24 cold-loving winter flowers to brighten the darkest days

Daffodils are usually seen as one of the first signs of spring, but, depending on where you live, they will begin popping up as early as February. Don't worry about snow or freezing temperatures harming the foliage; they're extremely cold-hardy.

You might recognise these as a houseplant, but they're actually perennials that do well as ground covers. They like to be under deciduous trees so they can soak up winter sun but be protected from summer's heat.

This shrub has pretty, yellow flowers on arching branches in late winter. It doesn’t have a fragrance like other types of jasmine, but it does offer a bright splash of winter colour.

The brightly coloured, charming little "faces" of violas are a welcome sight on chilly mornings. In mild climates, they’ll last all winter long. Many types technically are annuals but they self-seed freely, so they'll often pop up again next year on their own.

This gorgeous shrub thrives in warmer climates. The daphne shrub has pretty tubular pink or white flowers, which appear in late winter and have an amazing, sweet, fruity scent.

These stunning flowers, also known as Lenten roses, bloom in early winter in mild climates and late winter in cold regions. Even though they appear delicate, they're undemanding and super cold-hardy.

Algerian Iris, also known as Winter Iris, produces beautiful purple flowers in the late winter. These make great border plants near walkways where you can enjoy long-lasting flowers.

These bluish-purple-tipped flowers with white in the centre can often be seen poking out of the snow. A must for brightening your garden over the winter months.

Part of the buttercup family, Winter Aconite is one of the first bulbs to bloom in early spring. They have small yellow flowers that look like buttercups and can also manage in the snow or frost. Plus, the bees love them.

Winter Hazel produces clusters of yellow flowers with a fragrant scent. Blooms appear in late winter and early spring, typically from February to March.

This evergreen shrub, which can form up into a small tree, has exquisite blooms in late winter to early spring. There are many different varieties that bloom throughout the year, so be sure you're buying one that is a winter-blooming type.

The gorgeous, frilly heads of these showy plants last most of the winter in mild climates and well into late autumn in cold areas of the country. They come in many different colours and forms.

This shrub bursts with bright red berries that add cheery colour to the winter landscape. Some types are deciduous, while others are evergreen, retaining their leaves.

No matter what kind, the gorgeous berries really pop against a field of snow.

This lesser-known evergreen shrub produces gorgeous white or pink blooms in late winter and early spring that last for a few weeks. It's a must-have for early spring colour.

Like their relatives, violas, pansies offer brilliant colour in early spring. They'll survive a light frost and bloom for most of the winter in mild climates.

Tiny drooping white flowers appear in late winter to early spring, sometimes while there's still snow (yes, that’s how they got their name!). Plant a bunch of them for the best effect.

A small evergreen plant with tiny, pink blossoms, heath blooms for weeks and weeks, anytime from January to March. It might even bloom beneath the snow. Make sure you get the winter-blooming variety, as other types flower in summer.

The little fuzzy flowers (called catkins!) on these shrubs aren't bright and showy like a lot of winter bloomers. They make great cut stems to brighten up your kitchen table.