Seven Winter Flowering Trees To Plant

Just because we slow down during the cooler months doesn’t mean your garden has to, so try these winter flowering trees to keep your green spaces thriving. 

It’s all but common knowledge that many trees and shrubs have a well earned siesta during the winter months, and can almost look like skeletons in your garden – but what if we told you that not all plants prefer to hibernate? 

Winter Flowering Shrubs That Dig The Cold 

For some plant varieties, winter is their time to shine. Think along the lines of colourful blooms, floral perfumes floating around your garden, and all but the opposite of what the other varieties usually look like during the cooler months.

The good news is that when it comes to selecting winter flowering trees or shrubs, green thumbs actually have quite the variety on offer. Whether you’re on the hunt for large scale hedging options, or perhaps even just a potted variety to put on a window sill, winter flowering shrubs are surprisingly a dime a dozen – providing that you know where to look. 

Camellia – Native all over Asia – quite literally, from Indonesia to Japan to the Himalayas – camellias offer some of the brightest blooms around if you’re on the hunt for colourful winter flowering trees. They have a reputation as being picky plants, but much depends on how they are planted, and if they have access to the well drained acidic soil that they like.

Magnolia – An oldie but a goodie, the magnolia plant first appeared long before bees evolved, so the flowers are theorised to have evolved to encourage pollination by beetles. The range of flower colours include burgundy, white, magenta, purple, hot pink and an eye-catching yellow, with the plant doing well in semi shade away from exposure to wind and frost.

Wattles – Do you have a penchant for a home grown hero? Wattles are one of the most iconic winter flowering shrubs in Australia, with over 1000 species and it even features as our national emblem. Even better, wattle flowers are laden with pollen, which native bees tend to appreciate as a winter food source.

Chinese Lantern – Otherwise known as Abutilon, chinese lanterns actually flower all year round. However, regular pruning is required to keep them in a bush or shrub like formation, as failure to do so can result in a lanky plant. Try to keep them mulched and well-watered, but avoid over fertilising them, as this can result in prolific foliage at the expense of flowers. 

Lavender – If you want winter flowering shrubs that both look, smell and even taste good, gardeners can’t go past lavender. With its silvery-green foliage, upright flower spikes and compact shrub-like form, lavender is ideal for creating informal hedges. With many different varieties available, aim to pick a shrub that is best suited to your climate. 

Cyclamen – Commonly kept as an indoor plant, cyclamen can also be embraced as a winter flowering shrub. When happy and planted with the right conditions, they can actually grow up to forty centimetres tall. with green foliage mottled with silver, it’s heart-shaped leaves and blooms in almost surprising shades of white, pink, rose, purple and red. 

Daphne – Known for their scented flowers and often brightly coloured berries, daphne plants are regarded as a neat and evergreen option for gardeners chasing winter flowering trees. If you’re able to find a spot in your garden that has slightly acidic soil, morning sun and afternoon shade, a daphne shrub won’t take long at all to shoot upwards, so have those pruners on hand.

Further Gardening Advice From The Professionals

Spending time outside and in the garden – even in winter – is not only good for our overall well being, but it’s also an easy way to start educating yourself on the importance of sustainability. 

If you’re noticing foreign invaders popping up in your garden, a naturally produced weed killer like Bioweed is a safe way to keep them under control. As a non-residual solution, it will break down into the soil in as little as 72 hours and can combat over 200 invasive weed species, making it safe for you, your family, your pets, and your local native wildlife to navigate. 

Bioweed is the brainchild of well established agricultural leaders Greenpro, and is backed by over twenty years of research and development. Owned and manufactured in Australia, the primary ingredient of Bioweed is actually sustainably sourced pine oil, and is even approved by NASAA, ACO and APVMA for use around organic farms and food production.

If you’re on the hunt for a natural weed killer, more organic gardening solutions, or simply want to know more about eliminating weeds safely, check out other tips and tricks in our online advice forum, or contact us for any further queries