The quiet winter landscape lets us appreciate the details and observe form and structure as anchoring garden elements. A twisted branch, a stem loaded with bright berries, or an icy evergreen become highlights. Winter-flowering specimens, too, steal the show with high contrast when little else is in color. Pollinators, too, appreciate the burst of pollen and nectar in a time of lean resources.

Trees and shrubs are among the first to bloom on woody stems before leaves sprout in the spring. Depending on flowering time, these standouts usher in the season or send it on its way, infusing winter with invigorating tones and fragrances. Place flowering trees and shrubs with a window view in mind, and where you’ll experience them as you come and go. Embellish with bulbs and other seasonal flowers for a full display.

Camellia

Evergreen plants with vibrant blooms brighten landscapes in colder months.

Camellias are showy evergreen shrubs that bloom in fall, winter, and early spring, depending on the species. They’re handsome in the landscape year-round, and the striking, large blooms are a joy when little else is blooming.

Camellia sasanqua flowers throughout the fall and winter with vibrant colors against a backdrop of dark, glossy leaves. Camellia japonica blooms in late winter and early spring with large, ruffly flowers and bigger leaves.

Camellias grow best in the American South. Single or formal double blooms exude simple elegance.

Daphne

This evergreen beauty has fragrant blooms and vibrant blue berries.

Winter daphne is an evergreen species with all-season appeal. Its pink and white flower clusters have a delicious perfume that drifts through the chilly landscape. Blue berries follow the small clusters. Variegated ‘Aureomarginata’ has minty blue-green leaves with creamy yellow margins.

Daphne prefers moist, very well-drained soils. It can dry out between waterings and is somewhat salt tolerant. It does well in a container, woodland setting, and along a foundation. Roots are slow to establish and don’t like to be disturbed after planting. Place daphne near a walkway, entrance, or patio to bask in the fragrance.

Japanese Flowering Apricot

Early pink blossoms brighten winter with sweet fragrance and charm.

Japanese flowering apricot is a small specimen tree with early pink blossoms that announce warming temperatures, usually appearing to great delight in January and February. The petite flowers are plentiful and emerge in clusters before the foliage. They have a sweet fragrance, and with over 300 cultivars, flowers range from white and pale pink to deep red.

Look for ‘Peggy Clarke’ with double petals in deep rose. ‘W.B. Clarke’ has double pinks on weeping branches. ‘Dawn’ has large, ruffly double pink blooms. The trees produce fuzzy greenish-yellow fruits in the summer, but unlike apricots, they’re small and sour.

Flowering apricots need rich, acidic, loamy soils to thrive. Plant them in a protected area to preserve blooms against winter winds and cold damage.

Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick

Twisted branches and yellow catkins create striking winter interest.

Harry Lauder’s walking stick is distinctive with a gnarly twisted and curled form. In late winter, pendulous yellow catkins hang from its branches, making a dramatic spectacle.

Harry Lauder’s curled leaves emerge in spring, and its twisted branches are showy when leaves drop in fall. The tree’s fruit is a nut that makes good wildlife forage.

‘Contorta’ prefers rich, moist, well-drained soils, though it’s drought-tolerant once established. Grow this Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit recipient in a bed or container where its seasonal interest is visible.

Eastern Redbud

Purple-pink blooms emerge early, offering vibrant color and nectar.

Eastern redbuds are small understory trees or large shrubs native to eastern North America. As early as February, the show begins with purple-pink blooms lining slender branches for an all-over spray of color. The bundles of petite blossoms provide an early nectar source for hummingbirds and other pollinators.

From the straight species to its cultivars, heart-shaped leaves in rich green to chartreuse to purple-black continue the tree’s aesthetic attributes. In different forms, from broad and spreading to small and weeping, redbuds suit a variety of situations.

Cercis are easy, low-maintenance, and adapt to various site conditions, from poor soils to shifting sunlight. They perform best in average, well-draining soils with consistent moisture.

Loropetalum

Magenta blooms contrast beautifully with deep purple or green foliage.

Loropetalum, or Chinese fringe flower, has deep purple or green rounded leaves that offer high contrast in the quiet landscape. A member of the witch hazel family, loropetalum features clusters of strappy, fringe-like blooms in magenta, red, or white.

Dwarf cultivars like ‘Purple Pixie,’ ‘Purple Diamond,’ and ‘Purple Daydream’ have purple foliage and pink blooms on low, mounding habits. ‘Emerald Snow’ is a dwarf grower with green leaves and fringey white flowers.

Loropetalum is a durable, easy-care shrub that adapts to a variety of soil types as long as they’re well-draining. They seldom need trimming, but prune for shaping if necessary after flowering finishes.

Mahonia

Bright yellow blooms and dark berries bring seasonal interest year-round.

Mahonia has leathery evergreen leaves that are either holly-like (broad and serrated) or feathery (narrow and smooth). Splendid bright yellow bloom spikes show a spray of color in fall, followed by dark berries that persist on the stem.

Mahonia ‘Soft Caress’ is a charming dwarf cultivar with delicate, dark foliage that’s soft and airy. These compact growers add a lush look and fine texture.

M.‘Charity’ boasts ten-inch bloom spikes above broad, spiny leaves. While lending a tropical feel to the winter landscape, ‘Charity’ tolerates snow and frosty weather.

Star Magnolia

Strappy white blooms signal early spring with stunning star-like beauty.

Magnolia stellata is among the first to show in early spring with strappy white starburst petals. The milky blooms open on silvery branches before the foliage emerges.

Star magnolia is one of the smallest in the genus and is a graceful multi-trunked specimen. Fuzzy buds develop in winter and open to the starry four-inch flowers late in the season. Pink fruit capsules emerge after flowering and open to orange-red berries. ‘Royal Star’ is a robust variety with lots of double snowy flowers from pink buds. 

Unlike others in the genus, M. stellata retains a densely branched, compact form. It’s a fit across garden scales.

Pieris

Graceful bell blooms emerge from winter buds, adding elegance.

Pieris has pendulous flowers that suspend gracefully from leafy stems. Flower buds develop in late summer and suspend like beads throughout winter. Late in the season and into early spring, the buds become delicate bell blossoms resembling lily-of-the-valley.

New growth on pieris is bronzey-red, aging to deep, glossy green. The narrow, pointed leaves appear in bushy rosettes along the stems.

Pieris thrives in acidic, well-drained soils. Prune as blooms fade to promote bud set for the next season.

Winterberry

Bright berries shine through winter, attracting birds and adding color.

Winterberry is a standout among the frosty, muted hues of the cold season. In the holly family (Aquifoliaceae), winterberry is one of 30 deciduous species and is a North American native. Its dark leaves form a compact habit with a softer look than other hollies. 

The distinguishing features are its showy red, yellow, or orange berries from fall into winter on bare stems. Not only striking, the fruits also provide a forage for wildlife. The berries are a favorite among birds.

Winterberry stems are beautiful in the vista and as holiday decor. Use cut stems indoors or out to embellish displays.

Sweetbox

Fragrant blooms create a subtle vanilla scent in shaded spaces.

Fragrant sweetbox has shiny, dark green foliage and a dense, compact form. It produces small, white blooms in March and April, and while not especially showy, the blossoms create a vanilla perfume that drifts through the late-season garden.

Sweetbox is ideal for shady areas that benefit from a broadleaf evergreen backdrop. Situate it in a foundation planting, informal hedge, or near a walkway to experience the fragrance. Sweetbox thrives in rich, moist, well-drained soils. Prune for a tidy habit in spring after blooming.

Consider Sarcococca hookeriana, for colder climates. Available in dwarf varieties, this sweetbox is also hardy to zone 6 and is drought-tolerant once established.

Viburnum

Fragrant blooms and vibrant foliage add year-round garden appeal.

Viburnum provides fragrant blooms and colorful interest throughout the year. The foliage, form, and flower shapes vary widely, but they usually include textural leaves and clusters of pink or white blossoms.

Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Dawn’ is an exceptionally fragrant winter-flowering variety that blooms from fall to spring in mild climates and late winter/early spring in colder climates. Tubular white to deep pink flowers appear on branches before leaves. New foliage emerges with a bronze blush and turns burnished red in the fall.

Viburnum x burkwoodii bears a profusion of spicy-scented white bloom clusters in early spring. Look for ‘Mohawk’ for improved disease resistance and handsome form. Viburnum carlesii, or Koreanspice viburnum, is showy with small snowball clusters of pink blossoms that mature to white with a vanilla spice aroma. Leaves turn burgundy-red in the fall.

Viburnums are low-maintenance and prefer average soils. They’ll often perform in less-than-ideal conditions. Place winter-blooming viburnum in a protected spot to preserve blooms during freezing periods.

Rosebud Cherry

Magenta buds bloom into pink blossoms with striking reddish bark.

Rosebud, or Higan cherry, is breathtaking with magenta buds that open to whitish-pink blossoms against shiny, reddish-peeling bark. Weeping cultivars like ‘Pink Snow Showers ‘ and ‘Pendula’ are popular forms with arching branches and clear pink blossoms. ‘Autumnalis’ has abundant semi-double pink petals with a sparse rebloom in fall.

The adaptable tree tolerates various soil pH levels and periodic dry spells. It grows and flowers best in organically rich, evenly moist, well-draining situations.

In addition to the spectacular late winter blooms are red berries that develop and turn black later in the season. Pollinators appreciate the early pollen and nectar source and birds, the fruits. In the fall, leaves turn from dark green to orange-red.

Winter Jasmine

Bright yellow blooms cascade gracefully, marking the season’s first color.

Winter jasmine brings a fountain of bright yellow blooms starting in January and February. A true harbinger, winter jasmine is often the first to show color. Tubular blooms line willowy branches before leaves sprout. The showy blooms and cascading stems bring graceful interest.

Prune winter jasmine as an arching shrub or allow it to sprawl as a vine. Let it trail over a stone wall or train it up a pergola or archway. It also makes a lovely slope cover.

Winter jasmine tolerates various sites and soils. It does best in moist, rich conditions but tolerates poor soils and periods of drought and heat. Rejuvenation pruning benefits the look; cut it back in spring after flowering for a fresh flush of growth.

Fragrant Tea Olive

Sweetly scented blossoms add fragrance and beauty to landscapes year-round.

Fragrant tea olive is a broadleaf evergreen with deep green leaves and dense, upright stems. Diminutive white or orange blossoms appear in fall through spring and have an intensely sweet perfume that permeates.

Tea olive makes a handsome specimen among foundation plantings and mixed evergreen hedges and screens. Their tall, rounded forms seldom need pruning but take shaping and espaliering well. Situate them to experience their drifting fragrance.

Fragrant tea olive is a staple in Southern gardens, growing in well-drained soils. The rugged, easy grower withstands clay soils and drought. In cold climates, grow tea olive in a container to enjoy its fragrance, overwintering it in an unheated, sheltered space.

Witch Hazel

Spicy-scented blooms and vibrant fall color brighten any landscape.

Witch hazel has a spicy fragrance, showy flowers, and a golden fall color. Fringed yellow blooms line arching stems and emerge in winter on the bare branches.

Hamamelis virginiana is a woodland shrub or small tree native to the Eastern United States. It blooms in October and November and sometimes into winter. H. vernalis is another U.S. native, smaller in stature but highly fragrant with January blooms. H. vernalis is hardy in zones 4-8. 

Witch hazels make excellent back-of-the-border plantings for a fountain of blooms. Mostly upright with an open canopy, multistems are ornamental in the dormant landscape. Witch hazel requires a chill time before blooming. Flowers withstand freezing temperatures by folding up and closing.

Cornelian Cherry Dogwood

Bright yellow blooms herald spring, followed by edible summer cherries.

Cornelian cherry dogwood is one of the first trees to flower, with clusters of bright yellow flowers before leaves emerge. After flowering, little edible cherries mature in midsummer. The fruits are sour when fresh but mellow when reduced for preserves and syrups.