17 of the Best Winter Flowers

1. Poinsettia

Blooming Time: From late November through December

Poinsettias are colourful plants with big, bright leaves (often red) that look like flowers. They're famous for Christmas decorations because they usually bloom in winter, adding a festive touch to homes and gardens.

Poinsettias are named after Joel Poinsett, the first United States Ambassador to Mexico, who introduced the plant to the U.S. in the early 19th century.

Poinsettias are often associated with joy, celebration, and the holiday season, especially Christmas. They symbolise good cheer and are commonly used as decorative elements during this festive time of the year.

2. Christmas Cactus

Blooming Time: From late November through December

A Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera) is a houseplant with flat, segmented stems that look like leaves. It's famous for blooming around Christmas time with pretty, hanging flowers in different colours including shades of red, pink, white, and even bi-colored varieties.

Christmas cacti are native to the cloud forests of Brazil, where they grow clinging to trees and rocks in the wild.

3. Amaryllis

Blooming time: Late autumn to early spring

Amaryllis (Hippeastrum) is a lovely plant with big, colourful flowers that look like trumpets. They can be red, pink, white, or orange and usually show up in late fall, winter, or early spring. 

Amaryllis is often grown as an indoor plant during the winter months to brighten up the home during Christmas and beyond.

4. Winter Jasmine

Blooming time: From December through March

Winter jasmine is a tough plant that has pretty yellow flowers in the late winter and early spring when most other plants aren't blooming. It has long branches with green leaves and can grow well in different kinds of soil and tough weather.

It is often seen as a symbol of resilience and hope, as it thrives in the harsh conditions of winter, offering a touch of beauty in the coldest months of the year.

5. Hellebore

Blooming time: From December through to mid-spring

Hellebores, also called Christmas roses, are special plants with pretty flowers shaped like cups. They bloom in late winter or early spring when it's still cold outside, which makes them unique. They can be found in various shades, including white, pink, and deep purple.

6. Snowdrop

Blooming time: From late January through March

Snowdrops (Galanthus) are small, pretty flowers that look like hanging bells. They come out in late winter and tell us that spring is on its way, bringing hope and new beginnings to gardens.

In various cultures and traditions, snowdrops are associated with positive sentiments and the anticipation of brighter days ahead.

7. Winter Aconite

Blooming time: Late winter or early spring

Winter aconite is a petite and charming wildflower from the buttercup family, known for its bright yellow, cup-shaped blossoms. These low-growing plants are among the earliest harbingers of spring, often poking through the snow to bring a burst of cheerful colour to gardens and woodlands, symbolising the renewal of life after the winter's chill.

8. Camellia

Blooming time: From late winter through early spring

Camellias are pretty bushes with shiny, colourful flowers in shades like red, pink, and white. They bloom in late winter or early spring, making gardens look nice when it's still a bit chilly outside. People like them because they are beautiful and can mean love and perfection in some cultures.

Camellia plants can live a really, really long time if you take good care of them. Some camellia trees in Asia are so old that they've been around for hundreds of years, like living history books.

9. Mahonia

Blooming time: Late winter to early spring

Mahonia, also called Oregon grape holly, is a bush with sharp, holly-like leaves. It has pretty yellow flowers that come out in late winter or early spring, and it often grows small dark berries after the flowers. It looks nice all year round and can thrive in various conditions.

The name "Oregon grape" is derived from its grape-like clusters of berries, which have been used historically for making jams and jellies.

10. Winter Honeysuckle

Blooming time: Late winter to early spring

Winter honeysuckle is a delightful shrub known for its early-blooming, fragrant white flowers that grace gardens in late winter to early spring. Its sweet and pleasant scent provides a breath of freshness and fragrance when the rest of the garden is still in its winter slumber.

11. Daphne

Blooming time: Late winter to early spring

Daphne is a lovely bush with small, sweet-smelling flowers that come out in late winter or early spring. These flowers can be pink or purple and make gardens smell really nice.

Daphne plants can last a really long time if you take good care of them. They stay alive for many years and keep making gardens smell nice with their pretty flowers, which makes them special for gardens and outdoor areas.

12. Winter Pansy

Blooming time: From October through April

Winter pansies are pretty little flowers that come in lots of colours, like purple and yellow. They bloom in the cold months when other plants are resting, making gardens look colourful even in winter.

Pansy flowers, including winter pansies, are edible and can be used in salads, desserts, and drinks. They are also known for attracting pollinators such as bees and butterflies, making them beneficial to garden ecosystems.

13. Sweet Box

Blooming time: From January through March

Sweet box (Sarcococca) is a small, green plant with glossy leaves that stay green all year. It has tiny, inconspicuous flowers, often white or creamy in colour, that you might not notice at first, but they smell really nice, especially in late winter and early spring.

14. Snow Crocus

Blooming time: Late winter to early spring

Snow crocus is a small and pretty flower that pops up really early in the year, even when there's still snow around. It comes in different colours like purple, yellow, and white and tells us that spring is on its way, making gardens look fresh and nice.

15. Winter Heath

Blooming time: From late winter to early spring

Winter heath (Erica carnea) is a small, tough shrub that flowers early. It has pretty, bell-shaped flowers in colours like pink, white, and purple that pop up in late winter and early spring, making gardens look nice when it's still cold outside.

16. Algerian Iris

Blooming time: From late autumn to early spring

Algerian iris is a nice plant that has pretty purple or blue flowers, and it blooms during the winter months. 

The plant's name "Algerian iris" reflects its place of origin, where it can be found growing naturally in the wild.

17. Winter Clematis

Blooming time: Late November through February

Winter clematis is a climbing plant with pretty, bell-shaped flowers that bloom during late fall and winter. It stays green all year, and its creamy-white or pale yellow flowers make gardens look nice when it's cold outside.

Browse our winter flower bouquets