Malta Development Blog

Does winter have you worried you'll have to wait until spring to start gardening again? Don't let it. These winter hardy plants can withstand the coldest months of the year.
 

1. Hellebore

Want a cure for the winter blues? Hellebores, also known as the "Christmas Rose," lift anyone's spirits during the drab and dreary winter months. Their thick leather leaves and "petals" in speckled white, pink, apricot, or maroon bring color to an otherwise white and frosty landscape. Not even winter's harsh frost can stave off the Hellebores. You can see Hellebores thrive from early/late winter to early spring.
 

2. Witch Hazel

These small shrubs pack a wallop of color with their shaggy and spidery orange-yellow blooms. The crinkly petals cluster along the branches and add a vibrant contrast to their snowy surroundings making them hard to miss.
 

3. Holly Bushes

Chances are you've seen these crimson berries adorning holiday decorations mainly because they can withstand the icy winter weather. Though children may think the berries look ready to eat, be warned, they aren't. On the bright side, this festive plant produces small white, yellow or pink fragrant flowers during the spring.
 

4. Pieris Japonica

Native to Japan and parts of eastern China, these dense and slow-growing shrubs produce buds that thrive during winter months in temperate climates. They bloom toward the end of fall but don't fully open until late winter revealing small, white urn-shaped flowers.
 

5. Winter Jasmine

Winter Jasmine blooms bright yellow in January, making it an oustanding candidate for a mid-winter splash on banks and retaining walls. Originating from China, Winter Jasmine is now native to the cold winter climates of the Mid Atliantic and Northeast United States.
 

6. Kaffir Lily

These low-maintenance plants grow better inside your home during colder temperatures than outside battling the heavy frost. Their orange flowers (sometimes red, salmon, or yellow) bloom in late winter and early spring. Keep in mind, though, that its sap may irritate sensitive skin and if ingested may cause an upset stomach.
 

7. Sweet Alyssum

Resistant to light frost, these delicate and small flowers only grow up to six inches. What they lack in size, they more than make up for in color. The color variations range from white to copper to pink and everything in between. They look especially alluring in hanging baskets as they spill over an edge.
 

8. Winter Honeysuckle

Looking for a winter hardy plant with a fragrant scent? Winter Honeysuckle's Latin name literally translates to "most fragrant." The shrubs flowers in winter revealing creamy white flowers that release a lemony scent.
 

9. Camellia

These stunning flowers bloom straight through winter in temperate climates. The vibrant red, white or pink petals complement the deep, glossy, and dark green leaves.
 
These plants bring desperately needed color to any snowy landscape. Use them as simple decorations in your garden or simply to pick your spirits up in a monochromatic scenery.