Winter Honeysuckle

The winter honeysuckle is a variant of the honeysuckle family, Caprifoliaceae, native to China, that thrives the best from mid-December through to March. The flower grows in a shrub around six to ten inches in length and spread.

These flowers are particularly high in fragrance, considered one of the most scented flowers in gardens that releases a citrus smell of lemon and mandarin.

The care for the winter honeysuckle is straightforward as the type of soil it is planted in doesn’t have much effect on the flower and, when fully bloomed, does not require much attention. It also makes a lovely decoration for gardens, shrubs and all.

Snow Drop

The Snowdrop, its scientific name being, Galanthus, blooms typically in January, although it thrives from December through March.

These unique flowers symbolise hope and purity in Britain and make a beautiful decoration for any garden. They are extremely durable in frost and snow, as the name suggests, and despite the small thin stem can push through the toughest and coldest seasons.

The name Galanthus comes from the ancient Greek words for milk and flower, which hints towards the scent of the flower, which is said to be a creamy almond.

Winterberry Holly

This plant can often be made from wax for decoration on your Christmas garlands; however, the real thing is much nicer and full of life through the wintertime.

Winterberry Holly, or Ilex verticillata, is native to the Eastern United States and grow from shrubs around three foot tall that thrive in cold and wet environments in wet, well-drained soil.

This festive plant has a dark side - the berries on a holly bush are extremely poisonous to people and pets, so it’s best used as decoration for your home at Christmas time. However, the berries are vital for the survival of certain birds, such as the Robin. The Native Americans also used them as medicine, so it has many important uses other than for a garland.

Witch Hazel

Witch Hazel, scientifically known as Hamamelis, is a plant native to North America, Japan and China. As the name suggests, this plant is common in witchcraft when making medical solutions and thrives best in cold environments during the wintertime when it is safe to harvest and use for medical purposes.

Witch Hazel can be directly used on the skin to help cure itching, pain and swelling; many also use this plant by digesting to help cure diarrhoea, vomiting blood and colds. The medical purposes come from a chemical in the witch hazel called tannins.

The plant itself is said to have a spicy fragrance and bright yellow and orange colours. This plant can be seen in many gardens for decoration purposes rather than for medical practice.

Hellebore

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This flower, while beautiful, is toxic to the touch and is a popular choice for gardeners worldwide for the wintertime. These usually tend to bloom around January but can bloom in December in time for Christmas. Even on the darkest winter days, these flowers will bloom elegantly with their pastel colours on full show.

These flowers go way back, with ties to Greek Mythology – Melampus, a seer, used the plant to cure King Proetus’ daughter of an illness that made her roam the desert thinking she was a cow. Even if you are not suffering from this illness, it’s still a lovely flower to decorate your garden or home.

Be warned, gardeners have commented on the strange stench the hellebore gives off, saying it smells close to roast beef, wet dog and coffee.

These flowers are a beautiful addition to the winter season if you can stand the smell.

Plants that will thrive in the winter