12 Gorgeous Flowers and Shrubs for Winter Gardens
These pick-me-up plants brighten gray days and add color, structure and fragrance when everything else is dormant
Lauren Dunec Hoang
November 30, 2020
Houzz Editor; landscape designer and former garden editor for Sunset Magazine and in-house designer for Sunset's Editorial Test Garden. Her garden designs have been featured in the Sunset Western Garden Book of Landscaping, Sunset Western Garden Book of Easy-Care Plantings (cover), Inhabitat, and POPSUGAR.
Houzz Editor; landscape designer and former garden editor for Sunset Magazine and... More
From flowers, such as ruby red camellias and fragrant sweet box, to shrubs with colorful branches and variegated foliage, there are plenty of plants that can brighten winter gardens. In most cold-winter regions, it’s best to plant perennials, shrubs and bulbs in fall, while the ground is still warm. If you’ve missed the window to plant, keep them in pots now and plant out in garden beds when you can work the soil in spring.
If you’re looking for garden inspiration or just want to flip through beautiful photos, take a look at these 12 stunning plants for winter gardens.
If you’re looking for garden inspiration or just want to flip through beautiful photos, take a look at these 12 stunning plants for winter gardens.
1. Camellia
(Camellia japonica and C. sasanqua)
The grand dames of the winter garden, camellias offer dignified foliage and showy flowers in wintery reds, whites and pinks — just when many other plants enter dormancy. Many varieties — particularly C. japonica — bloom from fall through the holidays, and often into early spring. For a holiday centerpiece, float cut blossoms in a low bowl of water with floating candles.
Where it will grow: Hardy to 0 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 17.8 degrees Celsius (USDA zones 7 to 9; find your zone); some newer hybrids are hardy to minus 10 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 23.3 degrees Celsius (Zone 6)
Origin: Native to southern and eastern Asia
Water requirement: Moderate to regular; allow soil to dry out between waterings
Light requirement: Light shade but can tolerate morning sun; sasanqua camellia (C. sasanqua) tolerates more sun
Mature size: From 2 to 20 feet tall; most range from 6 to 15 feet tall and 5 to 10 feet wide
Seasonal interest: Flowers in fall and winter
Read more about growing camellias
Dreaming of a garden redesign? Find a landscape designer on Houzz
(Camellia japonica and C. sasanqua)
The grand dames of the winter garden, camellias offer dignified foliage and showy flowers in wintery reds, whites and pinks — just when many other plants enter dormancy. Many varieties — particularly C. japonica — bloom from fall through the holidays, and often into early spring. For a holiday centerpiece, float cut blossoms in a low bowl of water with floating candles.
Where it will grow: Hardy to 0 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 17.8 degrees Celsius (USDA zones 7 to 9; find your zone); some newer hybrids are hardy to minus 10 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 23.3 degrees Celsius (Zone 6)
Origin: Native to southern and eastern Asia
Water requirement: Moderate to regular; allow soil to dry out between waterings
Light requirement: Light shade but can tolerate morning sun; sasanqua camellia (C. sasanqua) tolerates more sun
Mature size: From 2 to 20 feet tall; most range from 6 to 15 feet tall and 5 to 10 feet wide
Seasonal interest: Flowers in fall and winter
Read more about growing camellias
Dreaming of a garden redesign? Find a landscape designer on Houzz
2. Boxwood
(Buxus spp.)
Whether used as a container plant, bed-edger, taller hedge plant or accent, the humble boxwood offers endless versatility in gardens and, being an evergreen, year-round interest. For containers and edgers, choose dwarf varieties that naturally stay smaller. In cold-winter regions, look for Korean boxwood (B. sinica var. insularis) which is the most cold-hardy (down to Zone 4). In areas where boxwood blight is on the rise, opt for other evergreens, such as pittosporum, privet, yew and dwarf conifers, to serve a similar design function.
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 31.7 degrees Celsius (zones 4 to 9), depending on variety
Origin: Wide native range, including parts of Europe, Asia, Africa, North and Central America
Water requirement: Moderate to low; drought tolerant once established
Light requirement: Partial shade to full sun
Mature size: Can reach about 10 feet tall and 10 feet wide, but very slow growing
Seasonal interest: Year-round foliage
Read more about growing boxwood
(Buxus spp.)
Whether used as a container plant, bed-edger, taller hedge plant or accent, the humble boxwood offers endless versatility in gardens and, being an evergreen, year-round interest. For containers and edgers, choose dwarf varieties that naturally stay smaller. In cold-winter regions, look for Korean boxwood (B. sinica var. insularis) which is the most cold-hardy (down to Zone 4). In areas where boxwood blight is on the rise, opt for other evergreens, such as pittosporum, privet, yew and dwarf conifers, to serve a similar design function.
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 31.7 degrees Celsius (zones 4 to 9), depending on variety
Origin: Wide native range, including parts of Europe, Asia, Africa, North and Central America
Water requirement: Moderate to low; drought tolerant once established
Light requirement: Partial shade to full sun
Mature size: Can reach about 10 feet tall and 10 feet wide, but very slow growing
Seasonal interest: Year-round foliage
Read more about growing boxwood
3. Heaths and Heathers
(Erica spp. and Calluna spp.)
Cold-hearty heaths (Erica spp.) and heathers (Calluna spp.) bloom from late summer through early winter in their natural settings, but you’ll often find greenhouse-grown plants blooming through winter. Try them as potted plants to brighten window boxes and doorstep arrangements through the holidays. Flowers fade once the bloom is finished, but they look nearly as attractive when left on the plant as dried flowers.
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 31.7 degrees Celsius (zones 4 to 10)
Origin: Wide native range, including Africa, Madagascar, the Mediterranean and Europe
Water requirement: Regular
Light requirement: Full sun
Mature size: Varies from ground cover to 3 feet tall
Seasonal interest: Flowers from late summer through early winter
Read more about growing heather
(Erica spp. and Calluna spp.)
Cold-hearty heaths (Erica spp.) and heathers (Calluna spp.) bloom from late summer through early winter in their natural settings, but you’ll often find greenhouse-grown plants blooming through winter. Try them as potted plants to brighten window boxes and doorstep arrangements through the holidays. Flowers fade once the bloom is finished, but they look nearly as attractive when left on the plant as dried flowers.
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 31.7 degrees Celsius (zones 4 to 10)
Origin: Wide native range, including Africa, Madagascar, the Mediterranean and Europe
Water requirement: Regular
Light requirement: Full sun
Mature size: Varies from ground cover to 3 feet tall
Seasonal interest: Flowers from late summer through early winter
Read more about growing heather
Skagit Gardens
‘Maestro’ hellebore (H. x ballardiae Gold Collection Maestro)
4. Hellebore
(Helleborus spp.)
Lovely hellebores, or lenten roses, are like delicate dancers in the winter garden, with pale green to pink blossoms that float above dark-green foliage. Don’t let their fragile appearance fool you. Hellebores are tough plants that can withstand cold temperatures and some neglect.
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 31.7 degrees Celsius (zone 4 to 9)
Origin: H. orientalis is native to Central Europe
Water requirement: Moderate
Light requirement: Light to moderate shade
Mature size: Up to 3 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide
Seasonal interest: Flowers from winter into spring
Caution: All parts of this plant are poisonous.
Read more about growing hellebores
4. Hellebore
(Helleborus spp.)
Lovely hellebores, or lenten roses, are like delicate dancers in the winter garden, with pale green to pink blossoms that float above dark-green foliage. Don’t let their fragile appearance fool you. Hellebores are tough plants that can withstand cold temperatures and some neglect.
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 31.7 degrees Celsius (zone 4 to 9)
Origin: H. orientalis is native to Central Europe
Water requirement: Moderate
Light requirement: Light to moderate shade
Mature size: Up to 3 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide
Seasonal interest: Flowers from winter into spring
Caution: All parts of this plant are poisonous.
Read more about growing hellebores
5. Winterberry
(Ilex verticillata)
Perhaps best known for its berry-laden branches sold by the bunch around the holidays, winterberry deserves a spot in the garden as well as the florist shop. It’s a type of deciduous holly with a loose, shrubby form well-suited to the back of a larger garden bed. Berries cling to branches during winter dormancy, adding bright color to snowy gardens.
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 40 degrees Celsius (zone 3 to 9)
Origin: Native to the eastern United States
Water requirement: Moderate to regular; tolerates damp soil
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Mature size: 6 to 10 feet tall and wide
Seasonal interest: Winter berries
Caution: Berries are toxic if ingested.
Read more about growing winterberry
(Ilex verticillata)
Perhaps best known for its berry-laden branches sold by the bunch around the holidays, winterberry deserves a spot in the garden as well as the florist shop. It’s a type of deciduous holly with a loose, shrubby form well-suited to the back of a larger garden bed. Berries cling to branches during winter dormancy, adding bright color to snowy gardens.
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 40 degrees Celsius (zone 3 to 9)
Origin: Native to the eastern United States
Water requirement: Moderate to regular; tolerates damp soil
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Mature size: 6 to 10 feet tall and wide
Seasonal interest: Winter berries
Caution: Berries are toxic if ingested.
Read more about growing winterberry
Hansen's Northwest Native Plant Database
6. Snowberry
(Symphoricarpos albus)
Whereas winterberry has bright, colorful berries, those of snowberry are pale as pearls but are no less beautiful in the winter landscape. Plants have a loose, shrub-like form with arching lateral branches. It works best as part of mixed hedges or in less-formal areas of the garden, where branches covered with berries can be admired against winter evergreens.
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 31.7 degrees Celsius (zone 4 to 10)
Origin: Native to western and eastern North America, including Canada
Water requirement: Moderate; low once established
Light requirement: Light shade to sun
Mature size: 3 to 6 feet tall and wide
Seasonal interest: Pink flowers in summer, white berries in winter
Read more about growing snowberry
(Symphoricarpos albus)
Whereas winterberry has bright, colorful berries, those of snowberry are pale as pearls but are no less beautiful in the winter landscape. Plants have a loose, shrub-like form with arching lateral branches. It works best as part of mixed hedges or in less-formal areas of the garden, where branches covered with berries can be admired against winter evergreens.
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 31.7 degrees Celsius (zone 4 to 10)
Origin: Native to western and eastern North America, including Canada
Water requirement: Moderate; low once established
Light requirement: Light shade to sun
Mature size: 3 to 6 feet tall and wide
Seasonal interest: Pink flowers in summer, white berries in winter
Read more about growing snowberry
Dwarf white spruce (Picea glauca ‘Conica’, zones 2 to 7), blue spruce (Picea pungens, zones 3 to 7) and golden juniper (Juniperus sp.; zones vary).
7. Conifers
Conifers are all-stars in the winter garden, with evergreen needles that look lovely when flocked with snow or frost. Choose among different types of conifers, such as fir, pine, spruce, cypress, juniper, cedar, redwood, yew and more, in a wide variety of colors and forms. Dwarf varieties are often more garden-sized than full-scale pines or redwoods and are always the best choice for containers.
7. Conifers
Conifers are all-stars in the winter garden, with evergreen needles that look lovely when flocked with snow or frost. Choose among different types of conifers, such as fir, pine, spruce, cypress, juniper, cedar, redwood, yew and more, in a wide variety of colors and forms. Dwarf varieties are often more garden-sized than full-scale pines or redwoods and are always the best choice for containers.
Keep your eyes peeled for the following conifers: dwarf mugo pine (Pinus mugo var. pumilio, zones 3 to 7) for a dark-green gumdrop form; blue spruce (Picea pungens, zones 3 to 7) for stunning silvery-blue needles; and more cold-tender ‘Wilma Goldcrest’ Monterey cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa ‘Wilma Goldcrest’, zones 7 to 10) for bright chartreuse foliage on the compact container plant.
Where it will grow: Hardiness varies by species
Water requirement: Varies; generally moderate to low
Light requirement: Varies; generally full sun
Mature size: Varies widely
Seasonal interest: Evergreen foliage
Where it will grow: Hardiness varies by species
Water requirement: Varies; generally moderate to low
Light requirement: Varies; generally full sun
Mature size: Varies widely
Seasonal interest: Evergreen foliage
U. of Maryland Arboretum & Botanical Garden
8. Redtwig Dogwood
(Cornus sericea syn. Cornus stolonifera)
While an attractive shrub year-round, redtwig dogwood really steals the show in winter. Fiery red twigs stand out in winter landscapes and can also be clipped to bring indoors for winter arrangements. While the straight species is known to spread laterally, cultivars that spread less often work best in garden settings. Plants are very cold-tolerant and adaptable to heavy and wet soils.
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 45 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 42.8 degrees Celsius (zones 2 to 9)
Origin: Native to much of North America
Water requirement: Moderate
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Mature size: 7 to 9 feet tall and spreading up to 12 feet wide
Seasonal interest: Year-round, but known for its bare, bright red stems in winter.
Read more about growing redtwig dogwood
(Cornus sericea syn. Cornus stolonifera)
While an attractive shrub year-round, redtwig dogwood really steals the show in winter. Fiery red twigs stand out in winter landscapes and can also be clipped to bring indoors for winter arrangements. While the straight species is known to spread laterally, cultivars that spread less often work best in garden settings. Plants are very cold-tolerant and adaptable to heavy and wet soils.
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 45 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 42.8 degrees Celsius (zones 2 to 9)
Origin: Native to much of North America
Water requirement: Moderate
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Mature size: 7 to 9 feet tall and spreading up to 12 feet wide
Seasonal interest: Year-round, but known for its bare, bright red stems in winter.
Read more about growing redtwig dogwood
9. English Holly
(Ilex aquifolium)
As iconic as conifers are for the holiday season, English holly stands out in gardens with its glossy, pointed leaves and clusters of decorative red berries. Hollies are dioecious, meaning there are both male and female trees. If berries are desired, make sure to include both male and female plants in the garden. Both will flower, but only the female will set berries. Try variegated cultivars for a frosty white margin around green leaves.
Where it will grow: Hardy to 0 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 17.8 degrees Celsius (zones 7 to 9)
Origin: Native to Europe, northern Africa and western Asia
Water requirement: Moderate; lower once established
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Mature size: 30 to 50 feet tall
Seasonal interest: Evergreen foliage
Caution: Berries are toxic if ingested; check for invasiveness in your region before planting, particularly in the Pacific Northwest.
(Ilex aquifolium)
As iconic as conifers are for the holiday season, English holly stands out in gardens with its glossy, pointed leaves and clusters of decorative red berries. Hollies are dioecious, meaning there are both male and female trees. If berries are desired, make sure to include both male and female plants in the garden. Both will flower, but only the female will set berries. Try variegated cultivars for a frosty white margin around green leaves.
Where it will grow: Hardy to 0 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 17.8 degrees Celsius (zones 7 to 9)
Origin: Native to Europe, northern Africa and western Asia
Water requirement: Moderate; lower once established
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Mature size: 30 to 50 feet tall
Seasonal interest: Evergreen foliage
Caution: Berries are toxic if ingested; check for invasiveness in your region before planting, particularly in the Pacific Northwest.
10. Pansy
(Viola spp.)
Pretty pansies provide bright spots of color for beds and container gardens, blooming in late fall and early spring in colder climates, and through winter in mild locations. Try them mixed with Iceland poppies (Papaver nudicaule), cyclamen or covering pots of bulbs planted in fall. If you live in a cold-winter climate and missed planting pansies in fall, wait until spring to plant.
Where it will grow: Hardy to 0 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 17.8 degrees Celsius (zones 7 to 11) in winter; zones 6 and lower in summer
Water requirement: Regular; keep soil moist
Light requirement: Full to partial sun
Mature size: Up to 9 inches tall and wide
Seasonal interest: Flowers fall, winter and spring, depending on climate
Read more about growing pansies
(Viola spp.)
Pretty pansies provide bright spots of color for beds and container gardens, blooming in late fall and early spring in colder climates, and through winter in mild locations. Try them mixed with Iceland poppies (Papaver nudicaule), cyclamen or covering pots of bulbs planted in fall. If you live in a cold-winter climate and missed planting pansies in fall, wait until spring to plant.
Where it will grow: Hardy to 0 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 17.8 degrees Celsius (zones 7 to 11) in winter; zones 6 and lower in summer
Water requirement: Regular; keep soil moist
Light requirement: Full to partial sun
Mature size: Up to 9 inches tall and wide
Seasonal interest: Flowers fall, winter and spring, depending on climate
Read more about growing pansies
11. Sweet Box
(Sarcococca ruscifolia)
You’ll generally smell the fragrance of sweet box in winter or early spring before you spot the small cream-colored flowers hanging from the undersides of the stems. The deep green, leathery leaves look attractive year-round and are often used by florists as long-lasting cut greenery.
Where it will grow: Hardy to 0 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 17.8 degrees Celsius (zones 7 to 9)
Origin: Native to China
Water requirement: Moderate
Light requirement: Partial to full shade
Mature size: Grows slowly to 3 to 5 feet tall and wide
Seasonal interest: Evergreen foliage and fragrant winter to spring blossoms
(Sarcococca ruscifolia)
You’ll generally smell the fragrance of sweet box in winter or early spring before you spot the small cream-colored flowers hanging from the undersides of the stems. The deep green, leathery leaves look attractive year-round and are often used by florists as long-lasting cut greenery.
Where it will grow: Hardy to 0 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 17.8 degrees Celsius (zones 7 to 9)
Origin: Native to China
Water requirement: Moderate
Light requirement: Partial to full shade
Mature size: Grows slowly to 3 to 5 feet tall and wide
Seasonal interest: Evergreen foliage and fragrant winter to spring blossoms
James Gaither
12. Toyon
(Heteromeles arbutifolia)
Aptly referred to as California Christmas berry or California holly, this West Coast native shrub-tree produces brilliant berries in fall that cling to the branches all winter, dotting the hills with color. Some say it’s toyon that gave Hollywood its name. Toyon suits native and more-casual gardens, where its natural shrubby form has room to breathe; plants can also be pruned into stunning multitrunk specimen trees. Berries provide a winter food source for wild birds. Plants are also considered to be fire-retardant.
Where it will grow: Hardy to 0 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 17.8 degrees Celsius (zones 7 to 10)
Origin: Native to California
Water requirement: Moderate to low; drought tolerant once established
Light requirement: Full to partial sun
Mature size: Dense shrub 6 to 10 feet tall; broad or multitrunk tree 15 to 25 feet tall
Seasonal interest: Evergreen foliage, summer flowers, berries in fall and winter
Read more about growing toyon
(Heteromeles arbutifolia)
Aptly referred to as California Christmas berry or California holly, this West Coast native shrub-tree produces brilliant berries in fall that cling to the branches all winter, dotting the hills with color. Some say it’s toyon that gave Hollywood its name. Toyon suits native and more-casual gardens, where its natural shrubby form has room to breathe; plants can also be pruned into stunning multitrunk specimen trees. Berries provide a winter food source for wild birds. Plants are also considered to be fire-retardant.
Where it will grow: Hardy to 0 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 17.8 degrees Celsius (zones 7 to 10)
Origin: Native to California
Water requirement: Moderate to low; drought tolerant once established
Light requirement: Full to partial sun
Mature size: Dense shrub 6 to 10 feet tall; broad or multitrunk tree 15 to 25 feet tall
Seasonal interest: Evergreen foliage, summer flowers, berries in fall and winter
Read more about growing toyon
Tell us: What are your favorite plants for winter gardens? Share in the Comments.
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The deer are welcome to the lower branches of the Mountain Ash. They don't come around in the summer - only in winter when they get hungry.
degga: Zone 8b. The camellias are along the east side of the house, opposite them is a row of cherry trees that lose their leaves in winter, so the camellias are shaded in summer, but get the eastern sun in winter. Hope this helps.
Daphne odora! they are wonderful and just now starting to bloom. varigated leaf with white or pink flowers. the smell will purfume your whole yard.