Gardening in the winter sounds counter-intuitive; however, plenty of flowering plants bloom in January. If you want to add some colour to your home this Winter, let me introduce you to some stunning January flowers. 
Flowers that bloom in January
In this list, we’ve written about 10 of the most popular January bloomers and some vital information to help you choose and look after them.
But that’s not all. I’ve included two links at the end of the article that include even more winter flowering plant ideas, so make sure you continue reading till the end.
Let’s take a look at our January flowers:
1. Anthurium andraeanum
- Other names: Flamingo flower, tail flower, laceleaf, anthurium, painter’s palette
- Flowering time: All year round in 3-month intervals
- Colour varieties: Red, pink, white
- Use: Ornamental house plant, air purifying plant
- Care level: Easy
Credit: Public Domain Pictures
Anthurium, also known as the Flamingo flower, is a popular ornamental house plant that flowers all year round. This plant is particularly sought after for its colourful, wax-like spathes and bright yellow or red tail-like flower spikes.
Flamingo flowers are popular at Christmas time due to their festive red or white flowers and dark green foliage. Keep in mind that these plants are climbers and need warmth and humidity to thrive.
They also need bright indirect sunlight, but should never be placed in direct sun. Make sure your plant is kept in well-draining soil and given just enough water to stay moist but not wet.
Care Instructions:
- Keep in bright, indirect light; avoid direct sunlight.
- Water to keep soil consistently moist, not waterlogged.
- Thrives in high humidity. Fertilize every 6-8 weeks during growing season.
- Soil PH: Prefers slightly acidic to neutral soil (pH 5.5-6.5)
- Pests: Watch for aphids and scale insects.
- Tip: High humidity is key; consider a pebble tray for moisture
2. Lonicera × purpusii ‘Winter Beauty’
- Other names: Honeysuckle ‘Winter Beauty’
- Flowering time: Winter to early spring
- Colour varieties: Cream
- Use: Ornamental
- Care level: Easy
By Megan Hansen
Honeysuckle is a popular plant due to its incredible scent. These beauties have a tendency to be bushy, but you can train them to climb up a trellis or something similar. This plant is easy to care for so ideal if you’re an absolute beginner.
The cream coloured flowers will be the highlight of the season. They usually appear on the bare branches somewhere in winter and will last into spring. Make sure you plant this specimen in well-draining soil to keep it healthy.
Care Instructions:
- Plant in well-draining soil in full sun to partial shade
- Water regularly to establish, then as needed
- Tolerates pruning well to maintain shape
- Fertilize in early spring
- Soil pH: Adapts to most soil types; prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil
- Pests: Prone to aphids and powdery mildew
- Tip: Support with a trellis or fence for climbing.
You might also like: 7 Vivid Winter Flowering Climbing Plants
3. Narcissus tazetta subsp. Papyraceus
- Other names: Paperwhite daffodil, paperwhite narcissus, Narcissus ‘paperwhite’, Narcissus papyraceus, Narcissus tazetta subsp. papyraceus
- Flowering time: Late winter to early spring
- Colour varieties: White
- Use: Ornamental plant
- Care level: Easy
By Dominicus Johannes Bergsma – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wiki
Paperwhite daffodils grow from bulbs that like to grow in well-draining soil. It’s best to keep the soil constantly moist, but not wet during the growing season and dry in the dormant season. The flowers have an extraordinary scent and are often favoured as cut flowers in the home.
If you leave the flowers on the plant, it’s best to deadhead them once they fade. The leaves of the plant should be left to die back naturally.
Care Instructions:
- Plant bulbs in well-draining soil with exposure to full or partial sun
- Keep soil moist during the growing season
- Allow foliage to die back naturally post-bloom
- No need to water once dormant
- Soil pH: Prefers slightly acidic to neutral soil (pH 6-7)
- Pests: Watch for bulb rot if too wet; susceptible to narcissus bulb fly
- Tip: Well-draining soil is crucial to prevent bulb rot.
4. Lachenalia pendula
- Other names: Bulb-bearing leopard lily, Rooinaeltjie, Lachenalia bifolia
- Flowering time: Late winter to spring
- Colour varieties: Tricoloured flowers (red, purple and green)
- Use: Ornamental plant
- Care level: Easy
By KENPEI – Own work, CC BY 3.0, via Wiki
Lachenalia, otherwise known as the bulb bearing leopard lily, is a low growing plant with stunning red, green and purple flowers. If given enough sunlight, the leaves usually have spots on them, hence the name leopard lily.
When walking past this beauty, you can’t miss it. The flowers are extremely eye-catching and it makes for an excellent container plant. Make sure to plant leopard lilies in soil that retains moisture, but still drains well. The best place to grow them is in an area with full sun.
Care Instructions:
- Prefers well-drained soil and full sun to partial shade
- Water moderately during the growing season; reduce in dormancy
- No pruning required
- Feed lightly in early spring
- Soil pH: Prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil
- Pests: Generally pest-free, but watch for mealybugs
- Tip: Bright, indirect light promotes the best colouration in leaves and flowers.
More on this: 12 Winter Flowering Plants for Pots: Lively Winter Colours
5. Strelitzia reginae ‘Kirstenbosch Gold’
- Alternative names: Bird of paradise ‘Kirstenbosch Gold’, Strelitzia reginae ‘Mandela’s Gold’
- Flowering time: Winter and spring
- Colour varieties: Purple and yellow
- Use: Ornamental
- Care level: Easy
By Axxter99 – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wiki
The stunning, evergreen bird of paradise plant is more commonly associated with warmer climates; however, under the right conditions, it will bloom in Winter and Spring. To encourage this, provide an environment as close to its native environment as possible. Strelitzia reginae requires bright light to bloom. In its natural habitat, it enjoys full sun. However, you’ll need to keep it in a bright covered location during January and other winter months. The Plant is not frost tolerant and needs warm temperatures, ideally between 65°F to 70°F (18°C to 21°C) during the day and slightly cooler at night, but not below 50°F (10°C).
Strelitzia reginae likes moist but well-drained soil. This plant grows quite large, so locate it somewhere where it won’t interfere with other plants.
Once these plants flower, you won’t be able to walk past them without admiring the strangely shaped flowers. The flowers appear to have a beak and are often used in arrangements. Bird of paradise is very easy to care for and requires no pruning.
Care Instructions:
- Plant in a sunny spot with well-drained soil
- Water regularly but allow soil to dry out between waterings
- Fertilize every 2 months during growth periods
- Protect from frost.
- Soil pH: Thrives in neutral soil
- Pests: Can be affected by spider mites and scale
- Tip: Requires bright light for most of the day; protect from strong afternoon sun
6. Tulipa biflora
- Other names: Two-flowered tulip, Tulipa talijevii, Tulipa polychroma
- Flowering time: From late winter
- Colour varieties: White and yellow
- Use: Ornamental plant
- Care level: Easy
credit: Wiki
The two flowered tulip is a grey-green perennial bulb with fragrant white and yellow flowers. This stunning plant needs well-drained soil to stay healthy. Two flowered tulips usually form clumps when growing.
The flowers appear first in winter and are then joined by the foliage in spring. They will naturally die back and disappear in summer and autumn just to reappear again sometime during winter.
Care Instructions:
- Requires well-drained soil and full sun
- Plant bulbs in autumn for winter flowering
- Water during active growth, less after blooming
- No need to water in summer when dormant
- Soil pH: Prefers neutral to slightly alkaline soil
- Pests: Susceptible to tulip fire (fungal disease) and aphids
- Tip: A chilling period is required before planting in warm climates
7. Crocus sieberi ‘Bowles’s White’
- Other names: Sieber’s crocus ‘Bowles’s White’, Sieber’s crocus ‘Albus’, Crocus sieberi ‘Albus’
- Flowering time: Late winter to early spring
- Colour varieties: White and yellow
- Use: Ornamental
- Care level: Easy
By Meneerke bloem – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wiki
Corcus sieberi is a perennial bulb that produces its leaves and flowers at the same time in winter. The foliage will stay around after the flowers die back, but will eventually disappear at the end of summer.
When planting this bulb, keep in mind that it needs full sun and well-drained soil. This plant is extremely easy to care for. After the initial planting, leave it to do its thing. No pruning is required.
Care Instructions:
- Plant in well-drained soil with access to full sun
- Keep soil lightly moist during blooming
- Plant bulbs in clusters for dramatic effect
- Low maintenance; no pruning needed.
- Soil pH: Performs well in neutral to slightly alkaline soils
- Pests: Watch for corm rot and mice or squirrel damage
- Tip: Plant in groups for a striking display; full sun promotes the best blooms.
8. Galanthus ‘Trumps’
- Other names: Snowdrop ‘Trumps’
- Flowering time: From midwinter
- Colour varieties: White and green
- Use: Ornamental
- Care level: Easy
Credit: Piqsels
Snowdrops are bulbous perennials that start to flower in mid-winter. The foliage of this plant is green-grey and appears at about the same time as the flowers. Once summer arrives it will die back completely, just to resprout once it’s winter again.
Make sure you don’t accidentally dig snowdrops up. They won’t be visible during summer and autumn. It’s best to keep the soil in the area moist, but make sure it drains well to prevent the bulbs from rotting. Watering isn’t necessary in summer while the bulbs are dormant.
Care Instructions:
- Prefers moist, well-drained soil and partial shade
- Plant bulbs in late summer or early fall
- Water moderately during growth
- Virtually care-free once established
- Soil pH: Prefers neutral to slightly alkaline soil
- Pests: Generally pest-free; watch for grey mould in damp conditions
- Tip: Plant in partial shade under deciduous trees for a naturalized look.
9. Erica carnea f. alba ‘Winter Snow’
- Other names: Heather ‘Winter Snow’, Erica carnea ‘Winter Snow’
- Flowering time: From late winter into early spring
- Colour varieties: White
- Use: Ornamental
- Care level: Easy
credit: Wiki, via CC BY-SA 3.0
Erica carnea heather is a dense clump-forming plant that produces beautiful white flowers in late winter. This plant prefers to grow in full or partial sun and should be grown in very well-drained soil. Make sure that the soil retains some water since this heather doesn’t like to dry out completely.
Even when Erica carnea isn’t flowering, its bright, evergreen foliage will add interest to your garden all year round.
Care Instructions:
- Thrives in full sun to partial shade in acidic, well-drained soil
- Water regularly to keep soil moist, especially in dry periods
- Requires little to no pruning
- Fertilize once in early spring
- Soil pH: Prefers acidic soil (pH 4.5-5.5)
- Pests: Rarely affected by pests; root rot in poorly drained soil
- Tip: Mulch with peat moss to maintain acidity and moisture.
10. Eranthis hyemalis
- Other names: Winter aconite, winter hellebore, winter wolf’s bane, Aconitum hyemale
- Flowering time: From late winter
- Colour varieties: Yellow
- Use: Ornamental
- Care level: Easy
By Kora27 – Own work, via Wiki, CC BY-SA 4.0
Winter aconite is a perennial plant with yellow, cup-shaped flowers that appear in winter. The foliage of this plant usually appears and dies back at the same time as the flowers. Make sure not to dig up the tubers since they will reappear next winter.
Plant winter aconites in well-drained, moist soil in an area with full sun or partial shade. These stunning little flowers will brighten up your winter garden, even when there’s still snow on the ground.
Care Instructions:
- Plant in well-drained soil with full sun to partial shade
- Keep soil moist but not soggy
- No need to water once dormant
- Mulch in fall for winter protection
- Soil pH: Prefers neutral to slightly alkaline soil
- Pests: Generally pest-free; watch for slugs on young shoots
- Tip: Plant in a woodland setting or under deciduous trees for early spring colour.
Conclusion
Now that you have an idea of which flowers to expect in January, you can start planning your winter garden. Also, check out our list of indoor plants which flower during winter and tasty vegetables to grow in winter.
You can find more suggestions for winter flowering plants by clicking the links below. I suggest researching the plants before buying as not all the plants on the linked lists will flower in January.
Happy gardening!
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Rita is a writer and plant lover from sunny South Africa. She grew up on a fruit farm and that’s where she developed a deep fascination for the miracles of nature and grew her green thumbs.
