Though most types of bees will naturally grow dormant or undergo a period of hibernation through winter, some remain active through the season. These cold-tolerant bees continue to search for nectar while their “hibernating” counterparts huddle in clusters to create warmth in their hives. As winter foragers, some bumblebees and honeybees are crucial for the pollination of cool-season blooms. In turn, their nectar helps support hives that must forage for food all year round.
Generally, bees may have both active and inactive days through moderate winters. Through the harshest and coolest days, they are unlikely to venture out of their hives. They’ll go on “cleansing flights” whenever the sun comes out and temperatures stabilize. Growing a nuanced selection of winter flowers is the best way to make their winter adventures worthwhile and to ensure that their colonies can retain enough energy to bounce back, in full force, come spring.
The winter activity of bees may be crucial in maintaining an ecosystem’s year-round diversity and ecological balance. As they pollinate blooms, bees are instrumental in enforcing seed and fruit production, which a wealth of birds, mammals, and other wild animals may rely on for nutrients as they emerge from their winter sleep. Of course, the best plants for a pollinator-friendly winter garden are those that are native to your area. Non-invasive ornamentals, such as the species listed below, may also be fine choices when they are planted in moderation.
1) Stinking hellebore (Helleborus foetidus)
Don’t be turned off by this flowering plant’s common name! While it does, indeed, have oils that can emit a pungent odor, its intact blooms and leaves have but a mild and easily tolerable scent. Often grown for its late winter appeal, it is a charming evergreen perennial for gardens with dry shade. Hardy to USDA zones 5 – 9, it can resist temperatures down to -10˚F (-23˚C), though prolonged exposure to frost may damage its shoots.
The winter blooms of stinking hellebore are borne on thick, seemingly succulent stems. Their petal-like sepals, which can persist even after pollination, are yellowish-green to purple. These are compactly arranged, in a cup-like and downward-facing orientation, around a set of central nectaries. Well-established specimens can repeatedly send out blooms over the course of a few weeks, benefitting bumblebees, up to mid-spring. Note that these contain a potent sap with phytochemicals that are toxic to both humans and animals.
2) Winter aconite (Eranthis hyemalis)
Another late winter bloomer, winter aconite is one of the most charming bulb plants for adding visual interest to a rock or container garden when little else can thrive. This member of the Ranunculaceae family is wonderful as a ground cover plant because its petite features may seem to hug the soil’s surface. Best planted in large groups to accentuate its unique features, it grows to just 6 inches (15 cm) tall in optimal conditions. Partial to the cold, its mature stands become dormant in warm temperatures.
The buttercup-like blooms of winter aconite, important nectar sources for pollinators, are bright yellow and occur on the tips of floral stalks. Solitary, these are each surrounded by deep-green bracts – often mistaken as leaves. More foliage may appear as soon as the blooms are spent in early spring. Over time, the bulbs can send out new growths to create a crowded colony. To prevent unwanted spread, these can simply be lifted and divided before replanting them in the fall.
3) Winter heath (Erica carnea)
One of the most spectacular flowering shrubs for cool weather, E. carnea can turn your garden into a cheery, colorful, and energetic site from early to mid-winter. In USDA zones 5 – 7, its low-growing, evergreen stems, which are covered in needle-like foliage, become masked by dense racemes. These inflorescences consist of bell-shaped, downward-facing blooms – each measuring up to just 0.24 inches (0.6 cm) long. Masses of heavy blooms can last from December to February, effectively hiding the deep green foliage.
Mounds of winter heath rarely grow to more than a foot tall, making them ideal as ground cover or as components of a bordering subshrub along fully sunlit walkways and patios. This species now comes in dozens of colorful cultivars, some of which have received the RHS Award of Garden Merit. Plant them in groups to create an array of vibrant colors – unfailingly drawing bees to your garden during mild, yet crisp, winter days. These will thrive best in conditions favored by pine and conifer species, so consider planting these together to diversify the cool-season garden.
4) Oregon grape (Berberis x hortensis)
A well-loved hybrid (synonymous with Mahonia x media) between Berberis japonica and B. oiwakensis, this member of the barberry or Berberidaceae family is an upright shrub. Typically grown for winter interest, its spreading inflorescences are highly-textural and irresistible to pollinators. These consist of tiny, bright yellow blooms with a mild scent. The blooms tend to be most prolific in partly shaded areas with well-drained but consistently moistened substrates. A slightly acidic pH should promote the shrub’s growth.
As it looks quite attractive on its own, the Oregon grape can be grown as a specimen shrub with year-round interest. Its compound foliage is divided into distinctly serrated leaflets, which can sport lighter hues in fall. Once its winter blooms are fertilized, they develop into clusters of showy, grape-like fruits. These can be harvested and processed into a seasonal jam or jelly. Though the fruits are definitely edible, their raw form may be too bitter for consumption.
5) Bodnant viburnum (Viburnum x bodnantense)
Initially developed in the Bodnant Garden (Wales), the Bodnant viburnum is a hybrid between the cranberry bush (V. grandiflorum) and V. farreri. This shrub now comes in several famous cultivars, most of which are impressively cold-hardy and can produce blooms throughout winter. In regions with markedly cool temperatures, their flowering period usually commences in late winter. In mild climates, blooms may appear as early as late fall and may last into the succeeding spring.
Spectacular clusters of delicate pink blooms appear on this viburnum’s naked stems, just after their leaves have fallen. Once these are pollinated by bumblebees, the blooms develop into dark-colored fruits. Horticulturists prize ‘Dawn’, a cultivar with fragrant flowers, for its ease of care and drought tolerance. As this can grow as tall as 8 feet (2.4 meters) and has bare, wiry stems in winter, its tufts of flowers – when viewed from a distance – may look as though they are magically suspended in midair.
6) Common snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis)
The common snowdrop can bloom as early as late winter, adorning the chilly landscape with carpets of snow-white blooms. This bulbous perennial heralds the onset of gradually warming temperatures by sending out tufts of its grass-like foliage. Once its leaves have fully emerged, often through a thin layer of snow, its short-lived blooms begin to develop. These characteristically nod in the gentle breeze as they daintily droop from the tips of their floral stalks.
Able to spread on its own in optimal conditions, the common snowdrop is perfect for mass plantings beneath deciduous trees or large shrubs. Bees that have made their hives in nearby trees are likely to visit the delicate blooms. As this species naturally resists pests, its presence can help protect adjacent spring bulbs, which should exit their dormant period shortly after snowdrop blooms are spent. Furthermore, as this plant only grows to about 6 inches (15 cm) tall, it effortlessly gives way to larger perennials.
7) Ozark witchhazel (Hamamelis vernalis)
A large shrub that boasts a height of up to 13 feet (4 meters) tall in sunny to partly shaded areas, the Ozark witchhazel is a great addition to open landscapes or medium to large-sized gardens. Typically cultivated as a specimen shrub, this deciduous species has year-round interest. In spring to summer, its branches are covered in ovate leaves. These initially emerge as light green, with subtle tinges of bronze. Over time, they deepen in color. In fall, the leaves’ colors change yet again to create a display of golden-yellow hues.
Soon after a fair portion of this shrub’s leaves have fallen (some are retained through winter), it begins to produce buds on naked branches. In mid-winter, the buds give rise to frost-tolerant blooms with a peculiar appearance. The yellow, orange, or reddish petals may appear twisted and wrinkled. Strap-shaped, they resemble fine arms extending from the flower’s deep red center. The flowers can last up to March, providing nectar for both winter bees and pollinators that emerge in early spring.
8) Winter-flowering cherry (Prunus x subhirtella)
Also known as “Higan Cherry”, the winter-flowering cherry is a remarkable perennial with year-round ornamental qualities. One of Japan’s most prized landscape plants due to the captivating appearance of its blossoming canopy, this deciduous tree is versatile, endlessly captivating, and quite graceful. Its branches arch and droop over time, like those of a young willow tree. To maintain their upright form, they can be pruned back after the flowering period.
The ‘Autumnalis’ and ‘Autumnalis Rosea’ cultivars of the winter-flowering cherry can bring fall, winter, and spring interest to gardens with mild to moderate seasonal changes. The blooming period of these cultivars may commence in fall and last until spring, with intermittent flushes of blooms dotting the branches through frost-free winters. The soft pink flowers precede the development of new leaves in spring. Hardy to USDA zones 6 – 8, these are best situated in full sun and in plots that can comfortably accommodate their full size (up to 30 feet or 9 meters tall and wide).
9) Oriental paperbush (Edgeworthia chrysantha)
Named for the use of its fibers as a key component of Japanese “mitsumata” or high-quality tissue paper, the Oriental paperbush is a multi-purpose deciduous shrub. As it grows to about 6 feet (1.8 meters) tall and maintains a fairly compact shape, it can be used to add complexity to year-round borders. Unforgettable on its own, it makes for a charming specimen plant for protected gardens receiving full to partial sun exposure.
The buds of the Oriental paperbush begin to develop as early as late summer when the shrub’s bluish-green leaves are still firmly attached to its branches. The foliage is completely shed in fall, during which the buds continue to mature. In USDA hardiness zones 7 – 10, a bounty of inflorescences appears on the naked branches from late winter to early spring. Each umbel-shaped cluster may sport up to 40 fragrant, white to golden-yellow flowers. In landscapes with dappled shade, these may look like tiny lanterns.
10) Winter-flowering clematis (Clematis cirrhosa var. balearica)
An evergreen trailing plant, the winter-flowering clematis is the perfect addition to a fence, trellis, pergola, or veranda. Its vining stems can grow to a full length of about 8 feet (2.4 meters) in optimal conditions. These bear tough, deep green leaves, which last through winter and may develop an increasingly purplish hue. Fern-like, the foliage consists of multiple leaflets, significantly contributing to the overall texture of the shoots.
This winter bloomer can enliven the garden from November to February when its speckled, creamy-white blooms burst open to greet cool temperatures. The fragrant flowers attract a wide variety of pollinators, including bees, who are brave enough to fly through crisp winds whenever the sun is out. These should have your garden literally abuzz with life through winter’s most agreeable days! Place its stands next to other winter-flowering plants to establish a stable food source for beneficial insects.
11) Winter-blooming camellia (Camellia x williamsii)
Cultivars of Camellia x williamsii are arguably some of the cold-hardiest winter bloomers for temperate landscapes. These flowering hybrids between C. japonica and C. saluenensis boast the best features of their parent plants. Their blooms have the loveliest translucent petals, which can dramatically add pops of color to partly shaded and protected parts of the garden. Bright pink, red, or white, the petals successfully attract winter bees and many other cold-season pollinators.
Generally, these cultivars are hardy to USDA zones 7 – 9. They may retain their foliage and produce blooms throughout winter and spring. Some cultivars, such as ‘Anticipation’ and ‘E.G. Waterhouse’ have flowering periods that last for months. Their profusion of exceptional blooms, coupled with their overall hardiness and low maintenance, has earned them multiple awards (e.g. the RHS Award of Garden Merit and the National Camellia Hall of Fame Award).
