22 Winter Flowers That Thrive During the Coldest Months of the Year

When the weather outside is cold and frightful, nothing is more delightful than a garden adorned with winter-blooming plants. But it doesnt mean that your garden has to appear bare, brown, and depressing. Many of winter colorful flowers bloom during the darkest, coldest times of the year. Is it possible to grow flowers in the winter? That depends entirely on where you live.

Pansies and Violas: Pansies and violas bloom for most of the winter in mild climates, and some types perk back up in the spring in cold climates. Winter pansies, V. heimalis, are one of over 500 species in the genus Viola, part of the Violaceae family. Common species you may be familiar with include V. tricolor and V x wittrockiana hybrids. This species is low-growing, with slightly smaller flowers than that of the larger-blooming hybrid cultivars. They are available in a variety of colors including white, pink, red, and bicolored types. Most pansy varieties prefer cooler temperatures, but V. heimalis thrives in them. In fact, once daytime temperatures begin to rise to about 60°F.