areas of the world, winter is a dreary, cold time of the year. Winter flowers offer a wonderful way to brighten up your yard and keep your garden going through the most inhospitable months of the year. While it’s easy to find flowers for summer as there are just so many to choose from, you may be less familiar with flowers that bloom in the colder months of the year. That’s why we’ve rounded up a list of our favorite winter flowers. Check out our picks below!
#1 Winter Heath

Winter Heath (Erica carnea) is a low-growing alpine subshrub that produces gorgeous magenta blooms in late winter to early spring. It is perfect for providing a much-needed burst of color during the dreary season! This pretty plant thrives in cold climates and is hardy in Zones 5 – 7, but keep in mind that it doesn’t do well with long hot spells.
#2 Hellebore

Hellebore (Helleborus) features gorgeous cup-shaped blossoms that are perfect for sprucing up your garden during the cold winter months. These winter flowers are a great option if you're looking for a true showstopper. Bonus? They are frost-resistant, shade tolerant, and available in a number of varieties. Hellebore is hardy in Zones 4 – 9.
#3 Snowdrops

Snowdrops (Galanthus) bloom in late winter and look especially beautiful when planted underneath deciduous trees or shrubs. The pops of color from their green stems and delicate white blooms are a welcome sight against the snow. In fact, these beautiful flowers can function as early harbingers of spring! They require very little care and are hardy in Zones 3 – 9.
# 4 Early Scilla

Early Scilla (Scilla mischtschenkoana) produces white star-shaped flowers with blue stripes in late winter. Bonus? It typically continues to flower in the same spot year after year, making it quite easy to maintain. Early Scilla is hardy in Zones 4 - 8.
#5 Cyclamen

Cyclamen (Cyclamen coum) offers beautiful late-winter flowers in white, pink, purple, and red. It does best when placed in partial shade, such as underneath trees or shrubs. Be sure to mulch yours generously in fall if you live in a colder area. Cyclamen is hardy in Zones 5 – 9. It can also be grown indoors as a houseplant.
#6 Witch Hazel

Witch Hazel (Hamamelis x intermedia) is a deciduous shrub that blooms with fragrant ribbon-petal flowers of yellow, copper, or red. The show starts in early January and continues into March. Witch hazel doesn’t have any major insect or disease concerns, making it an easy shrub to work with. Its blooms also provide a much-appreciated burst of color during the dreariest parts of winter! It is hardy in Zones 5 – 9.
#7 Winter Aconite

Winter Aconite (Eranthis hyemalis) blooms in late winter and can be viewed as one of the first signs of impending spring. It features yellow, cup-shaped flowers that create a beautiful carpet of color wherever they are planted. It does well in-ground or in a container, but be sure to give it full sun or light shade for best results. Winter Aconite is hardy in Zones 3 – 7.
#8 Buttercup Winterhazel

Buttercup Winterhazel (Corylopsis pauciflora) offers mildly fragrant yellow flowers that bloom in late winter or early spring. It also offers light green leaves that turn a pretty shade of yellow or chartreuse in the fall. Buttercup Winterhazel prefers acidic, moist, well-draining soil and can handle full sun to partial shade. Topping out at 4 – 6 ft. tall and wide, this round shrub is a good choice for smaller yards. Buttercup Winterhazel is hardy in Zones 3 – 8.
#9 Red Twigged Dogwood

While not a flower, Red Twigged Dogwood (Cornus sericea) still offers plenty of winter color with its bright red branches that look stunning covered in ice or dusted with snow. Bonus? It looks great in spring, summer, and fall, too! Red Twigged Dogwood is hardy in Zones 2 – 8.
#10 Boxwood

While boxwood is an evergreen shrub, not a flower, we would be remiss not to include it in this list, because its glossy-green leaves are a great way to add year-round color to your garden and look especially stunning covered in snow. Bonus? Boxwood is a great way to add structure to your garden, but it can also be grown in pots and placed near your home’s entryway for a welcoming splash of green. The “Winter Gem” variety is a great option to consider.
Want more flower recommendations? Check out our favorite colorful flowers!