I love the way a few well-chosen December plants can turn a cold porch or a quiet entryway into a warm welcome.
When the days get short and the air bites back, these plants step up and steal the show with color, texture, and a little winter magic.
I’ve filled pots and planters with many combinations over the years, but a handful of dependable favorites always rise to the top.
They hold their own through frosty mornings and long nights, keeping the front of the house looking cheerful when everything else starts winding down for the season.
1. Winter Pansies
Have you noticed how cheerful pansies look even when frost covers everything else?
Their little faces come in deep purples, bright yellows, and rich reds that pop against the winter backdrop.
Plant them in well-draining soil and place your pots where they’ll get morning sun.
Water sparingly since they don’t need much during cold months and they’ll keep blooming through light freezes and snow flurries without complaint.
2. Ornamental Kale
Ornamental kale looks almost too pretty to be real with its ruffled leaves in shades of pink, purple, white, and green.
Cold weather actually makes the colors more vibrant instead of fading them.
Choose full or partial sun spots for the best color display.
These plants handle freezing temperatures like champions and need very little care, just give them occasional water when the soil feels dry to the touch.
3. Winterberry Holly
Picture bright red berries standing out against bare branches covered in snow.
Winterberry holly brings that exact magic to your entryway when everything else looks dormant and gray.
Make sure to buy female plants if you want those stunning berries everyone loves, they prefer moist soil and can handle shade pretty well.
The berries last through December and often into January, feeding birds while looking gorgeous.
4. Evergreen Conifers
Nothing says winter elegance quite like a small evergreen standing guard by your front door.
Dwarf Alberta spruce or blue spruce varieties stay compact and look polished without any fuss.
Pick a pot large enough to insulate roots from extreme cold snaps.
Water them when the ground isn’t frozen since evergreens still lose moisture through their needles, and add some twinkle lights or ribbons for instant holiday charm that lasts all season.
5. Hellebores
Hellebores bloom when most sensible plants are still sleeping underground, which makes them kind of rebellious and wonderful.
Their nodding flowers come in whites, pinks, purples, and even spotted varieties that look hand-painted.
Position them in areas with partial shade and rich soil that drains well.
They’re surprisingly tough despite looking delicate and will bloom from late December through early spring.
Deer and rabbits usually leave them alone too.
6. Heather
Heather spreads tiny bell-shaped flowers across needle-like foliage in shades of pink, white, and lavender.
Some varieties even have golden or bronze foliage that glows when winter sunlight hits it just right.
They love acidic soil and need good drainage to stay happy through wet winter weather.
Group several plants together in one large pot for a fuller, more dramatic effect, and trim them lightly after blooming to keep their shape neat for next year.
7. Cyclamen
With upswept petals that look like tiny butterflies, cyclamen adds a whimsical touch to winter pots.
The heart-shaped leaves often have silver patterns that make them attractive even when flowers take a break.
Keep them in cool spots away from heating vents since they prefer chilly conditions.
Water from below by setting pots in water briefly, then draining completely.
They’ll reward you with blooms throughout December if temperatures stay moderate and not too harsh.
8. Winter Jasmine
Bright yellow blooms appear on winter jasmine’s green stems before any leaves show up, creating a striking contrast against bare branches.
It grows in a cascading habit that looks beautiful spilling over pot edges.
This plant tolerates various conditions but blooms best with some sun exposure each day.
Let the stems trail naturally or train them up a small trellis for vertical interest, and prune after flowering ends to maintain shape and encourage more blooms next season.
9. Boxwood Topiaries
Boxwood shaped into balls, spirals, or cones brings formal elegance to any entryway without trying too hard.
Their dense evergreen foliage stays green all winter and provides structure when everything else looks messy.
Place them where they’ll get morning sun and afternoon shade for best results.
Water regularly until the ground freezes, then occasionally on warmer days.
Wrap them loosely with burlap during harsh cold snaps to prevent winter damage and browning.