Expert Shares Hardiness Zone Map Cheatsheet for These 10 Best Winter Flowers

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: 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.