Prized for its attractive and sweetly scented winter blooms, Chimonanthus praecox 'Grandiflorus' (Wintersweet) is a vigorous, medium-sized, deciduous shrub that adds beauty and fragrance to the garden when most plants lie dormant. In mid-late winter, a profusion of small, highly fragrant, bowl-shaped, waxy butter-yellow flowers with purple centers, appear on the naked branches. They may last until early spring, depending on the winter temperatures. Bushy, this upright, vase-shaped flowering shrub has a slightly arching habit and sports shiny lanceolate, dark green leaves which turn yellow in fall.

Prized for its attractive and sweetly scented winter blooms, Chimonanthus praecox 'Luteus' (Wintersweet) is a vigorous, medium-sized, deciduous shrub that adds beauty and fragrance to the garden when most plants lie dormant. In late winter, a profusion of small, highly fragrant, bowl-shaped, waxy golden-yellow flowers, appear on the naked branches. They may last until early spring, depending on the winter temperatures. Bushy, this upright, vase-shaped flowering shrub has a slightly arching habit and sports glossy lanceolate, dark green leaves which turn in fall. One of the finest plants that the winter garden can offer!

Remarkably ornamental and adaptable, Cornus mas (Cornelian Cherry) is a deciduous shrub or small tree providing multiseason interest. In late winter to early spring, a profusion of small rounded clusters of tiny, bright yellow flowers open on the naked branches and will persist for several weeks. The showy blooms are followed by attractive glossy red, cherry-like fruits in midsummer. Edible, they may be used for syrups and preserves. Bushy, this small to medium-sized flowering tree sports oval dark green leaves which turn purple in the fall, before shedding to the ground and revealing the rough, rich brown, exfoliating bark.

Prized for its delicate fragrant blooms, Corylopsis pauciflora (Buttercup Winterhazel) is a slow-growing medium-sized deciduous shrub of great interest year around. In late winter to early spring, a profusion of scented, pale primrose yellow, bell-shaped flowers in short drooping racemes appear on the naked branches. They persist for several weeks and offer a lovely floral display. After flowering, small, ovate, bright green leaves, bronze when young, emerge for the summer and turn yellow in fall. Featuring a spreading habit, this multi-stemmed, flowering shrub is so dense that it is almost impossible to see through, even in winter.

Noted for its beautifully contorted and twisted branches, Corylus avellana 'Contorta' (Harry Lauder's Walking Stick) is a deciduous shrub of great beauty. In late winter and early spring, long, pendant, golden-yellow catkins dangle like Christmas decorations from the lively, brown-barked shoots that curl and spiral in all directions. In summer, broadly ovate, crisp-textured, mid-green leaves appear from every angle of the stems. This multi-stemmed, suckering shrub is useful for winter flower arrangements and makes a great conversation piece!

Few sights surpass a mixed planting of Cyclamen coum (Persian Violet) on an early spring morning! Award-winning Cyclamen coum is an early spring bloomer with lovely heart-shaped, glossy leaves and small but showy flowers in shades of white to rosy-purple with every hue in between. Adding several weeks of cheerful color and beauty to the garden in late winter - early spring, the blossoms are so abundant that they almost obscure the leaves! Very decorative, the leaves may be plain dark green but are also adorned with pretty silver patterns.

Providing winter interest and fragrance, Edgeworthia chrysantha (Paperbush) is a bushy, suckering, deciduous shrub, prized for its luminous, rounded inflorescences, 2 in. across (5 cm), packed with fragrant, silky white and yellow flowers (up to 40 per flower head). Blooming on naked stems over long periods, at least 4-6 weeks in late winter and early spring, they open from silvery flower buds that begin to form in late summer and are ornamentally attractive in fall and winter. In the summer, the plant is covered in beautiful, narrowly oval, dark blue-green leaves, 6 in. long (15 cm), with silvery undertones. In fall, the leaves drop to reveal a wonderfully structured plant that develops sweet-smelling winter flowers. Superb in shape and form, Paperbush is a wonderful plant to combine with shade-tolerant evergreens and wildflowers. It is widely grown in Japan to make paper, hence the common name.

Eranthis hyemalis (Winter Aconite) is a charming tuberous perennial that bursts from the ground in late winter (before crocuses) with cup-shaped, upward-facing, bright yellow flowers (1 in. wide or 3 cm), surrounded by divided leafy bracts. The foliage of rich green leaves, divided into several lobes, emerges after the flowers. Winter Aconites go dormant by late spring.

Forsythia x intermedia (Border Forsythia) is a deciduous shrub forming a graceful fountain with its upright-arching to spreading branches bending to the ground. They are clad with ovate, sharply serrated, medium to dark green leaves, up to 5 in. long (12 cm), which die off green or with a hint of burgundy in the fall. In early to mid-spring, a profusion of brilliant yellow, four-petaled flowers open on the naked branches. The flower effect is spectacular, brightening the landscape at a time when not much else is in bloom. Border Forsythia is extremely adaptable, tolerating most soils and climates. Great in mass plantings, shrub borders, or as a flowering hedge.

Galanthus nivalis (Snowdrop) is one of the earliest and loveliest spring flowering bulbs, adding several weeks of color and beauty to the garden from late winter - early spring. Slightly fragrant, this small bulbous perennial features dainty, nodding white flowers with a green spot at the apex of each petal atop 2 narrow, grayish-green leaves. The foliage emerges before the flowers, develops during and after bloom, and neatly fades away in spring.

Iris unguicularis (Algerian Iris) is a fabulous iris because of its bloom time. Flowering from late fall to early spring, when so few other plants are bursting from the ground, this Winter Iris features sweetly scented flowers, lavender to deep violet, 2-3 in. wide (5-8 cm). The standards display brownish spotted hafts while the falls are beautifully marked with white and deep yellow at their base. They rise atop a dense clump of grassy foliage of dark green, narrow, tough leaves. Native to the dry Mediterranean climate, this vigorous evergreen rhizomatous perennial also makes excellent cut flowers.

Prized for its winter floral display, award-winner Jasminum nudiflorum (Winter Jasmine) is a medium-sized deciduous shrub with long, arching branches. Its slender willowy green stems stand out in late winter or early spring when clothed with masses of bright yellow flowers, 1 in. across (2.5 cm). Non-fragrant, they appear before the handsome, shiny green, trifoliate leaves unfurl. Winter Jasmine is ideal as a bank cover since it spreads where the stems touch the ground. It is also very pretty when cascading from retaining walls.

Beloved for its extraordinarily fragrant winter blooms, Lonicera fragrantissima (Sweetest Honeysuckle) is a bushy deciduous shrub. From late winter to early spring, a profusion of highly fragrant, short-tubed, creamy-white flowers, lines up along each stem, before the leaves emerge. The budded branches may be cut for fragrant, indoor arrangements. The flowers give way to small, red berries which mature in late spring to early summer. Bushy, this multi-stemmed flowering shrub has a spreading habit and sports smooth, oval, dark green leaves, which generally remain most of the winter unless the weather gets unusually cold. The rough-textured, pale tan or gray bark on old stems becomes prominent in winter for additional appeal.

Elegant in all seasons, Prunus subhirtella 'Autumnalis' (Rosebud Cherry) is a small, spreading deciduous tree with many ornamental qualities. Blooming in flushes over an incredibly long season extending from late fall to early spring, this Cherry Tree produces masses of delicate and charming clusters of semi-double, pale pink to white flowers, 1/2 in. wide (1.5 cm). They are followed by a profusion of pea-sized black fruits which ripen in late summer and attract hungry birds. Bronze tinted as they emerge in spring, the lanceolate, sharply toothed, green leaves form a light canopy that casts light shade below. In fall, they turn orange and yellow before shedding to the ground.

Prized for its unique winter blooms, Stachyurus praecox is a spreading large deciduous shrub of great winter beauty. While dormant and leafless, pendant racemes of 10-20 flower buds, resembling strings of pearls, hang in a row from each gracefully arching branch. In late winter to early spring, they will elongate to 4 in. long (10 cm), and the flower buds will open to reveal small, bell-shaped, pale yellow flowers. The foliage of slender-pointed, medium green leaves clothes the plant (sometimes sparsely) throughout the growing season and turns pleasant rosy-red and yellow in fall. Featuring an open, upright, spreading habit, this unusual flowering shrub sports slender, polished-looking, chestnut-brown branches, which contrast nicely with the pale flowers and look dramatic in the winter garden.

Deliciously scented, Viola odorata (Sweet Violet) is an indispensable perennial for the shade garden. Blooming in late winter and early spring, it provides attractive foliage, fragrance, and color at a season when few other plants are at their peak. Short spurred, the delicate flowers are predominantly dark blue or purple but lilac, pale rose or white variations are also frequent. The sweet-scented flowers arise from the attractive evergreen foliage of heart shaped, slightly downy, dark green leaves. A brilliant way of coloring shady areas!

Queens of the winter flowers, Camellias are attractive evergreen shrubs that are highly prized for the beauty of their exquisite blooms, their splendid evergreen foliage and their compact shapely habit. Blooming prodigiously for weeks from fall to spring (depending on climate and variety), when the rest of the garden offers little, Camellias are ranked as one of the very best flowering shrubs. With just a couple of well-chosen shrubs, it is possible to have blooms in your landscape from October through May.

Blooming well before the fat Dutch Crocus (Crocus vernus), Crocus chrysanthus (Snow Crocus) pokes through the bare earth or snow to cheer gardeners and capture their heart. This crocus produces smaller flowers than those of the familiar 'Dutch crocuses' but in greater numbers. This species is also noteworthy for its unusual color blends, not found in the larger hybrids. Many cultivars have bicolored petals and a striking yellow center. They make the most dramatic appearance when planted in clumps of one color and bloom so profusely and brilliantly that even small clusters can be seen from a distance.

Among the earliest to flower, this species has elegant blossoms of pale lavender to red-purple with a silvery reverse. The profuse flowering and spontaneous self-propagation make this crocus a very good choice for naturalizing. Blooming from late winter to early spring, the calyx-shaped flowers open when the sun shines or when there is a lot of light; they close up in rainy weather and at night.

Among the first shrubs to bloom in late winter to early spring, Flowering Quinces (Chaenomeles) are deciduous shrubs that are welcomed additions to the winter garden. They boast abundant clusters of charming, apple-blossom shaped flowers in cheerful shades of delicate pink, rich vermilion, coral red and pure white. They create a brilliant floral display at a time when there is little to be excited about in the garden. Borne on thorny, tangled branches, the flowers bloom for many weeks and usually appear before the glossy, ovate, green leaves. They give way to small, fragrant, apple-like, greenish yellow fruits. Edible, they may be used for preserves and jellies.

Hardy, low maintenance, and ignored by most pests, Hamamelis (Witch Hazel) are deciduous shrubs or small trees of great beauty, particularly when their showy, fragrant flowers are on full display. Lasting for weeks, the unusual blossoms feature thin, ribbonlike petals in warm shades of gold, yellow, orange and carmine red. While their winter blooms are of primary interest, Witch Hazels can also be showy in fall when their handsome oval green leaves, sometimes downy on the underside, take on golden-yellow shades before shedding to the ground.

Evergreen, Heaths (Erica) and Heathers (Calluna vulgaris) are terrific plants that deserve a spot in the garden. Their fabulous ability to change color year-round, injecting vivid life into our landscape at a time when they need it most, is invaluable. Low maintenance, deer or salt resistant, winter hardy, drought tolerant (once established) and fairly easy to grow, they do not require much: decent drainage and some sunshine.

There are 20 Hellebore species. Most are native to the mountainous regions of Europe, especially the Balkan region of the former Yugoslavia, south along the eastern Adriatic to Greece and Turkey. Many of the species have been interbred, producing countless hybrid Hellebores in a rich array of colors and forms.

Dwarf Iris (Iris reticulata) is a 4 in. tall beauty (10 cm) with grass-like leaves and a violet-blue or purple flower with yellow markings that bursts into bloom in early spring to create an effect reminiscent of butterflies hovering low to the ground. This sight brightens the aspect of late winter days in February and March. Perfect in pots and rock gardens, Iris reticulata will naturalize readily.