The best winter bedding plants for a stunning splash of colour when it's cold outside

While it's said that 'the colour of springtime is in the flowers, the colour of winter is in the imagination', that doesn't have to be the case – especially if you set to work filling your garden borders with the best winter bedding plants.

It's not all about colourful spring flowers. It doesn't matter if you're using them in a modern or cottage garden, winter bedding plants are beloved by gardeners everywhere for their effortless ability to brighten up an outdoor space when most other flowers have died.

Don't discount them, then, as a basic addition to your planting scheme; when used effectively, they can prove themselves to be surprisingly alluring plants.

Much as it's worth researching the best perennials to plant now, not all winter bedding plants are born equal – which is why it's worth consulting the experts before you begin digging them in.

Best winter bedding plants to plant now

Autumn is an excellent time to set to work on filling your garden with winter bedding plants, as there's still a little warmth to help them get established.

This makes for stronger roots, more plentiful flower buds, and a generally better display come wintertime. And so, then, without any further ado...

1. Winter pansies and viola

One of the most loved winter bedding plants around, some pansies and viola have been specially bred and cultivated to add colour to our gardens when the thermostat is at its lowest.

If you're looking for a punchy pop of blue, the hardy Pansy 'Frizzle Sizzle Blue' from Crocus blooms from October through to May, so long as you pop it in sun/light shade and deadhead the plants properly to prolong flowering.

That being said, there are a few other varieties worth considering.

Where to buy winter pansies:

• The Viola cornuta 'Teardrops Apricot Purple Wing' from Sarah Raven is hugely productive for edible flowers.
• The Pansy 'Frizzle Sizzle Orange' from Thompson & Morgan is a vibrant orange biennial that will bloom from November through to May.
• The Pansy Matrix F1 Raspberry Sundae from Crocus promises rich colour and long-lasting blooms, as it's been bred to withstand most British weather.

2. Cyclamen

Christopher O'Donoghue, co-director at Gardens Revived, rates cyclamen as one of his favourite winter bedding plants – and little wonder, as this is a true tried-and-tested classic when it comes to brightening up flower beds and patio container gardens alike.

Christopher O'Donoghue

With almost two decades of experience as a professional gardener under his belt, Christopher set up Gardens Revived with his brother, Andrew, in 2018 to create a thriving family business. Together, they have worked on residential gardens, sites of historical interest, large estates exceeding 70 acres, and award-winning show gardens.

"Their petals are sweet, fragrant, and shaped just like little hearts," he explains, adding that the fully hardy plants can actually flower through autumn all the way into spring if you show them some TLC.

"Just be sure to pop them in a sheltered spot with freely draining soil, and don't forget to mulch!"

Where to buy cyclamen:

• The award-winning hardy cyclamen collection from Crocus will allow you to enjoy three different varieties of this pretty plant in one go.
• Try the Cyclamen coum from Thompson & Morgan for superb ground cover.
• The Mini Cyclamen Mix from Sarah Raven boasts brightly-coloured flowers from late autumn and into winter.

3. Christmas rose

The very first of the hellebores to bloom, the aptly-named Christmas rose will gift gardeners white (occasionally pink) flowers as early as December so long as you pop it in well-drained soil and treat it to some well-rotted organic matter when planting, too.

Even better? This one is a perennial with year-round interest, which means it will grow back every year.

'Best suited for a sheltered spot outdoors, they can be brought in as Christmas decor when they bloom,' adds Christopher.

Where to buy a Christmas rose:

• The Helleborus niger from Crocus is available in 9cm pots or 2 litre tubs, depending on what size plant you're looking for.
• You can pick up a Christmas rose from Thompson & Morgan – either as a bare root or potted plant.
• The Helleborus niger 'Snowdrift' from Sarah Raven is a bestseller for a reason.

4. Winter-flowering heathers

Another hard-working perennial, heathers are counted among the best winter bedding plants because, once established, they'll fill your borders with pretty blooms year after year.

"You can either plant them in drifts or pot them up for some much-needed winter colour," adds Christopher promisingly.

Where to buy winter-flowering heathers:

• Try the winter heath heather from Crocus for masses of white flowers when the world is grey and bleak.
• The Winter Heather Erica Darleyensis Collection from Amazon offers so much colour and variety.
• The White Heather in a Rustic Terracotta Pot from Sarah Raven also makes for an incredibly low-maintenance houseplant, depending on your mood.

5. Bellis perennis

"Don't you think daisies are the friendliest flower?"

So asked Meg Ryan in You've Got Mail, and, to be perfectly honest, we absolutely did until we met the common daisy's fabulous cousin, the bellis perennis.

"These winter bedding plants boast a mass of bright pompom flowers, making them ideal for adding some much needed colour to an outdoor space over the bleak midwinter," says Christopher.

Where to buy bellis perennis:

• The Bellis Bellissima Series from Crocus promises to be a beautiful and long-flowering mixture of daisies.
• The Bellis 'Bellisima Mixed' from Thompson & Morgan is available as ready-grown plants with so many blooms you'll struggle to see the foliage. 

FAQs

What bedding plants are best for winter?

If you're unsure what bedding plants are best for winter, the tried-and-tested options to seek out are cyclamen, pansies, violas, and winter-flowering heathers.

Christmas roses and Bellis perennis, too, are a great way to add some colour to your garden borders over the colder months.

What month do you plant winter bedding plants?

It's best to plant winter bedding plants in the autumn, as the ground is still warm enough to stimulate root growth and help them to get themselves established before the temperature really dips.

Are there any winter flowering plants?

As well as the classic winter bedding plants, there are a few other winter-flowering plants worth considering. Amaryllis, for example, is an indoor plant that typically blooms around Christmas so long as you get it potted up by early October.

"Hyacinths, too, can be prepared for forcing if you plant them up in pots before Halloween and store them in a cool dark place for 10 weeks, then bring them into a warm, light room to bloom," says Christopher O'Donoghue of Gardens Revived.

"Paperwhite narcissus, also known as Christmas daffodils, should be potted up between October and early November and kept indoors in a bright, cool location if you want them to look their best for 25 December," he adds.

When choosing your winter bedding plants, experts advise that you request pesticide-free ones – especially if you want to help local wildlife to thrive over the colder months.

And, if you only have room for one, we recommend opting for the picture-perfect cyclamen; they're guaranteed to inject some serious beauty to almost any situation over the bleak midwinter.