December, characterized by short days and frost, presents a challenging environment, yet it is not a barren month for flowering. Finding blooms depends heavily on the specific climate zone, requiring reliance on cold-tolerant perennials, cool-weather annuals, or managed indoor displays. Understanding these distinctions ensures color and life persist, utilizing strategies from hardy shrubs that brave the elements to delicate forced bulbs.
Hardy Outdoor Bloomers
Gardens in colder regions (USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 7), where snow and deep freezes are common, can still feature flowers by selecting resilient species. The Christmas Rose, Helleborus niger, is a celebrated perennial known for pushing out white, cup-shaped blooms from late November into early spring, often persisting beneath a layer of snow. These flowers appear on short, thick stems against the dark green, leathery foliage.
Another tough December option is Winter Heath, Erica carnea, an evergreen dwarf shrub that provides a dense mat of color. Cultivars such as ‘King George’ can begin to bloom in December, displaying deep pink, urn-shaped flowers that contrast with the needle-like foliage.
While the common Witch Hazel blooms in late autumn, Vernal Witch Hazel (Hamamelis vernalis) can sometimes begin its season in December. This resilient shrub features fragrant, yellow to coppery-orange, ribbon-like flowers that unfurl from bare branches, providing a spicy scent.
Flowers for Milder Winter Climates
In warmer winter regions (Hardiness Zones 8 through 10), where temperatures remain cool but rarely sustain a deep freeze, the variety of outdoor December bloomers increases. Camellia sasanqua is a standout evergreen shrub that flourishes in these conditions, producing prolific flowers from late fall through early winter. Cultivars like ‘Yuletide’ are notable for their single, true-red flowers with prominent yellow stamens, peaking around the holiday season.
Cool-season annuals like Pansies and Violas (Viola x wittrockiana and Viola cornuta) thrive on cool temperatures. They flower continuously through a mild winter, temporarily pausing only during the coldest snaps. Calendula officinalis, commonly known as Pot Marigold, is another vibrant choice, blooming from late fall until spring in frost-free areas. The daisy-like flowers, ranging from bright yellow to orange, prefer full sun and well-drained soil, making them excellent for container gardens in the winter months.
Popular Indoor Flowering Plants
When outdoor options are severely limited by cold, many gardeners turn to tropical or forced plants to provide December color indoors.
Poinsettia
The Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is the most ubiquitous holiday plant, prized for its colorful modified leaves, or bracts. These bracts develop color when exposed to long periods of uninterrupted darkness. Achieving the deep red or white coloration requires mimicking the natural short-day photoperiod, typically starting in late September.
Forced Bulbs
Amaryllis (Hippeastrum) and Paperwhites (Narcissus papyraceus) are popular bulbs that are forced to bloom indoors ahead of their natural spring schedule. Amaryllis bulbs, planted in soil with the top third exposed, take six to ten weeks to produce their large, trumpet-shaped flowers. Paperwhites are simpler, requiring no chilling period and often blooming in just three to four weeks when grown in pebbles and water.
Christmas Cactus
The Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii), an epiphytic plant from the Brazilian rainforest, is triggered to bloom by a combination of shorter day length and cooler night temperatures. Ideal temperatures are between 50 and 55°F for several weeks.
Essential Care Tips for Winter Blooms
Maintaining healthy December blooms, whether indoors or out, requires specific adjustments to standard plant care routines.
Watering
Watering needs decrease significantly in winter because of reduced growth and less evaporation, making overwatering a common issue. For all plants, ensure the top inch of soil is dry before watering thoroughly, preventing roots from sitting in cold, soggy conditions.
Light and Placement
Light becomes a limiting factor, especially for indoor plants. Position them near the brightest available window, often south-facing, to maximize reduced winter sun exposure. Indoor plants, especially tropical varieties like Poinsettias, must be kept away from cold drafts and the drying heat of radiators, which can cause leaf drop. Outdoor perennials benefit from a protective layer of mulch around the base to insulate the roots and conserve soil moisture.