Winter blooming plants gardeners should put in their gardens right now
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January may not be famed for its warmth and cheer, but even amidst the frosty mornings, a fragrant winter garden could be just the antidote to lift your mood. While visions of a perfumed garden typically conjure up images of spring with its bountiful blooms of roses, magnolias, and lilacs, those with green thumbs know that a carefully curated garden can provide delight throughout the year – if you choose the right plants for chillier climates.
In fact, while you might consider your garden as dormant, waiting for spring’s embrace, there are ways to infuse the cold air with scents as enchanting as any you’d find in May. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) shares some secrets on their website, stating: "A garden containing powerfully scented winter-flowering shrubs such as Daphne bholua, Mahonia japonica and Lonicera fragrantissima, and can transform an otherwise bleak and dark season into one that is looked forward to with anticipation.".
Daphne bholua. Take Daphne bholua, for example, also fondly known as 'Jacqueline Postill'. Its delicate flowers, sprinkled across clusters with lilac pink petals, belie its sturdiness. Though it seems fragile, this plant is surprisingly robust and begins to grace gardens with blossoms before Christmas, bravely weathering the most severe frosts.
Those willing to put in the effort to care for them will be rewarded with a sweet, uplifting fragrance that can fill an entire garden, providing a warm welcome on dark winter evenings. Mahonia japonica. The stunning Mahonia japonica, as featured on Gardener's World, boasts vibrant lemon-yellow flowers that bloom from autumn to spring, providing a rich source of pollen and nectar for winter bumblebee colonies.
