Bright summer blooms inevitably fade as the seasons shift. But, the best winter plants for pots will keep the spirits lifted and the garden looking beautiful, despite colder temperatures and darker evenings.
There are plenty of stunning winter garden ideas that will bring a smile to your face on frosty days. But one of the best ways to brighten up an outdoor space is to plant some gorgeous containers. With flower beds and borders looking a little bare over the coldest season, using pots is a great way to ensure there is still plenty of interest in your yard during the months ahead. Of course, many winter-flowering plants will provide vital nectar for foraging wildlife, too – even more reason for introducing them to your plot.
To give you lots of inspiration, we've rounded up our favorite winter plants you can use in your containers for a stunning display.
Wonderful winter plants for pots to try in your yard
Want to ensure your container gardening ideas are packed with color, scent and interest throughout the colder weather? Our edit of winter plants for pots is the perfect place to start.
1. Wintergreen
Gaultheria procumbens is fabulously festive
Wintergreen (or Gaultheria procumbens) planted in pots makes a cheery addition to outdoor Christmas decor with its vibrant red berries. Alternatively, try Gaultheria 'Pearls' which has white berries with a pink flush. Both will thrive in full to part shade.
Replant these dwarf evergreens in a larger container or into your borders as a ground-cover plant when it's time to give your winter pots a refresh. Be sure to always wear gloves when handling these plants, however, as they are toxic.
- Buy gaultheria in the US: view at Burpee (opens in new tab)
- Buy gaultheria in the UK: view at Crocus (opens in new tab)
2. Primulas
'Zebra Blue' has a striking appearance
Primulas are a classic winter bedding plant, bringing a big boost of bold color to a display. Some are hardier than others, one of our favorites being 'Zebra Blue' which has striped flowers and yellow centers. It blooms in late winter through to late spring and thrives in partial shade. Take a cue from this setup and push structural twigs into the soil for extra height and drama.
As perennials, keep these beauties going once the season ends by planting them into your borders. As they grow, they will form large clumps which can be divided to improve vigor (and to get 'new' free plants).
Summer or autumn is the best time to do so: 'Simply lift a plant and, using two hand forks inserted close together and back-to-back, divide the clump into chunky, well-rooted portions,' says John Negus, a gardening expert from Amateur Gardening. 'Replant them in a shady spot for summer and, in autumn, set them where they are to flower in spring.'
Polyanthus – a type of primula which produces flowers in umbels – is also one of our favorite winter plants for pots. Sue Sanderson, writing for Thompson & Morgan (opens in new tab), recommends ‘Firecracker’ for a fragrant display. Deadhead the flowers often to encourage prolific blooming.
- Buy primulas in the UK: view at Thompson & Morgan (opens in new tab)
3. Winter irises
The 'Harmony' winter iris offers an eye-catching shot of blue
With their elegant structure and jewel-like tones, winter irises will brighten any patio or doorstep. The team at Amateur Gardening suggests 'Harmony' – a stunning bloom with rich purple-blue flowers and a golden band on the fall, which flowers in mid-winter.
For something a little different, opt for the ice-white 'Frozen Planet' when planting your winter container, which has pale-blue-tipped petals and will bloom all the way from early winter to spring. 'Pauline' is another beautiful choice, offering a sophisticated shade of plum.
Plant the bulbs in fall in well-drained soil, and for best results, position the containers in full sun. Each plant will grow to around 6in (15cm), depending on the variety.
- Buy winter irises in the US: view at Burpee (opens in new tab)
- Buy winter irises in the UK: view at Thompson & Morgan (opens in new tab)
4. Winter aconites
Winter aconites may be small but they're a surefire way to brighten up a space
A wonderful winter garden plant, the sun-yellow flowers of aconites bring reliable cheer. 'After flowering, plant them out in humus-rich moisture-retentive soil in semi-shade, where they will naturalize,' suggests the Amateur Gardening team.
They don't grow too tall – only around 4in (10cm). Try planting up a cluster of smaller pots for an instant uplift, or dot the bulbs around the perimeter of a larger container.
Pollinators adore these buttercup-like blooms, so they're perfect if you're looking for winter wildlife garden ideas.
- Buy winter aconites in the US: view at Nature Hills (opens in new tab)
- Buy winter aconites in the UK: view at Crocus (opens in new tab)
5. Early crocuses
An array of pots filled with 'Whitewell Purple' crocuses
In shades of yellow, lilac, deep purple and frosty white, early crocuses are perfect for adding to winter planters.
Try 'Pickwick', a larger variety with white goblet flowers and purple veining, which will bloom in late winter in milder regions. RHS-award-winning 'Blue Pearl' is another favorite with its silvery-lilac petals and deep yellow throats, or try 'Snow Bunting' for white, star-shaped blooms with sunshine-yellow centers. If you love a deeper purple hue, then opt for 'Whitewell Purple', as shown above.
Plant crocus bulbs in well-drained containers positioned in the sun (they won't flower in shade). After flowering, plant them out in a sunny patch of a border or lawn, where they will form clumps over time.
- Buy winter crocuses in the US: view at Burpee (opens in new tab)
- Buy winter crocuses in the UK: view at Crocus (opens in new tab)
6. Heucheras
Viola ‘Rose Blotch’ and heuchera ‘Sugar Frosting' make a festive duo
Coral bells, otherwise known as heucheras, have pretty flower spikes in summer. However, the frilly, semi-evergreen, vibrant foliage makes them a good plant for winter color, too, especially in regions where temperatures don't drop too low.
Amateur Gardening suggests 'Marmalade' as a variety to try, with its caramel and pink leaves to warm the winter scene. To set a moody, dramatic tone, opt for 'Black Pearl', whilst 'Sugar Frosting' as shown above looks gorgeously festive against ruby-red viola 'Rose Blotch'.
Plant them in moist, well-drained pots in sun or semi-shade.
- Buy heuchera in the US: view at Nature Hills (opens in new tab)
- Buy heuchera in the UK: view at Crocus (opens in new tab)
7. Pansies and violas
Hardy pansies and violas are a classic choice for winter pots
Create a container of pansies and you are guaranteed a cheering display all through autumn, winter and into early spring. These bedding plants are one of the best plants for beginners if you follow a few simple rules. Choose plants labeled as 'winter-flowering' to guarantee they will thrive in colder weather.
Plant them out at the start of autumn so they form buds before the frosts arrive. Plant in multi-purpose compost with a handful of grit to aid drainage. In dry spells, or if there is an Indian summer, make sure the compost is moist to touch – plants can still dry out and die in the colder months.
Pack the container with plants for a full display. Deadheading flowers regularly will encourage repeat blooming. For extra impact, opt for one color, rather than a mix of shades – try 'Swiss Giant Orange' for a blaze of gold, or 'Coolwave Raspberry' for a cushion of velvety plum.
- Buy pansies in the US: view at Burpee (opens in new tab)
- Buy pansies in the UK: view at Thompson & Morgan (opens in new tab)
8. Heather
Heather is fantastic for bees and looks gorgeous too
Whether it is a shade of white or dark pink, winter heather brings delicate beauty to your displays.
Heathers only thrive in acid soil, so buy a bag of ericaceous compost. Add a 1–2in (2.5–5cm) layer of grit at the base of the container first, as they do not like to have soggy roots. Grow them in a sunny spot, or partial shade.
Good choices are E. carnea 'Springwood White', which has trailing stems, and E. carnea 'Springwood Pink' for a bright pop of color.
- Buy heather in the US: view at Nature Hills (opens in new tab)
- Buy heather in the UK: view at Crocus (opens in new tab)
9. Foliage plants
This stunning container includes the textural calocephalus to the left, as well as trailing ivy, yellow primula, skimmia, and the jolly orange berries of Solanum pseudocapsicum
Winter containers don't have to feature flowers: there is a fantastic choice of foliage plants available from garden centers or via mail order. Opt for interestingly-shaped, frosted foliage plants such as calocephalus, which has been added to this planter above.
You could also go for the downy leaves of dusty miller (Senecio cineraria) or try the frivolous, frilly leaves of ornamental kale such as 'Northern Lights', which intensifies in color as temperatures plummet.
A mix of foliage plants in similar tones looks stunning in the same pot. Soften the edges with an easy-to-grow evergreen trailing ivy such as 'White Wonder'.
- Buy ornamental kale in the US: view at Burpee (opens in new tab)
- Buy ornamental cabbage in the UK: view at Thompson & Morgan (opens in new tab)
10. Hellebores
Hellebores work well in modern and cottage-style gardens alike
The Christmas rose, or hellebore, adds a touch of romanticism in the bleaker months. They come in a subtle rainbow of colors, from pure white and dusty pink to apricot and rich purple and they can cope with cold conditions, including frost and snow.
Hellebores are mainly evergreen, flowering in mid-winter and continuing to early spring. They can be combined with other plants in the same pot, but a simple container of one color will create maximum impact.
Plant them in a multi-purpose compost in a container, deep enough to fit with the top of the existing compost level. Water well and place in a shady spot.
- Buy hellebores in the US: view at Burpee (opens in new tab)
- Buy hellebores in the UK: view at Crocus (opens in new tab)
11. Scented plants
Sweet box, or Sarcococca confusa, is a brilliant choice for winter pots, available from Crocus (opens in new tab)
Although we associate scented plants with warm summer days, there are some cold-weather heroes which are perfect for placing by the porch for a blast of winter fragrance.
Sweet box, or Sarcococca confusa, is a brilliant option for the best winter plants for pots. It has a profusion of tiny, spidery, white flowers on glossy evergreen leaves in the winter, which turn into black berries over summer. It's an easy-care plant, with no pruning needed. Just remove any dead sprigs in late spring. For best results, plant in John Innes No.3 compost, and make sure that the soil is kept moist.
For a beautiful citrus scent in a pot, try winter-flowering honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima) which has creamy-colored flowers on semi-bare branches. Plant in a large container for the best results.
- Buy Sarcococca confusa in the US: view at Nature Hills (opens in new tab)
- Buy Sarcococca confusa in the UK: view at Crocus (opens in new tab)
12. Japanese skimmia
Red-berried skimmia will add bold color to your container display
Japanese skimmia has domes of neat evergreen foliage, and the female plants – such as 'Kew Green' or 'Rubella' – are one of the best plants with winter berries. Just ensure you pair them with a male variety, otherwise, you might not get any berries at all.
The shrubs prefer partial shade, and they will cheer up a dark spot.
- Buy skimmia in the US: view at Nature Hills (opens in new tab)
- Buy skimmia in the UK: view at Thompson & Morgan (opens in new tab)
13. Camellia
Bring the beautiful blooms of camellia to your garden
It's worth learning how to grow camellias for the spectacle of showy flowers. Camellias come in shades of pink, red and white, and their blooms contrast with their evergreen foliage.
They're ideal for growing in pots to add some interest to your winter patio. But, they do need to be planted in well-drained ericaceous (acid) soil, and if possible, they should be watered with rainwater from a water butt.
Put them in a sheltered spot near the house, and protect early buds from frost with horticultural fleece. Prune after they have flowered, and keep them well-watered through spring and summer, as this is when the buds are forming. It's definitely worth the effort, as they will reward you with a stunning display in late winter and early spring.
- Buy camellias in the US: view at Nature Hills (opens in new tab)
- Buy camellias in the UK: view at Crocus (opens in new tab)
14. Festuca glauca
Brilliant in a container, blue fescue is a mystical blue grass with very fine foliage
Ornamental grasses fit beautifully into a modern garden, but some of them are perennials which die back in the winter. Add a few pots of tasteful blue fescue (Festuca glauca), however, and you get a lot more bang for your buck with a year-round display of texture and a soft blue-green color.
The spiky hummocks of foliage look particularly good in galvanized zinc containers. They need moist, well-drained soil, so add a handful of grit to the compost when planting.
The grasses might benefit from being divided every three years to stop them from looking shabby. With a sparkling coat of frost, they will bring pleasure to the coldest days.
- Buy Festuca glauca in the US: view at Nature Hills (opens in new tab)
- Buy Festuca glauca in the UK: view at Thompson & Morgan (opens in new tab)
15. Cyclamen
We love this colorful combo of pink cyclamen and turquoise pots
The flag-like flowers of cyclamen offer tons of beauty and are perfect plants for winter hanging baskets as well as pots.
The ones on sale in supermarkets tend to be tender, indoor cyclamen. So, make sure you choose a hardy variety called Cyclamen coum or Cyclamen hederifolium if you're after the best plants for winter pots. Plant them at the same depth as the pots you buy them in and avoid letting the containers become waterlogged, as this will damage the roots.
They can be bought as bulbs, but for a quick solution, ready-grown plants are inexpensive and create an instant uplift.
- Buy cyclamen in the UK: view at Crocus (opens in new tab)
16. Snowdrops
Snowdrops are a true winter favorite
They're among the first spring bulbs to nose through the ground in winter, and a pot or two of snowdrops delivers a welcome boost.
Snowdrop bulbs can be planted in the autumn, or they may be grown 'in the green' (with their leaves still attached) in spring for flowering the following winter. They are happiest when growing in the ground in a shady garden border or raised bed – those grown in containers will need repotting every year.
Don't forget about the greater snowdrop too (Galanthus elwesii) – it has large, honey-scented white flowers above glaucous leaves.
- Buy snowdrops in the US: view at Burpee (opens in new tab)
- Buy snowdrops in the UK: view at Amazon (opens in new tab)
17. Forced bulbs for indoors
White muscari have an understated elegance
Winter containers aren't just for outdoors. Forcing bulbs is a lovely way to brighten up your interior and enjoy spring flowers early. There are all kinds you can try, from muscari (as seen above) to narcissus and sweetly-scented hyacinths.
Hang them up, decorate a window sill, or position them on the center of your dining table – they are bound to bring joy to any onlooker.
- Buy spring bulbs in the US: view at Burpee (opens in new tab)
- Buy spring bulbs in the UK: view at Amazon (opens in new tab)
What plants are good for winter pots in shade?
Even a garden that doesn't get much sun can be brightened with a container, providing you choose shade-loving plants. Try these three winter varieties:
- Skimmia japonica 'Obsession': This evergreen shrub, growing to 31.5in (80cm), has red berries in fall and winter and scented spring blooms. It grows best in moist, well-drained pots of regular or ericaceous compost in sheltered shade or semi-shade.
- Mahonia x media ‘Charity’: An evergreen shrub, 13ft (4m) in height, this plant has architectural foliage and yellow flowers that exude a beautiful scent in winter. After flowering, plant it out in humus-rich soil in shade or semi-shade.
- Hedera helix ‘Buttercup’: This slow-growing trailing ivy has lime-green and lemon-yellow leaves when positioned in a shady spot, or bolder yellow leaves in sun. Avoid overcrowding, and plant in well-drained soil.
Skimmias thrive in shade
How often do you need to water winter pots?
True, summer is peak time for watering plants. But your containers will still need some attention with the watering can from time to time in winter, especially after sunny or windy weather.
The RHS (opens in new tab) explains how conifers and other evergreens should be checked at least weekly and watered if necessary, especially if they are under cover. However, avoid watering if frost is forecasted.
It's important to ensure that your containers have good drainage. Allowing plants to sit in cold, waterlogged soil will do them no good at all.
These pretty garden planters include viola 'Antique Shades', 'Sorbet Blueberry Cream' and 'Rose Blotch'