Here are some winter flowers favourites that will bring colour and life back to your garden, even on days with a chill factor of -2.  

Winter rose (Helleborus)

Plant a couple of hellebores underneath a deciduous tree and they’ll happily flower all winter long. The stunning rose-like flowers come in colours ranging from crisp white and soft green to deep pink and vibrant purple. Hellebores are surprisingly tough and don’t mind a dry summer. So, apart from making sure the soil is rich in compost, you can pretty much set and forget.

Camellia

Want show-stopping winter colour? You can’t beat camellias. There are shade-loving Japonicas, with thick glossy leaves and big blooms, or delicate sun-loving Sasanquas. Flowering profusely from autumn to spring, your hardest decision will be choosing a colour. From white to blood red and every shade of pink in-between, there are literally hundreds of varieties available. Talk to an expert at your local nursery and find the perfect camellia for your garden.

Daphne (Daphne odora)

This pretty ordinary looking plant transforms into the sweet-scented hero of the winter garden. Give daphne a sunny spot out of the cold wind in a bed rich with compost. Expect an incredible scent every time you pass by in return. Plant it along a garden path or pop it near the front door to really wow the crowds.

Grevillea

Lots of Australian plants flower in winter, but the standout has to be the grevillea. Pop a low-growing grevillea in a sunny rockery or block out your nosy neighbours with a screen of tall ones. Choose your favourite colour, ranging from pale lemon and gold to fire-truck, red and watch the native birdlife party in your garden all winter long.    

Pansy (Viola tricolor)

The pansy is a star performer in winter and perfect for growing in pots – head to your local nursery for a couple of punnets of seedlings and a bag of potting mix. Go crazy; by mid-winter your balcony, courtyard or deck will be a riot of glorious technicolour.