Winter can seem a dull time of year in the garden, but there are plenty of interesting plants that flower in January – not just snowdrops. From tiny flowers that light up the ground beneath trees, to shrubs with beautifully scented blooms and bedding plants to perk up patios pots, there’s something to suit every space. Explore the full range of flowering plants with our guide to some of the best January-flowering plants.
Best winter-flowering plants for pots
Some winter-flowering plants are particularly suitable for growing in pots. These include:
- Snowdrops
- Pansies
- Cyclamen
- Winter heather
- Hellebores
Best winter-flowering plant for borders
These five bedding plants are perfect for adding instant colour to winter borders:
- Pansies
- Cyclamen
- Winter heather
- Polyanthus primroses
- Violas
Pansies
Pansies (Viola x wittrockiana) come in a range of bright shades including purple, orange and yellow. Plant them in autumn and they’ll flower for months, adding colour to containers and gaps in winter borders. They are also easy to grow and tough, flowering on through cold weather, rain and snow.
Flowers: November to March
H x S: 20cm x 30cm
Winter aconites
The perfect plant for brightening the ground beneath trees, winter aconites have vibrant yellow flowers that look like buttercups from mid- to late-winter. These are very attractive to pollinators and combine well with other early flowering plants such as snowdrops.
Flowers: January to February
H x S: 10cm x 13cm
Daphne
Daphnes are pretty shrubs, with many flowering in late winter and early spring. The colourful flowers are scented and come in shades including white, pink and purple. Both Daphne ‘Jacqueline Postill’ and Daphne odora ‘Aureomarginata’ flower in January.
Flowers: January to February
H x S: 4m x 1.5m
Snowdrops
Snowdrops are among the first bulbs of the year to flower, heralding the end of winter. Although they don’t come in bold colours, they are among the first plants to add interest to the garden. There’s a variety of different types to grow, ranging from single- to double-flowered types. Small bees such as honeybees may visit the flowers.
Flowers: January to March
H x S: 15cm x 10cm
Mahonia
Nothing brightens January like a mahonia, with its brilliant yellow flowers on long spikes. This useful shrub has evergreen foliage and makes a good feature plant for a shady border. Its flowers are attractive to bees that are active during winter, providing nectar over a long period.
Flowers: November to March
H x S: 5m x 4m
Winter clematis
Winter clematis (Clematis cirrhosa) is a perennial climber that cheers up walls and fences during the colder months. It’s easy to look after – it doesn’t need major pruning, just a light tidy up as and when is required. There are several varieties to choose from including Clematis cirrhosa var. balearica, which is lightly speckled with pink freckles, and ‘Jingle Bells’ which has large creamy white flowers.
Flowers: December to February
H x S: 2.5m x 1.75m
Cyclamen
Hardy cyclamen, Cyclamen coum, has pretty flowers in either pink, red or white from late winter to early spring. The silver and green leaves are attractive, too. It will light up dull areas beneath trees and shrubs and return year after year.
Flowers: January to April
H x S: 8cm x 10cm
Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Diane’
Witch hazel has scented flowers that can be vivid orange, yellow or red, standing out on any grey January day. Plants such as Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Diane’ make striking feature plants for a sunny border, and flowering twigs can also be used for indoor displays.
Flowers: December to February
H x S: 4m x 4m
Sweet box (Sarcococca confusa)
This is a lovely plant to have next to a path near the house, or in a pot near your doorway, where you can appreciate its sweet scent during winter. The small white flowers are long lasting, appearing between December and March, but sweet box also looks good throughout the year with its glossy evergreen foliage.
Flowers: December to March
H x S: 2m x 1m
Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas)
Vivid yellow flowers appear on the bare stems of Cornus mas during winter, a bright addition to cheer up a border in January. This is a good shrub for a woodland area or large border, and it does provide interest in other seasons, too, with red berries in summer and good autumn colour, when leaves turn red and purple.
Flowers: January to February
H x S: 4m x 4m
More plants that flower in January:
- Viburnum × bodnantense
- Winter jasmine
- Winter heather
- Forsythia
- Winter honeysuckle
- Helleborus niger (Christmas rose)
- Narcissus ‘Rijnveld’s Early Sensation’
