Anyone who says winter is devoid of color in the backyard needs to come and see my patio plants in January. For me, when so much of the garden is in hibernation, it’s more important than ever to create a little bit of color and life outside.

Now is the time to think ahead and opt for some of the best container plants that will bloom by Christmas. In some climates with particularly long and harsh winters, you may have to bring pots indoors, or rely on houseplants for the best winter flowers, but where there is a will, gardening friends, there is always a way.

Here, I have curated a list of plants you can grow in containers that will delight with color from December onwards. I’ve structured it by location, so you can see clearly which of the best winter flowers for pots will work best for where you live. While most plants enter dormancy in this season, some species continue their active growth, getting ready to celebrate and amaze you with their winter blooms.

The focus for the coldest, frostiest states is indoor flowering plants. However, there are a couple of plants that, with the right care, could give you some delicate blooms by December in outdoor pots.

Cyclamen: Florist’s cyclamen or tender, indoor cyclamen are readily available at this time of year and are grown indoors for long-lasting color and their beautiful heart-shaped leaves. Choose one with lots of buds on, rather than flowers, to give you the longest flowering time possible.

Importantly, keep plants cool but in a bright spot; they doesn’t want to be too warm, and be careful not to over-water.

Amaryllis: A stalwart among the Christmas plants, get ordering your bulbs now if you haven’t already. Amaryllis will flower around eight weeks after planting, and will give you classic indoor December blooms with little to no effort.

Snowdrops (Galanthus) are tiny garden treasures known for their exquisite white flowers, and are perfect for growing in containers, says Maksim Kazakou, resident botany expert at the Plantum app. ‘Not all snowdrops bloom in December, but varieties like Galanthus elwesii ‘Potter’s Prelude,’ Galanthus elwesii ‘Xmas,’ or Galanthus plicatus ‘Three Ships’ will bloom right on Christmas,’ he says.

Pot them up and keep them frost-free if outdoors, either by wrapping your pots in horticultural fleece, from Amazon or by bringing them indoors. You could keep them indoors for a while before Christmas, to speed up growth and force them on a little.

Grape hyacinths (Muscari) are another herbaceous bulb; these ones have dense clusters of bright blue flowers. ‘Most grape hyacinths bloom in spring, but some, like Muscari armeniacum ‘Christmas Pearl,’ can brighten up your garden with blooms as early as December,’ says Maksim.

US hardiness zones 7-8: mid-Atlantic, Pacific Northwest and some southern states

In the milder zones blooms are much more likely to thrive in pots outdoors, however, frosts can of course still occur. Make sure you have some frost protection on hand, such as burlap, available from Amazon to wrap around containers, and pot feet to prevent pots from cracking.

Helleborus niger (Christmas rose): If you buy these plants potted in bud now, they’ll often bloom in time for Christmas. Helleborus niger is an evergreen perennial plant with large, leathery leaves, and most hellebores will grow in containers really well.

‘During its long and abundant flowering, it produces large white flowers. Other species of hellebores (for example, Helleborus orientalis) bloom at the end of winter and offer a broad range of flower colors,’ says Maksim Kazakou.

Witch hazel: An incredible plant that blooms with bright, spider-like yellow or red-orange flowers densely clustered on bare branches. Winter-blooming species include Hamamelis vernalis and Hamamelis mollis.

‘Hamamelis vernalis ‘Christmas Cheer’ will start blooming right on Christmas,’ says Maksim. ‘Witch hazels are relatively large shrubs, but they can be grown in containers for some time. These plants are also coveted for their strong fragrance.’

Himalayan sweet box (Sarcococca hookeriana): A low-growing, low-maintenance evergreen shrub that reaches up to 11 in (30 cm) tall.

‘This amazing plant flowers all winter long. Later, its white flowers turn into black berries. This plant is perfect for growing in a container,’ continues Maksim. ‘Sarcococca hookeriana var. digyna ‘Winter Gem’ has reddish calyxes that beautifully contrast with the white stamens. Despite its delicate appearance, this hardy plant can withstand temperatures as low as 5°F’.