Winter-flowering plants

Winter bloomers include hellebore (Christmas rose), witch hazel, wintersweet, mezereon, winter heath, and early bulbs like snowdrops and crocuses. They bring colour and scent from December to February, when the garden is at its leanest. In the atlas they're gathered by a flowering period that falls in the winter months.

Yes — winter-flowering species are adapted to frost, and their blooms often recover after a cold snap. Hellebore or snowdrops can flower even from under snow. Still, plant them in a spot sheltered from icy wind, which does more harm than the low temperature itself.

Ideally close to the house, a path or an entrance, so you can see and smell them without trudging through the cold garden. Many, like witch hazel or wintersweet, are beautifully scented, so you enjoy them as you pass. A sheltered, sunny spot speeds up flowering and protects the delicate blooms.