TOP WINTER-FLOWERING PLANTS

Camellias

These long-lived versatile plants can be grown as small trees or large shrubs up to about 3m, and can be used to create striking hedges. They flower from autumn right through winter and into spring, and come in a wide variety of colours, including pinks, reds and whites, and with single or double flowers. Camellia sasanqua varieties will do well in full sun as well as shade, but C. japonica and C. reticulata leaves will burn if planted in full sun. With their dark green glossy leaves and low-maintenance requirements, it's obvious to see why Camellias are a timeless garden favourite.

Lavender

Lavender is great for cottage gardens and for planting near the veggie patch to encourage bees into the garden for pollination. Their lovely scent means that they are also great for cut flowers and can even be dried and used in pot-pourri mixes. There are many varieties now available, with pink, purple and even white flowers, and in sizes ranging from 30cm to up to about 1.5m in height.

Heliotrope

Heliotropium spp, or Cherry Pie as they are commonly known, are beautiful purple-flowering plants that have an aroma that has been likened to Cherry Pie, as the name suggests. Cultivars range in height from about 5cm up to 1m. These plants will flower for most of the year, often sending up lovely scented flowers over winter; however care must be taken as all parts of these plants are poisonous to stock.

Cyclamens

Cyclamens are herbaceous perennials that grow from a tuber. They come in a wide range of colours, including pinks, reds, purples and white. Cyclamens require good drainage and a cool, sheltered position protected from direct sun. They are great for growing in shady outdoor areas and can also be grown in pots indoors in a bright position for a splash of winter colour. Simply place the pot outside in a cool dry spot over summer while the plant is dormant and begin to water again once leaves start to appear.

Hellebore

This herbaceous perennial forms a low clump of large dark green leaves above which delicate-looking flowers in shades of pinks, purples, greens, yellows or white are borne in winter. Perfect for a shady garden, these long-lived plants can be grown in pots or in the ground, in a well-drained soil enriched with organic matter.

Daphne

These compact shrubs have dark green leaves and produce scented white, cream, pink or yellow flowers from mid-winter to spring. They have a reputation for being a bit fussy but are not hard to grow given the right conditions. They prefer a morning sun position and need well-drained soil to do well. They don't like being over-watered and their roots need to be kept cool: the best way to achieve this is to mulch around the base of the plant. Follow these simple guidelines and your Daphne will reward you with its beautiful perfumed flowers.

Potted Colour

Annuals can provide a much-needed boost to winter gardens with their vibrant colours – popular at this time are Pansies and Violas, which come in a wide array of colours, as well as Primulas and Polyanthus, and Ornamental Kale. Annuals such as Gazanias, Dianthus, Salvias and Marigolds can all be grown in winter, and of course Sweet Peas are a winter favourite in hanging baskets or climbing up a trellis for support.

Natives

Last but not least, there is a wide variety of natives that provide masses of winter colour at a time when most other plants aren't doing much in the garden. Boronias are favoured for their perfumed foliage and delicate bell-shaped flowers, Wattles come out in force during August with their sprays of yellow flowers, and many Grevilleas will put on a show of nectar-filled flowers in shades of red, yellow, orange, pink and white throughout the year. Other winter favourites include the Native Hibiscus (Alyogyne), Geraldton Wax and Banksias, all of which will help to fill your garden with colour and provide shelter and food for native wildlife.