New gardeners are constantly exposed to the hardiness zone map. It turns out to be among the best resources for selecting the plants to include in the garden.

Here are an expert's top 10 suggestions for winter flowers.

An amazing variety of plants bloom in the winter garden as a result of the shorter days of autumn.

These winter bloomers have a color palette that rivals that of the more well-known flowers found in spring and summer gardens, such as the pinks of Japanese apricot or the fragrant yellows of winter jasmine.

In the majority of the United States, planting trees and shrubs with winter blooms is best done in the fall.

However, because climates vary from region to region, it might be useful to use a plant hardiness zone map as a planting guide for winter bloomers.

The ability of a plant to withstand chilly winter temperatures is referred to as hardiness.

The guide used by gardeners and growers to identify which plants have the best chance of thriving in a specific environment is the 2012 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.

 The map is based on 10-degree Fahrenheit zones that represent the average annual minimum winter temperature.

The lower number or zone means the plant can survive in lower temperatures.

Treehugger has compiled a list of flowering plants that can adorn the yard through the harshness of winter, here they are:

1. Japanese Camellia (Camellia japonica)

  • USDA Growing Zones: 7 to 9
  • Temperatures: 0°F to 30° F

From December to March, the Japanese camellia, an evergreen shrub, bears pink, lavender, red, yellow, and white flowers. Clusters of buds form, and by removing all but one bud from each cluster, the size of the flower can be increased.

2. Winter Daphne (Daphne odora 'Aureomarginata')

  • USDA Growing Zones: 7 to 9.
  • Temperatures: 0°F to 30° F

Purplish-pink flowers on winter daphnes are fragrant, and they bloom from January to March. It is positioned next to heavily used walkways and in raised soil beds with heavy clay soils to ensure proper drainage. In the summer, keep the plant out of direct sunlight.

3. Paperbush (Edgeworthia chrysantha)

  • USDA Growing Zones: 7 to 10.
  • Temperatures: 0°F to 1.7° F

Paperbush is native to China and gets its name from the use of its inner bark to craft fine, quality paper. It should be planted in shady areas to avoid the heat of direct summer sunlight. The shrub forms buds on its stems in late summer that blossom into yellow flowers in winter.

4. Flowering Quince (Chaenomeles speciosa)

  • USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8.
  • Temperatures: -30°F to -9.4° F

The flowering quince can reach heights of 10 feet with red, white, and pink flowers in the late winter. The yellow fruits called quinces are perfect for jams and jellies. The shrub appreciates full sunlight and grows in many soil types as long as it is well-drained.

5. Winterberry (Ilex verticillata)

  • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9.
  • Temperatures: -40°F to -1.1° F

Winterberry produces red berries that are popular for making Christmas wreaths. The berries appear in the summer but persist through winter. It can reach heights of three to twelve feet and thrive in wet environments.

6. Japanese Apricot (Prunus mume)

  • USDA Growing Zones: 6 to 9.
  • Temperatures: -10°F to -1.1° F

Fast-growing Japanese apricot fruit trees produce fragrant pink flowers from January to March. They need plenty of sunlight but need shade during summer. Place these ornamentals close to a deck or patio to enjoy the floral scents.

Read also: Gardening: What is Deadheading and Why Should We Do It? 

7. Winter Jasmine (Jasminium nudiflorum)

  • USDA Growing Zones: 6 to 10.
  • Temperatures: -10°F to -1.7° F

Winter jasmine is one of the most popular flowers for its late-winter blooms. To display its fragrant flowers, it can be trained up a wall or trellis as a decorative vine and grown as a ground shrub. For the most sunlight, winter jasmine should be planted on a south-facing structure.

8. Common Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)

  • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8.
  • Temperatures: -40°F to -9.4° F

Common witch hazel trees typically reach a height of 15 to 20 feet, and they bloom from late fall to early winter in clusters of yellow, ribbon-like flowers. Planting them in areas with the most sunlight will improve their performance.

9. Ivy-Leaved Cyclamen (Cyclamen hederifolium)

  • USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9.
  • Temperatures: -20°F to -1.1° F

Each year, during the gloomy winter, the ivy-leaved cyclamen produces a succession of pink flowers. The hardy perennial thrives in humusy, moist soils and grows between four and six inches tall.

10. Christmas Rose (Helleborus niger)

  • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8.
  • Temperatures: -40°F to -9.4° F

In the depths of winter, this hellebore variety known as the Christmas rose produces white flowers that eventually turn pale red. The Christmas rose needs to be grown in shady areas, such as next to a house or under a tree.

Call for Caution

Most of these plants are not indigenous to the United States. Check to see if the plant is regarded as invasive, suggested Treehugger.

Before planting these varieties, it is advised to contact the National Invasive Species Information Center or explore their list, the local gardening center, or the regional extension office.

Related article: Is it Possible to Grow World's Most Colorful Tree Rainbow Eucalyptus in the US? Here's What You Need to Know