15 Houseplants That Flower in Winter

Do you miss flower gardening outside when the snow falls? Many of us in cold climates spend the winter looking out the window, thinking about what colorful blooms to plant in spring. As gloomy as winter can be, you don’t have to stop growing your favorite flowers indoors. 

Some of the most popular houseplants create majestic flowers that brighten up an indoor space. From radiant colors to soothing floral aromas, these plants will give you everything you crave in the cold months. 

Plant them to beautify a living space or grow them together for a festive indoor bouquet. These flowers are easy to grow in containers indoors with minimal maintenance and upkeep. Below are 15 houseplants that flower in winter. 

Amaryllis

Amaryllis are popular holiday gifts for green thumbs and festive-looking houseplants. They produce bright red, white, pink, and candy cane flowers with thick, beautiful green foliage. They are easy to grow, making them great for novice gardeners. 

Most amaryllis we see in nurseries are actually from the Hippeastrum genus from South America. These tropical bulbs produce from two to four flowers on each stalk. After they bloom, you can grow your bulbs through the season or let them go dormant for the next season. 

In the winter, force your bulbs to bloom by moving them into a sunny area and planting them in well-draining soil. Expose the top half of the bulb’s pointed end above the soil. Give them a good watering and place them next to a bright window to trick them out of dormancy. Water sparingly as the roots develop and continue on a normal watering schedule immediately after. 

African Violet

African violets are popular houseplants originally from Tanzania in East Africa. If healthy, they will bloom year-round. These herbaceous perennials form bright blue, deep purple, pink, white, and rainbow flowers framed by fuzzy dark green leaves. Plant them throughout the year from seed or start them in spring for the healthiest blooms. 

Peat moss works magically to germinate African violet seeds. Spread the seeds on the top of the soil and leave them exposed. Give the soil a good mist of water and cover the container with plastic wrap. Put it next to a window and keep the soil moist. 

Once your germinated seeds grow their first leaves, separate them and plant them in their own containers. Use perlite, vermiculite, and peat moss soil that’s well-draining. For the brightest flowers, give them 10 to 14 hours of indirect light near a window. 

Primrose

Primrose are colorful flowers used by the ancient Romans and Greeks for their medicinal benefits. They grow well in cool climates and are often the first flowers you’ll see in spring. They make beautiful and easy-to-care-for houseplants. Even when late winter gray skies and snow linger, these flowers will brighten up your indoor space. 

Plant them in moist, well-draining soil that’s fluffy to the touch. Grow them next to a window with consistent light and cool temperatures and keep their soil moist but not soggy. Fertilize them with a slow-release fertilizer or vermicompost. Be careful not to overwater or overfeed them. 

There are several primrose varieties to choose from. Varieties such as ‘Wanda’ work with compact spaces. For larger blooms ‘Belarina‘ makes double flowering primrose with bright yellow, red, blue, and orange blooms. These perennials will give you indoor flowers in late winter and early spring for years to come if you care for them. 

Begonia

Begonias are beautiful indoor houseplants native to Brazil. There are over 1,000 species of this tender perennial. Each species and variety is unique, making these plants diverse additions to your indoor space in winter. 

Try winter-blooming begonias such as ‘Rieger’ begonias and other rhizomatous varieties. Plant them in light, well-draining organic potting mix and place their containers near a window with plenty of light. Water them after the top ½ inch of soil dries out. 

Begonias are a fun challenge to grow from seed, division, cuttings, or tubers. I love growing several varieties at a time to get a variety of colors and foliage. Feed them with household blend fertilizer every two weeks in the summer only. Once they’re established, they require very little maintenance. 

Anthurium

Anthuriums are bright houseplants that produce colorful spathes and yellow tail-like flowers. They are one of the most popular houseplants during the holidays. Plant them indoors to add a touch of red, white, and dark green to your holiday garden plant collection. 

There are over 1,000 species to choose from. They are native to the tropics of the Caribbean, Central, and South America. Some species grow as epiphytes, similar to orchids, while others grow directly in the soil. 

At home, you can plant these perennial treats in containers with slightly acidic, well-draining soil. Keep them growing near a window with consistent bright light. Feed them with organic high-phosphorus fertilizer and water them only after the soil dries out. The biggest mistake most of us make with our anthuriums is overwatering, which causes root rot. 

Kalanchoe Blossfeldiana

The Kalanchoe genus encompasses over 250 species, but the most popular for indoor houseplants belong to the species Kalanchoe blossfeldiana. These tropical succulents are native to Madagascar. They produce thick Christmassy green foliage and an inflorescence of white, orange, red, and pink blossoms. 

Grow these beautiful flowers in a container with lots of drainage holes and well-draining soil. Perlite and sand work the best. Give them a good watering once every two to three weeks. In the winter, you can get away with watering them once every three weeks. 

These wonderful indoor flowers don’t need too much maintenance. They can thrive off of little to no fertilizer and no pruning. They are toxic to humans and animals, so be aware if you’re growing them near children or pets. 

Bush Lilies

Bush lilies, also commonly known as clivias, are popular indoor houseplants that give you magnetic orange blooms in winter. They are perennials native to South Africa and grow from a one-inch thick rhizome. They are one of the best natural air purifiers you can grow indoors.  

Plant them in well-draining potting soil and water when the top inch of soil dries. They are easy to grow in containers away from direct sunlight. After they bloom, change their soil and give them a light high-potassium fertilizer to feed on in the spring. 

There are several varieties to choose from, although most produce orange and yellow flowers. As long as you don’t expose them to too much sun or overwater them, they should last for several seasons. 

Persian Cyclamen

Persian cyclamens will brighten up your indoor winter space with purple, pink, white, and red flowers. They have heart-shaped leaves and upward blooming pedals with a sweet fragrance. When selecting your plants for your winter indoor garden, look for tons of unopened buds and dark green foliage. 

Plant them in a container with plenty of drainage holes and use well-draining organic potting soil. Blend an organic plant food and mix in perlite for extra drainage. Plant your plants in a north-facing window away from direct sunlight. 

One important trick to keeping your cyclamen flowers lasting through the winter is growing them in a cool location. If temperatures reach above 70°F (21°C), they will go dormant as if entering the Mediterranean dry season. Keep your indoor temperature between 50 and 65°F (10-18°C), and you should be in the clear. 

Christmas Cactus

Christmas cactus are some of the most fun plants to grow indoors in the winter. Not only do they trick you into thinking you’re in the tropics, they are easy to grow and beautiful. These flowering cacti are often confused with Thanksgiving cacti. They are native to Brazil and thrive under thick tropical forest canopies in their native habitat. 

Christmas cacti produce bright pink and red flowers at the tips of long, cactus-like branches. They bloom in winter, adding a touch of holiday-colored foliage and flowers to your indoor plant collection. 

Plant them in well-draining soil full of perlite. Water them frequently but never waterlog them. Although they are from the tropics, their roots will rot if you leave them in soggy soil. They grow well in hanging baskets at eye level or on shelves. 

Bromeliads 

Bromeliads are a diverse group of flowering plants that give tropical vibes as a houseplant. They are native to South America, Central America, and Subtropical North America. Their leaves stick out like swords with a bright purple and red bloom in the center. 

Plant them indoors in containers with holes to allow draining. Use orchid potting mix soil with polenta of extra organic matter or compost. Keep the central vase-like leaf structure full of water at all times. In the wild, they collect rainwater and provide a habitat for small animals. 

These flowers grow well in a bathroom and love the steam from the shower. Kitchens are other spaces where your plants will thrive. Feed them with a water-soluble fertilizer diluted to half strength. Make sure not to put fertilizer in the plant’s central vase. 

Oxalis Triangularis 

Oxalis Triangularis are fantastic houseplants that provide your winter abode with charming purple clover-shaped leaves and white flowers. These easy-to-grow plants are native to South America. At night, their leaves fold up and go to sleep. Come in the morning and watch them magically wake up. 

These striking plants are perennials and return annually if you take care of them well. There are several varieties to choose from. From the ‘Ebony Allure™’’s dark purple foliage to the violet flowers of the ‘Francis’ variety, each variety is stunning. The ‘Charmed® Jade’ variety has bright green leaves and looks amazing grown next to other varieties. 

Poinsettia 

Poinsettias are a quintessential holiday houseplant that just screams Christmas. It’s hard not to love their bright green foliage and red flower-like bracts, or modified leaves. They are native to Central America and Mexico, where people used them for millennia in ceremonies and medicines. 

You can easily grow these healing beauties in your home during the winter. There are over 100 varieties to choose from, each with its own leaf shape, size, and color. Choose traditional red, festive white, golden gold, or pink. There are even multi-colored varieties, such as the glittery ‘Primero Red Glitter’. 

Plant them in containers with well-draining soil that’s slightly alkaline. These plants need full sun. Water them when the top layer of soil dries, but be careful not to waterlog your plants. Too much water causes root rot, the most common killer of these charming holiday plants. 

Moth Orchid

Moth orchids are one of the best orchids you can grow indoors in winter. They produce adorable white, pink, and purple flowers that resemble moths. They bloom in winter and last for months if healthy. 

Of the 28,000 varieties of orchids, moth orchids are one of the easiest to grow. They like warm weather and plenty of indirect light. They bring plenty of warm tropical vibes and color to an indoor garden. 

Moth orchids are epiphytes, meaning they grow on tree bark, feeding on moisture and rain. Mimic their native habitat in a hanging container or a container with holes to let air flow around the roots. Use soil that’s made for orchids, such as orchid bark. Water them once a week and feed them with orchid fertilizer at half-strength.

Bird of Paradise

Birds of paradise are some of the most popular topical plants in gardens across warm areas of the US. They’re also great houseplants in cold regions. Why not turn your home into a tropical getway as the snow flies?

These South African plants are synonymous with warm weather. Los Angeles even adopted them as its official flower. They have large, banana-like green leaves and bright orange and red flowers that look like tropical birds in flight. Some varieties have white and purple flowers. 

The hardest part about growing these plants indoors is getting them enough sunlight. Plant them near a big, open window where they can get at least six hours of direct sun. Water them once every week or two. They don’t mind being planted in a variety of soil types and need a lot of fertilizer. Choose a balanced organic water-soluble fertilizer. 

Flame Violet

Flame violets are colorful herbaceous perennials that are easy to grow indoors during the winter. These houseplants grow well in terrariums. They are native to Central and South America. Their leaves have a stunning, shiny appearance and soft touch. 

Plant these flowers in small containers with well-draining and spongy soil with a standard potting mix. They thrive when your soil’s pH is between 6.5 and 7.5. Feed them with a balanced 20-20-20 fertilizer or one that’s higher in phosphorus.