Winter Blooming Shrubs

Sweetbox

• Sweetbox (Sarcococca hookeriana var. humilis) is an evergreen shrub which blooms with clusters of fragrant white flowers from January to early spring. The shrub is small in size, growing to a mature height of 1 to 2 feet, and has a slow to moderate growth rate. Sweetbox has glossy, dark green foliage and produces ¼-inch round black fruit. The shrub has a loose growth habit and grows best in areas of partial shade to shade. Plant in organically amended, well-drained, acidic soil. Sweetbox is commonly in group planting and as a filler plant, and spreads with underground stems.

Witch Hazel

• Witch hazel (Hamamelis) is a winter-flowering shrub which blooms with fragrant, unique looking flowers. The spidery flowers appear on the deciduous shrubs in early winter when the rest of the shrub has lost most of its leaves. Witch hazel shrubs can grow up to over 20 feet in height, but can be kept to a smaller size with regular pruning and shaping. Witch hazel has large leaves and is commonly used as a background planting in borders. The shrub grows well in areas of full sun or partial shade, in moist soil well amended with organic matter.

Flowering Quince

• Flowering quince (Chaenomeles speciosa) is a large shrub and is also referred to as Japonica. The deciduous, round topped shrub can grow up to 6 feet tall and starts to bloom with single, pink-orange flowers in late winter. New varieties of the shrub also have double flowers in shade of red, white and pink. The shrub produces hard, pear-like fruit in the spring. The fruit has a tart flavor and is often used for making jellies. Flowering quince is a hardy shrub which grows easily with minimal care in sunny areas.