Finding flowers that bloom in the winter can be difficult. It is not an easy task to make your garden bloom in the winter but with some persistence and proper watering techniques it is possible to add some color to all of the grey and brown that comes with winter.
The Chinese Daphne
The Chinese Daphne is one of the most aromatic daphnes; the Chinese species grows very well in shade or spotted sunlight, but prefers some shelter from the cold winds. The Chinese version is hardier than the normal daphne. The tubular flowers are small and sweet-smelling, arranged in clusters at the shoot tips, and appearing early in the year. These plants do best in a cool moist root-run, with good drainage.
Witch Hazel
Hamamelis "Angelly" is covered with small clusters of pale yellow, long-petalled blooms during the early part of the year. The leaves also colour well in autumn for added interest. Plants look good when grouped with shrubs that have provide flowers or scent during the summer when the plain green leaves offer little interest. Although slow-growing, the hamamelis will eventually reach the size of a small tree, so choose your planting site with care.
Common Holly
Common holly is a practical evergreen shrub that can be grown as a small tree, clipped bushes or as a hedge. There are many varieties with variegated leaves. Plants are either male or female. Both sexes are required for the female plants to produce their Winter berries, which appear from late Autumn to mid Winter.
Wintersweet
Wintersweet is a fitting name, for the flowers appear all Winter on the mature plants, and are renowned for their fragrance; whole stems are often being cut for attractive indoor arrangements. The small waxy blooms are light-yellow with brownish-purple inner petals. The blooms are produced on the bare branches of older bushes and it takes a juvenile plant a few years to settle down to flowering. It is best grown on a warm sheltered wall in full sun, behind other plants which provide color once the wintersweet has finished flowering.
All fowers require proper watering, for this we recomend a No-Crank Hose Reel.