Anyone who says winter is devoid of color in the backyard needs to come and see my patio plants in January. For me, when so much of the garden is in hibernation, it’s more important than ever to create a little bit of color and life outside.
Now is the time to think ahead and opt for some of the best container plants that will bloom by Christmas. In some climates with particularly long and harsh winters, you may have to bring pots indoors, or rely on houseplants for the best winter flowers, but where there is a will, gardening friends, there is always a way.
Here, I have curated a list of plants you can grow in containers that will delight with color from December onwards. I’ve structured it by location, so you can see clearly which of the best winter flowers for pots will work best for where you live. While most plants enter dormancy in this season, some species continue their active growth, getting ready to celebrate and amaze you with their winter blooms.
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Hardiness zones 1-6: northern states with cold, long winters
(Image credit: Natalia Greeske / Alamy Stock Photo)
The focus for the coldest, frostiest states is indoor flowering plants. However, there are a couple of plants that, with the right care, could give you some delicate blooms by December in outdoor pots.
Cyclamen: Florist’s cyclamen or tender, indoor cyclamen are readily available at this time of year and are grown indoors for long-lasting color and their beautiful heart-shaped leaves. Choose one with lots of buds on, rather than flowers, to give you the longest flowering time possible.
Importantly, keep plants cool but in a bright spot; they doesn’t want to be too warm, and be careful not to over-water.
Amaryllis: A stalwart among the Christmas plants, get ordering your bulbs now if you haven’t already. Amaryllis will flower around eight weeks after planting, and will give you classic indoor December blooms with little to no effort.
Snowdrops (Galanthus) are tiny garden treasures known for their exquisite white flowers, and are perfect for growing in containers, says Maksim Kazakou, resident botany expert at the Plantum app. ‘Not all snowdrops bloom in December, but varieties like Galanthus elwesii ‘Potter’s Prelude,’ Galanthus elwesii ‘Xmas,’ or Galanthus plicatus ‘Three Ships’ will bloom right on Christmas,’ he says.
Pot them up and keep them frost-free if outdoors, either by wrapping your pots in horticultural fleece, from Amazon or by bringing them indoors. You could keep them indoors for a while before Christmas, to speed up growth and force them on a little.
Grape hyacinths (Muscari) are another herbaceous bulb; these ones have dense clusters of bright blue flowers. ‘Most grape hyacinths bloom in spring, but some, like Muscari armeniacum ‘Christmas Pearl,’ can brighten up your garden with blooms as early as December,’ says Maksim.
Maksim Kazakou
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Plant Expert
Maksim Kazakou is a resident plant expert for the Plantum app, which helps users identify plant species, diagnose their conditions, and get specific care advice. He has 10+ years of experience as a professional botanist, consulting on botany-related topics, and more than five years of experience creating training sets for neural models aimed at identifying plant species and diseases.
US hardiness zones 7-8: mid-Atlantic, Pacific Northwest and some southern states
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In the milder zones blooms are much more likely to thrive in pots outdoors, however, frosts can of course still occur. Make sure you have some frost protection on hand, such as burlap, available from Amazon to wrap around containers, and pot feet to prevent pots from cracking.
Helleborus niger (Christmas rose): If you buy these plants potted in bud now, they’ll often bloom in time for Christmas. Helleborus niger is an evergreen perennial plant with large, leathery leaves, and most hellebores will grow in containers really well.
‘During its long and abundant flowering, it produces large white flowers. Other species of hellebores (for example, Helleborus orientalis) bloom at the end of winter and offer a broad range of flower colors,’ says Maksim Kazakou.
Witch hazel: An incredible plant that blooms with bright, spider-like yellow or red-orange flowers densely clustered on bare branches. Winter-blooming species include Hamamelis vernalis and Hamamelis mollis.
‘Hamamelis vernalis ‘Christmas Cheer’ will start blooming right on Christmas,’ says Maksim. ‘Witch hazels are relatively large shrubs, but they can be grown in containers for some time. These plants are also coveted for their strong fragrance.’
Himalayan sweet box (Sarcococca hookeriana): A low-growing, low-maintenance evergreen shrub that reaches up to 11 in (30 cm) tall.
‘This amazing plant flowers all winter long. Later, its white flowers turn into black berries. This plant is perfect for growing in a container,’ continues Maksim. ‘Sarcococca hookeriana var. digyna ‘Winter Gem’ has reddish calyxes that beautifully contrast with the white stamens. Despite its delicate appearance, this hardy plant can withstand temperatures as low as 5°F’.
US hardiness zones 9-11: Deep south, California and Florida
(Image credit: Botany vision / Alamy Stock Photo)
With warmer temperatures and much shorter, less biting winters, there is naturally more choice when it comes to container plants that will bloom by Christmas. Among our top suggestions are:
Camellia sasanqua: This intensely fragranced shrub will often flower right through December with the correct care. It will need a fairly large pot, and would benefit from being re-potted every couple of years to maintain healthy growth. Camellias in pots are susceptible to cold damage, so are much better suited to these warmer hardiness zones.
Winter jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum): With bright yellow, delicate flowers on bare stems, winter jasmine can bring cheer in bucket loads. It usually flowers outdoors from December to March, and will produce flowers earlier in warmer regions. It prefers a sheltered location, with well draining potting compost.
Cyclamen (Cyclamen hederifolium): In contrast to indoor cyclamen mentioned above, this hardy variety thrives outdoors and will enjoy putting on a colorful display for months. It will do well in shade, as it does not like to be too warm.
There are plenty of flowers that will last until December in the yard, but as gardeners we are always thinking months and seasons ahead, especially if we want wonderful successional planting and year-round interest.
Shop stylish winter containers
Myrtlewood Etched Planter
Perfect for growing vibrant phlox in pots, this ‘Myrtlewood Planter’ by Gracia Oaks will look great on your patio.
This stylish planter would suit modern spaces, adding a subtle but decorative touch.
Made of lightweight and durable polyethylene, this Pepinn resin pot is super for any yard.
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