5 Colourful Plants To Brighten Your Winter Containers

1Hellebores hellebore best winter flowers for pots P_PHOTO photographer Pernilla Hed//Getty Images

Hellebores are a winter garden classic, producing flowers when little else is in bloom and lasting well into spring. Shades range from creamy white to dusky pink and deep plum, offering plenty of variety. Alternatively, pair hellebores with trailing ivy for a woodland-inspired container.

2Cyclamen cyclamen and heather flowers together close up. Aygul Bulte//Getty Images

Hardy cyclamen bring jewel-toned brightness to shady corners, flowering in magenta, pink and white even through frost. Their marbled leaves are just as striking and provide texture in small spaces. Can be repotted in a larger container outdoors, or kept in smaller pots indoors and placed on mantels, tables or shelves for a burst of seasonal colour.

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3Winter pansies a close up of pansies growing in a planter, partially covered in fresh snow. in united states, alabama, hoover Cavan Images//Getty Images

Cheerful and reliable, winter pansies bloom for months and shrug off frost with ease. Available in every shade imaginable, they are the simplest way to add instant colour to winter pots. Regular deadheading keeps them flowering until spring.

4Winter heathers common heather, calluna vulgaris, in flower pot covered with snow, evergreen juniper in the background, snowy garden in winter Erkki Makkonen//Getty Images

Winter-flowering heathers bring soft colour and texture when most plants are dormant. Their tiny flowers appear in pink, mauve and white shades that last for weeks. Heathers are hardy, low maintenance and are lovely in a pot on their own as well as mixed in with hardy evergreens.

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5Skimmia japonica skimmia japonica in a garden MSchauer//Getty Images

Skimmia is a compact evergreen shrub perfect for winter containers. Its glossy green leaves and red buds add structure and colour from late autumn through early spring. The buds open into small fragrant flowers as the weather warms. Varieties such as Skimmia japonica Rubella are especially reliable.

Lettermark

Daisy Bendall is the Houses Editor at Country Living and House Beautiful, where she spends her days sourcing some of the most inspiring homes across the country. Prior to specialising in real homes, Daisy worked for Good Housekeeping, Red, Elle Decoration and Prima, styling shoots, covering the latest decorating trends and hunting down the best buys for your home.

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