Far from being a drab time in the garden, the winter garden can be filled with colour if you find the right plants. After all, winter-flowering plants are plentiful if you know what to look for! The best winter plants have developed over time to withstand cold conditions. Most are long-flowering and have flowers with tough petals and stems. They make the most of winter sunshine and offer warmth and nourishment for pollinating insects. Many are also scented to signal to pollinators that there are flowers in bloom.

As well as plants from across the globe – including China, Japan and the Mediterranean – there are also lots of winter-flowering Australian native plants that cope well with whatever weather winter brings. Here are some of the best winter plants.

Flower Power's best winter plants

Best exotic garden plants for winter

Shrubs and trees

Japonica camellia

Camellia japonica

These tall evergreen shrubs have long-lasting flowers to brighten any winter garden. Their stiff green leaves are also weather-tolerant. Japonica camellias tolerate part shade and bloom for many weeks from winter to early spring. In addition, he flowers are appealing to nectar-feeding birds. Protect plants from winter frost, which may damage flowers - click here for more info on protecting your plants. Learn more about japonica camellias here.

Deciduous magnolia

Magnolia soulangeana; Magnolia hybrid

Magnolias make a spectacular display in late winter to spring, when they bloom on bare branches before the leaves return. Despite their delicate looks, the flowers are long-lasting with tough petals. Magnolias grow into small trees and grow best in full sun with protection from hot summer sun and winter frost. Buds may be eaten by possums or pecked by birds. Learn more about deciduous magnolias here.

Italian lavender

Lavandula stoechas

This species of lavender flowers through winter and into spring. For best performance, look for named varieties such as Avonview (L. stoechas 'Avonview'). Italian lavender's unique blooms are highly attractive to bees and other insects. These lovely flowers have a pair of petals at the top of each head of flowers, as though a butterfly is fluttering there. There are dwarf varieties as well as larger shrubs to grow in containers or in the garden. Flowers can be mauve, white or pink. Grow in a sunny spot in well-drained soil. Lavenders like slightly alkaline soil, so add a small amount of garden lime at planting. Lightly prune to remove spent flowers but don’t prune into hard wood. Learn more about all forms of lavender here.

Leucadendron

Leucadendron spp.

These evergreen shrubs from South Africa are part of the protea family and are also closely related to Australian waratahs. They produce long-lasting and colourful blooms and coloured foliage in winter. Select a warm, sunny spot with well-drained soil. Prune after flowering to keep shrubs from becoming woody. Learn more about the entire protea family here.

Rosemary

Rosmarinus spp.

Usually thought of as a culinary herb, rosemary is also a great ornamental, producing attractive blue flowers in winter. Its small, narrow, fragrant leaves and stiff stems are weather-resistant, but also team well with a winter roast or stew. Grow plants in full sun in well-drained soil. Find more tips for growing rosemary (and other edible herbs!) here.

Daphne

Daphne odora

Winter-flowering daphne (Daphne odora) has stout heads with clusters of small pink flowers that are highly fragrant. Both the leaves and flowers are very weather-resistant. This plant needs an easterly location in the garden in well-drained soil. It also grows well in a container with good quality potting mix. Daphne is evergreen and long-flowering, with buds colouring from early winter and flowering extending well into winter and early spring. Learn more about a specific Daphne variety, 'Perfume Princess', here.

Annuals and perennials

Pansy and viola

Viola x wittrockiana; Viola cornuta; Viola hybrid

These annuals thrive in the colder months, adding colour and interest to even a small garden. Mass-plant or just enjoy a few plants in containers in a sunny spot. In cool climates, they’ll keep flowering over many months. Watch out for aphids which can attack flower buds. Deadhead spent flowers and apply liquid feed to encourage new flowers. Closely related are violets, which are also winter-flowering and tough. For more pansy planting advice, click here.

Hellebore

Helleborus spp.

These low-growing perennials produce long-lasting flowers during winter and are ideal to grow under deciduous trees, where they’ll enjoy winter sunlight and dappled light in summer. They also grow well in containers. Hellebores do best in mild climates, and should be kept well-watered in summer. For more tailored info on growing hellebores, read this article.

Iberis

Iberis sempervirens

Also known as candytuft, this is a white flowering annual to perennial to grow for winter flowers. In spite of its pretty looks, this plant is as tough as they come and grows well from seed. Plants do best with full sun. Lightly prune to remove spent flowers. For more details on growing iberis, click here.

Best Australian native garden plants for winter (trees, shrubs and climbers)

Banksia

Banksia spp.

There are many banksias that flower during winter, bringing colour and pollinators (including nectar-feeding birds) to gardens. Top choices include coast banksia (B. integrifolia), which is also tolerant of coastal conditions, and hairpin banksia (B. spinulosa).

Grevillea

Grevillea spp.

Grevilleas also add colour during winter. Look for plants in flower in the garden centre to bring colour to gardens. In cold winter areas, grow spider-flowered grevilleas such as Grevillea lanigera (also known as woolly grevillea), which are highly weather-resistant. In contrast, the toothbrush forms prefer warm conditions and frost protection, but many also flower well through winter including ‘Golden Lyre’. Prune shrubs after flowering and use a specialist native plant food annually in spring. Find out why grevilleas might surprise you here.

Wattle

Acacia spp.

Expect to see wattles flowering from mid-winter, adding splashes of gold to the garden. Popular as specimen plantings, wattles are also fast-growing tall hedges or screens for large gardens. Prune winter-flowering wattles after flowering to reduce seeding, as some varieties can become weedy. Foliage forms such as ‘Limelight’ (Acacia cognata ‘Limelight’) look good year-round due to their naturally mounded shape. They also tend to be frost-resistant.

Correa

Correa spp.

These compact evergreen shrubs flower in winter. They can be trimmed and shaped to add form to winter gardens. Correa alba has small white flowers and attractive, small, stiff, dark green leaves with brown undersides.

Hardenbergia

Hardenbergia violacea

Also known as Happy Wanderer, this native climber or groundcover has purple pea flowers during winter which stand out against the dark green leaves. There is also a lovely white form called ‘Free n Easy’, which brightens any winter garden. Train up a sunny trellis or along a fence to enjoy the cascades of flowers whatever the winter weather. Learn more about hardenbergia here.