Winter Wonderlands

True, we don’t have much of a winter here. No snow to bury plants. But things can still get drab in Orange County gardens at this time of year, especially since we’re used to so much color during other seasons.

Take a closer look, though, and you’ll find many plants in full bloom now, from bicolored pansies to pink, rose and red cyclamen. And added bonus: Some vibrant-colored flowers also smell like vanilla or freshly baked cookies.

If things look dull and colorless in your garden, says Brita Lemmon, owner of Brita’s Old Town Gardens in Seal Beach, take a trip to the nursery. “Nurseries have winter bloomers in now,” she says. “There is also a variety of bedding plants that make a colorful addition to the garden.”

Lemmon says many of these flowering plants are easy-to-care-for shrubs--”a definite plus at this time of year.”

Lemmon has words of caution when it comes to winter flowering shrubbery and perennials.

“In general, it’s best to avoid pruning winter bloomers after mid- to late-summer, or you may cut off blooms,” she says. “They should usually be pruned after flowering in late winter or early spring.”

Here Lemmon and Malee Hsu, owner of Upland Nursery in Orange, offer a selection of winter bloomers that grow well here and will light up the garden in the dim days ahead:

* Azaleas: Azaleas create a delicate and stunning flower. Some especially attractive azaleas include ‘Red Wing,’ which produces bright red flowers in December. Other popular types are the long-blooming, purple-flowered ‘Happy Days,’ and those that bloom on and off all year such as white-flowered ‘Alaska’ and the red ‘Mission Bells.’

Azaleas are native to the East Coast and have picky growing conditions. Placement is critical. Most like shade, so plant on the north or east side of the house. Drainage must be excellent and the soil acidic. Amend with azalea mix.

Azaleas do well in raised beds and containers.

* Boronia megastigma (Brown Boronia): This drought-tolerant shrub has brown and yellow flowers that perfume the garden in the winter months with a powerful scent that has been described as a cross between freesia and orange blossoms. It is a slow-growing shrub, eventually reaching 3 feet tall. For best growth, it requires good drainage. Easiest when grown in a container in a light potting mix.

* Camellia sinensis: This camellia’s leaves are used to make the well-known green tea. Although this plant tends to bloom on and off during the year, its heaviest bloom is during the wintertime. The flowers are white and fragrant. It is a dense, round shrub that grows to 15 feet. Requires shade and heavy mulch with an acidic amendment.

* Cyclamen: The pretty flowers of this plant resemble shooting stars and come in a variety of colors. Florists’ cyclamen is the most common, and it’s easy to find this time of year. In general, cyclamen is best grown in pots, as it is prone to over-watering and will rot easily. Provide rich, well-draining soil.

* Cymbidium: These orchids open around February, displaying flowers in a variety colors, including yellow, lime-green, orange, red, pink and white, with many having dotted throats in corresponding colors. The flowers look almost waxy and last for up to 10 weeks.

Unlike many other orchids, they can be grown outdoors, as long as they are protected from frost. You can, however, bring them indoors when they are in flower, and they make excellent cut flowers.

During flowering, give plants shade and the flowers will last longer.

* Epidendrum: Another outdoor orchid, these grow tall, reaching 14 to 36 inches high with slender, reed-like canes and foliage. The blooms are small but plentiful and come in a variety of colors, such as orange, tangerine, red, fuchsia, yellow, gold, white, lime and lavender. They take full sun to partial shade and require good drainage.

* Euryops: The cheery flowers of this shrubby evergreen perennial light up the winter months. Plant blooms with a multitude of bright yellow daisies. Leaves are gray-green and deeply divided. Give good drainage and protect from frost.

* Iceland poppy: These are striking plants with cup-shaped flowers that seem to float on top of slender hairy stems. Perennials are grown as annuals here, and they come in a variety of eye-catching colors, including yellow, orange, salmon, rose, pink, cream and white.

They require good drainage and shouldn’t be over-watered. To encourage re-blooming, fertilize monthly and prune off old flowers.

Iceland poppies make excellent cut flowers. Sear the cut end of the stem before placing flowers in water.

* Jasminum angulare (South African jasmine): If you want an evergreen vine that blooms in the winter and spring months, this is a good choice. It grows about 3 feet wide and 10 feet tall and can take full sun to partial shade. The white flowers come in clusters of threes and are unscented.

* Kalanchoe: Although this is grown as a houseplant in most areas of the country, our climate is mild enough for outdoor growing. A succulent with thick, shiny leaves, kalanchoe comes in a variety of vibrant colors, including yellow, orange, salmon and red. The flowers may be small but are held in thick clusters above the leaves. They’re best grown in well-draining pots. Don’t over-water.

* Leucojum: These bulbs are easy to grow and are permanent, multiplying for years to come. They have strap-shaped leaves and nodding, bell-shaped white flowers that are very long-lasting. Not picky about soil conditions, they will take just about any moisture level.

* Montanoa grandiflora (daisy tree): The evergreen shrub or small tree provides winter flowers and a tropical look to the garden. It can reach 12 feet, with large, deeply cut leaves and 3-inch bright white flowers with a yellow center that have been described as smelling like freshly baked cookies. It’s best to put them in an informal garden.

* Nemesia fruticans: This shrubby evergreen perennial grows to 1 foot tall and 2 to 2 1/2 feet across. The flowers come in lavender and pink and are vanilla-scented. Blue bird is a common variety. Feed every two weeks with an all-purpose fertilizer and grow in full sun.

* Pansies: A familiar site in the winter garden, pansies come in many colors, from the standard white and blue, to rose, yellow, apricot, purple, mahogany red and many bicolors, including striped and blotched varieties. Prolong blooming by picking flowers regularly. Provide with rich, moist soil and some shade if your garden is inland.

* Primrose: English primrose and polyanthus are commonly found this time of year. Although they are perennials, they are often treated as annuals, as they find our long hot summers and low humidity to be a problem. The flowers bloom on erect stems above the foliage and come in a variety of colors, including pink, white, dark lavender and salmon.

* Prostanthera ovalifolia (Purple mint bush): If not pruned, this evergreen shrub will climb 5 to 6 feet tall. It has highly fragrant lavender flowers up and down the stem in the winter months, which will hold on until April. It requires good drainage.

* Veltheimia bracteata: This plant is stunning, even when not in bloom, with its shiny, waxy leaves that grow 12 to 14 inches long. The flowers come in heavy, drooping clusters on 1-foot stems and are dark peach to maroon in color. It prefers shade and will tolerate most soils and regular garden watering. Fertilize every two weeks through the growing season with a well-balanced fertilizer. Protect from wind.

* Viola tricolor (Johnny Jump-Up): Few cool-season gardens would be complete without this yellow and purple miniature pansy. Besides being eye-catching and versatile in the garden, this flower is edible. Although technically a perennial, Johnny Jump-Ups are grown as annuals, and reseed themselves. They require full sun along the coast and some shade inland. Provide rich, moist soil.

* Brita’s Old Town Gardens, Seal Beach (562) 430-5019.

* Upland Nursery, Orange (714) 538-4500.