Winter Flowering Plants in the UK

By Victoria Fuller

If you live in the United Kingdom you would be forgiven for thinking that the Winter months simply have to be ignored when it comes to gardening, especially if you want to grow flowering plants! Well we are happy to report that this absolutely is not the case! 

Having flowering plants in the garden year-round isn’t just great for aesthetics (and thus your well-being and happiness!) but it’s also great for the ecosystem as many flowering plants that encourage pollinators won’t occur naturally at this time of year! We have compiled a list here today of beautiful blooms that can handle the frostiest and snowiest season!

Daphne

This beautiful flowering shrub has a lovely fragrance and adds a gorgeous pop of colour to any garden. Although Daphne doesn’t tend to bloom until February or March, it can be a great idea to transplant the shrub earlier in the season to get it accustomed to the environment. Daphne can grow up to four feet tall and wide so be sure to leave lots of space!

Witch Hazel

This gorgeous shrub is the perfect solution to adding some colour to your garden during the Winter months! Witch Hazel is deciduous shrub (meaning it sheds its leaves every year) but its interesting yellow flowers tend to come to life on branches in the middle of Winter. You will want to plant your Witch Hazel in an area that gets plenty of sun but not too much wind as the branches can be sensitive to this!

Heathers

Here is another option for the shrub-lovers out there! These gorgeous purple shrubs make a great colourful addition to pathways and gardens. The best type of Heather to grow if you are looking for Winter blooms is the Erica Carnea variety so be sure to look for this indication when purchasing your shrubs! Heather can be planted at any time of year so long as the soil is not frozen, but even if you live in a region where the ground has decided to resemble an iceberg there are still options available to you (such as planting in a raised garden bed or planter box!).

Hellebores

These beautiful flowers come in a variety of colours with various characteristics, the most common popular choice for Winter-time blooms is the Christmas Rose which is known for its bright Winter flowers! Hellebores are most commonly sold as “bedding plants” which is fine provided there isn’t a ground frost, a smart way to counteract this potential threat though is simply to garden in a Cedar Planters Raised Garden Bed! Our garden beds are elevated to not only ease your back but also to protect against ground frosts and pests, and they are also built using the highest quality Western Red Cedar which has incredibly insulating abilities!

Bergenia

These beautiful evergreen perennials (meaning that they have leaves present all year!) are well-renowned in the gardening community for their hardiness and ability to withstand even the harshest of UK Winters! These blooms make a fantastic addition to any Winter garden as they have unique pink and purple petals which add a welcome pop of colour to any flower bed! Now the best time of year to plant Bergenia would generally be in the Autumn as this would give the roots plenty of time to establish themselves, but you can absolutely plant Bergenia in a planter box or raised garden bed throughout the Winter months!

Pansies

Although the name implies that they may not be particularly hardy the truth is actually the opposite! Pansies are known for their hardiness and are more than capable of surviving frosts and adding a burst of colour to a snowy landscape! Pansies enjoy partial to full-sun and also prefer rich well-drained soil. Pansies come in a massive spectrum of colours so having a raised garden bed devoted to Pansies is an incredible way of brightening up your Winter garden!

Snowdrops

Beautiful Snowdrops are one of the most fondly thought-of Winter blooming flowers. Snowdrops tend to thrive in partial shade so it is a good idea to plant their bulbs at the base of trees, this also makes use of space that may otherwise not be utilized as many flowers require full-sun to succeed. Snowdrops tend to have excellent success throughout the UK Winter and are a lovely way to add some beauty to your garden.

With this wide range of shrubs and  flowers we are confident that there is something for every gardener on this list, no matter your outdoor aesthetic! Have any of these plant options taken your eye? Are there any flowers on this list that you have already planted and are enjoying watching grow over the Winter season? Let us know in the comments section below as we always love talking about all things “flowers”!