Plants That Flower in Winter

Some mahonias — leatherleaf mahonia (Mahonia bealei) and selected cultivars of M. x media — bloom in winter; these shrubs are hardy in USDA Zones (6)7 to 9. A close relative, Oregon grape holly (M. aquifolium) flowers in early spring and is hardy to USDA (4)5.

The ultra-fragrant flowers of many daphnes, including Daphne bholua 'Jacqueline Postill', appear in midwinter. 'Jacqueline Postill' is evergreen. USDA Zones 7 to 9.

The flower buds of Pieris japonica persist from fall through winter. Give this evergreen shrub moist, well-drained, acid, organic soil. In the South, site it in shade. USDA Zones 4b to 7.

The so-called Christmas rose is actually a hellebore (Helleborus niger), and for areas of the country where winter flowers are a rarity, hellebores are a delight. These long-lived perennials love shade or dappled sun and moist, organic soil; there are thousands of cultivars in a range of colors from white and cream to pink, rose, burgundy and light green. USDA Zones 4 to 8.