The trick is: If you plant so-called winter bloomers, you can enjoy a colorful variety on the balcony, in the garden or on the terrace even in the dreary season. Most varieties are generally easy to care for and are therefore also suitable for inexperienced hobby gardeners. Below we will introduce you to five winter bloomers in more detail and give you tips on what you should keep in mind when caring for the hardy plants.
This colorful ornamental shrub only shows its full blooms from December until March. The perennial winter jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum) is both decorative and practical: its branches are suitable, among other things, as a climbing aid or for greening walls and house walls. The winter bloomer grows equally well in flower pots as well as in the garden bed – ideally it grows up to three meters high. So that it can develop its full (flower) splendor, the easy-care winter jasmine should be planted in a sunny or partially shaded location with a distance of at least 60, even better 80 centimeters, from its garden neighbors.
This evergreen plant also only blooms at the end of the year, more precisely from November to February: the Christmas camellia comes already with buds, so all you have to do is wait for the bright red flowers with their striking golden yellow stamens to open and exude their pleasant scent. Suitable for the garden as well as the balcony or terrace, this evergreen winter bloomer prefers a sunny to partially shaded location that is protected from the wind. The hardy ornamental shrub thrives best when planted in humus-rich, permeable soil. What the plant doesn’t like or tolerate, however, is waterlogging.
This vanilla-scented snowball “Dawn” (Viburnum bodnantense) is particularly beautiful to look at in winter with its impressive, pink flower balls – which appear from the beginning of November and bloom until March. The dense and bushy-growing ornamental shrub can grow to be over two meters high, provided the site conditions are right: In other words, a sunny to semi-shady spot is the best choice. Ideally, the location is also protected from the wind. When it comes to soil, this winter bloomer prefers moist, nutrient-rich and well-drained soil. Another feast for the eyes of this plant is the crimson autumn color of its leaves.
This hardy ornamental shrub develops yellow flowers as early as the end of December – provided the temperatures remain mild – but no later than January to March. This is not only particularly decorative, but also smells good. The witch hazel (Hamamelis mollis Pallida) feels most comfortable in a sunny to partially shaded location, especially if you provide the perennial winter bloomer with loose, humus-rich soil. Ideally, the shrub grows up to four meters high. And requires little maintenance. If you want to do something good for the hardy plant, you can prune it regularly – but it is not a must.
This evergreen Christmas rose is also a popular perennial. The winter bloomer is suitable for flower pots as well as for garden beds, is easy to care for and is also extremely robust against icy temperatures. The variety “Double Ellen® Picotée” (Helleborus) presents its baroque floral splendor from December to March. And for the rest of the year, the hardy plant with its dark green leaves is an eye-catcher on every balcony or in the garden. What is particularly practical is that the easy-care Christmas rose thrives just as well in a sunny location as in a shady spot. Ideally, it grows up to 30 centimeters high.
Source: My Beautiful Garden
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