Winter gardening is a great way to add a little spring cheer to the long cold months. Starting a winter garden is usually carried out before the first frost hits. There are a number of flowers that will bloom during the cold and harsh months. When choosing which flower seeds you will purchase, it is important to know which flowers will bloom in rough weather conditions such as extreme cold.

The following are the different kinds of flower seeds that will bloom in the winter:

Flower Bulbs: If you are partial to flower bulbs, there are a number of different bulbs that will bloom in the winter. Various bulbs include: Snowdrops, Snow Crocus, Daffodils, Cyclamen, and Hyacinth. There are also spring blooming bulbs such as Tulips can be made to bloom during the dark and cold months.

Camellia sasanqua: The Camellia sasanqua contains an abundance of attractive apple blossom type flowers. The types of Camellia sasanqua that contain the words 'winter' or 'snow' in their name can bloom and endure at temperatures of about -5 F.

Winter Heaths: These flowers can thrive in very cold temperatures. These evergreens will produce small bell shaped flowers that can be reddish purple, magenta, and pink in color. Types such as the Erica carnea and E. darleyensis can bloom in temperatures from -20F to -25F. Heath has a very distinctive appearance and makes for a great ground cover plant.

Honeysuckle: There are different varieties of the Honeysuckle that can bloom in cold temperatures. Types of honeysuckles that bloom in very chilly temperatures include: Lonicera fragrantissima and Lonicera x purpusii (Winter Beauty.)

Wintersweet: The Wintersweet is well known for its lovely scent. When properly cared for, it can eventually reach 12 feet in height. Between December and March, the C. praecox (C. Fragrans) variety produces cup-shaped yellow flowers that have purple centers. The 'Grandiflorus' type blooms in late winter and contains red centers.

Witch Hazel: The Witch Hazel is another flower that can bloom during the cold dreary months. It produces lightly scented yellow or red flowers. Depending on the type, Witch Hazel is a shrub that blooms from late fall to late winter, Vernal Witch Hazel, Orange Witch Hazel, and Common Witch Hazel are three popular types of flowers that are often maintained during the frigid months.

Hellebore: Often referred to as the Lenten Rose, the evergreen leaves of the Hellebore are deep green on the top and red underneath. The colors of the flowers can be white, purple, green, red, and almost black. From November to March, the Hellebore's clump of bell-shaped flowers will bloom.

Oleaster: Regularly referred to as Russian olive, when the Oleaster blooms, it first produces small white flowers, and then it produces berries that are fit for human consumption. This evergreen can reach up to 10 or 12 feet in height. It is more suitable for environmental conditions near the shore.

Maintaining blooming flowers during the winter requires time and great care. By choosing robust flower seeds that can handle the cold temperatures, you can add color and vibrancy to the long and dreary cold months.