--- title: "Beyond Poinsettias: 23 Houseplants That Bloom in Winter" description: "Wintertime is showtime for some houseplants. These indoor winter plants will invigorate your interior with pretty blooms while you hibernate until spring." date: "2023-11-14" modified: "2023-11-14" authors: - name: "Heather Blackmore" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.bobvila.com/authors/heather-blackmore.md" url: "https://www.bobvila.com/articles/indoor-winter-plants/" categories: - "Gardening" - "Lawn & Garden" --- # Beyond Poinsettias: 23 Houseplants That Bloom in Winter ![Potted plant with yellow and red flowers.]() *Photo: istockphoto.com* Winter is a long season of brown lawns, bare trees, and frost-covered shrubs, which is precisely why it's the perfect time to add a pop of color indoors. While [poinsettias]() are traditional (and lovely), why not think outside the box when it comes to wintertime houseplants and select one that blooms during the darkest days of the year? ## 1. Amaryllis (Amaryllis) ![Red amaryllis flowers.]() *Photo: istockphoto.com* [Amaryllis]() bulbs produce spectacular trumpet-shaped flowers. Timing is everything with this plant: Bulbs should be planted approximately 6 weeks before you want flowers. Once the flowering stops, snip the stalk a few inches above the bulb. To encourage rebloom, remove the bulb from the soil in September and keep it in a cool, dark environment for 2 months before repotting. Think carefully about where you’ll place amaryllis: It can cause severe gastrointestinal distress to pets and people. ## 2. Paperwhite (Narcissus papyraceus) ![White paperwhite flowers.]() *Photo: istockphoto.com* Despite their odorous reputation, [paperwhites]() are a perfect pick-me-up plant, provided you steer clear of 'Ziva', a common (and smelly) variety that can quickly stink up an entire room. Opt for other paperwhites like 'Cheerfulness' and 'Erlicheer', which have a less-offensive aroma. Paperwhites don’t require prechilling and are easy to spot in late fall at big-box stores or online from specialty bulb companies. This plant, too, should be kept away from pets and kids, since it is toxic. **RELATED: [10 Plants You Can Grow Without Soil]()** ## 3. Cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum) ![Pink cyclamen flowers.]() *Photo: istockphoto.com* From December to April, [cyclamen](), which can bloom for weeks, sends up lightly fragrant flowers above heart-shaped, silver-marbled foliage. After flowering, the plant loses its leaves and dies back for the summer. Some owners might be tempted to toss spent cyclamens into the trash, but take note: The plant is not dead, just dormant. Continue to water it once in a while and when temperatures cool, it will start growing again. Cyclamen is toxic and should be kept away from cats, dogs, and kids. **RELATED: [These Are the Most Popular Houseplants in America]()** ## 4. Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera) ![Christmas cactus with pink flowers.]() *Photo: istockphoto.com* These striking [succulent houseplants]() have been popular holiday gifts since the 1800s. Although named for its cactus-like foliage, [Christmas cactus]() needs a little more water than its name suggests. Getting this nontoxic plant to rebloom takes a bit of coaxing in the form of light and temperature control, but it’s so worth it. In mid-October, start giving the plant long nights of total darkness, 13 hours or more, in temperatures between 55 and 65 degrees, to trigger flower bud production. When buds appear, put the plant back in a sunny indoor location. ## 5. Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) ![Indoor potted rosemary plant.]() *Photo: istockphoto.com* Rosemary probably won't bloom, but the scent alone is enough to bring cheer. The plant is available during the holidays and can often be found in playful topiary shapes, including that of a Christmas tree. Place it in a sunny kitchen window where it can do double duty as decoration and culinary herb. While [rosemary]() isn’t harmful to pets or people in normal quantities, if your cat takes an outsize liking to the plant, move it out of reach, as it can be irritating in large quantities. **RELATED: [How To: Propagate Rosemary]()** ## 6. Desert Rose (Adenium obesum) ![Pink desert rose flowers.]() *Photo: istockphoto.com* One of the most interesting succulents around, [desert rose]() grows in a mini tree shape and produces stunning flowers. As you would do for other succulents, water desert rose sparingly. Thick stems give rise to flowers in solid colors—some varieties even have striping—that bloom throughout the year. After flowering, it’s common for the plant to shed its leaves until new growth emerges in the summer, so don’t give up on it. This is another one to keep away from pets and kids as it is poisonous, particularly to cats. ## 7. Moth Orchid (Phalaenopsis) ![Yellow orchid flower on window sill.]() *Photo: istockphoto.com* They get a bad rap for being fussy, but [orchids]() are actually pretty simple, provided you offer them bright but indirect light and ample humidity. Water orchids thoroughly and allow them to dry out between waterings. Blooms last for months, so it’s best to choose a plant with buds that haven’t yet opened to get as much longevity out of them as possible. These beauties are nontoxic and safe for households with pets and kids. **RELATED: [This Orchid Care Routine Will Keep Beautiful Blooms Coming]()** ## 8. African Violet (Saintpaulia ionantha) ![Purple African violet flowers.]() *Photo: istockphoto.com* Situate the diminutive, nontoxic [African violet]() plant in [bright, indirect light]() and enjoy months of continuous flowering in shades of red, white, purple, and everything in between. Set yourself up for gardening success by picking up a specialized [African violet]() pot with a slow-release wicking reservoir in the bottom that prevents damage to the leaves from overhead watering. ## 9. Begonias (Begonia) ![Small red begonia flowers.]() *Photo: istockphoto.com* Give them bright, indirect light and plenty of humidity and you’ll enjoy a flower frenzy all winter long from indoor [begonias](). Dry air may be the norm at this time of year, but it's a death knell for begonias, so set your plant on a shallow tray of water filled with pebbles to humidify the air around it. As much as they like water, too much of a good thing can be harmful. It's best to water when the plant shows signs of thirst, such as drooping leaves. While [begonias]() are not toxic to humans, they are toxic to pets. **RELATED: [The Best Fertilizers for Indoor Plants, Tested and Reviewed]()** ## 10. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum) ![White peace lily flowers.]() *Photo: istockphoto.com* Add some green height (up to 6 feet) in a corner of the winter room with a [peace lily](). Several white flag-like flowers, which are really spathes, grace this beautiful but unpredictable plant. It can be hard to determine when and if a peace lily will flower, but it tends to send up stems in February, provided it receives sufficient bright, indirect light. Keep this toxic plant away from pets and kids. **RELATED: [This Peace Lily Care Routine Is so Low Maintenance, You Don’t Need a Green Thumb]()** ## 11. Flowering Maple (Abutilon spp.) ![Lantern shaped flowers.]() *Photo: istockphoto.com* One of the more unusual and upright [houseplants](), flowering maple blooms almost nonstop. Palmate maple-like leaves and pendulous flowers resembling Chinese lanterns make for an interesting display. The variegated leaves of certain varieties up the interest, but variegated and non-variegated leaves can be irritating to skin so you might want to wear gloves while working with this plant. The plant is nontoxic to pets. ## 12. Kaffir Lily (Clivia miniata) ![Clusters of Kaffir Lily pink flowers.]() *Photo: istockphoto.com* Like amaryllis and Christmas cactus, clivias need a chilling period to trigger the development of clusters of orange or yellow lily-like flowers. With no need for high humidity, clivia is perfectly suited to indoor life and will thrive in a bright [north-facing]() window. Kaffir lily contains small amounts of the alkaloid lycorine, which is toxic to humans and pets if consumed in large quantities. **RELATED: [How to Help Your Houseplants Survive the Winter]()** ## 13. Jasmine (Jasminum) ![White jasmine flowers on table.]() *Photo: istockphoto.com* Typically a [summer bloomer](), jasmine can be found blooming in stores and homes during the winter, adding sweet fragrance to indoor spaces. To encourage rebloom the following year, give it a time-out in the fall in a room that is completely dark at night. Exposure to street light or indoor lighting will interrupt the cycle. Give this nontoxic plant a trim once it blooms, since [jasmine]() tends to get leggy. ## 14. Bleeding Heart Vine (Clerodendrum thomsoniae) ![Bleeding heart plant with purple flowers.]() *Photo: istockphoto.com* Not to be confused with bleeding heart plant (*Dicentra spectabilis*), [bleeding heart vine]() is a beautiful [climbing plant]() that produces long-lasting clusters of pink or partly red flowers when placed in a sunny window. Give it a trellis or support to climb, and prune back hard after flowering to keep it under control. Don’t worry about pets and kids getting close; this one’s nontoxic. ## 15. Kalanchoe (Kalanchoe) ![Kalanchoe flowers in different colors.]() *Photo: istockphoto.com* One of the easiest houseplants to grow and find, [kalanchoe]() tosses out clusters of flowers in deeply saturated hues. The trick is preventing the tropical succulent from becoming too leggy. Pinch it back after flowering and a rebloom should be close behind. Keep this one away from pets and kids, as it is toxic. **RELATED: [Master Easy Kalanchoe Plant Care for a Blaze of Colorful Blooms Year After Year]()** ## 16. Cineraria (Pericallis x hybrida) ![Large purple cineraria flowers.]() *Photo: istockphoto.com* Enjoy large daisy-like flowers indoors with [cineraria](). Compact clusters of daisy-like flowers sit atop large dark green leaves. Flowers can be red, purple, blue, or white, and each flower has a center eye surrounded by a small white ring. Purchase plants with plenty of buds to get the most out of the bloom period, and keep this [poisonous plant]() away from pets and children. ## 17. Anthurium (Anthurium) ![Large red spathe with yellow flower spike.]() *Photo: istockphoto.com* What many consider a flower is really a spathe that emerges from the plant in hues of red, pink, white, and variegated colors. Each spathe displays a contrasting white or yellow flower spike within. [Anthurium]() prefers bright light and high humidity, which may be challenging in a heated home. Place the plant on a shallow pebble-and-water-filled tray, away from kids and pets, to increase the humidity. **RELATED: [How to Increase Humidity for Your Houseplants, Even During the Driest Days of Winter]()** ## 18. Azalea (Rhododendron spp.) ![Indoor potted pink azalea plant.]() *Photo: istockphoto.com* Not to be confused with hardy azaleas, [greenhouse azaleas]() are meant to be grown indoors and will not survive if planted in the garden. Select plants with plenty of unopened buds to increase the amount of time you can enjoy its blooms, and be sure not to let the soil dry out. Swallowing large quantities of this plant can spell trouble for pets and humans, so if your dog is a habitual plant snacker, keep [azaleas]() safely away. **RELATED: [20 Flowering Houseplants That Will Add Beauty to Your Home]()** ## 19. Gloxinia (Sinningia speciosa) ![Spotted gloxinia blooms.]() *Photo: istockphoto.com* Traditionally grown as a perennial, today’s [gloxinias]() are bred to produce masses of blooms without regard for the long-term health of the plant. By the time they’ve finished flowering, the plant simply has nothing left. For this reason, it’s just as well to think of this nontoxic plant as an annual and treat it well while it’s in bloom: keep it in bright, indirect light, water it enough to keep the soil moist, and feed it with a high-phosphorus liquid [plant food]() every 2 weeks. ## 20. Goldfish Plant (Columnea nematanthus) ![Striped goldfish plant flower.]() *Photo: istockphoto.com* As the name implies, the flowers on this columnea resemble small goldfish in shades of red, orange, or yellow. Trailing dark green foliage makes the [goldfish plant]() an excellent choice for a [hanging planter]() in bright light. As with African violets, avoid getting water on its leaves, which will cause browning and, in some cases, fungal problems. If your cats are tempted by the goldfish plant, as they might be by actual goldfish, worry not: This plant is harmless to pets. **RELATED: [13 Plants You Can Winter Indoors]()** ## 21. Lipstick Plant (Aeschynanthus radicans) ![Lipstick plant with red tubular flowers.]() *Photo: istockphoto.com* Add a taste of the tropics to your indoor winterscape with [lipstick plant](), a vining beauty that looks fantastic in a hanging basket or cascading down a tall piece of furniture. The red, tubular flowers of this nontoxic plant are an exciting and vibrant contrast to its glossy dark green foliage. The plant prefers bright, indirect sunlight and temperatures of 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. It appreciates a bit of humidity, so keep a spray bottle handy, and also apply a slow-release fertilizer once a month. ## 22. Purple Shamrock (Oxalis triangularis) ![Purple shamrock plant with light purple flowers.]() *Photo: istockphoto.com* The leaves of this brightly hued plant resemble those of a shamrock, though they’re much larger and they’re purple! This South American native also produces delicate five-petaled flowers in white or pink that show off during the day but button up at night. Oxalis likes humidity and temperatures of 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep [purple shamrock plants]() in bright direct light, but out of reach of pets and children, as it is toxic and can be quite irritating and even dangerous if ingested. **RELATED: [How to Help Your Houseplants Survive the Winter]()** ## 23. Crown of Thorns (Euphorbia milii) ![Thorn covered stems with pink flowers.]() *Photo: istockphoto.com* If you can get past this succulent’s thorniness and toxicity, [crown of thorns]() makes an intriguing addition to a houseplant collection. Its thick, thorn-covered stems support clumps of 2- to 6-inch-long medium-green leaves topped by clusters of small pink, white, or yellow flowers that bloom year-round. Put it in a sunny spot and fertilize it monthly. Note that this is a good plant for those who are stingy with the watering can, since it doesn’t mind drying out. It’s not good, however, for households with pets or kids, as it’s prickly and poisonous. ## Author Heather Blackmore is an award-winning writer and photographer specializing in gardening, health, and family. Her work has appeared on Good Morning America as well as in several regional and national publications, including [Better Homes and Gardens magazine](), [Chicagoland Gardening](), [Farmers' Almanac](), and [Chicago Tribune](). She also contributes weekly to her blog, [Here She Grows](), where she shares the highs and lows in her suburban Chicago garden. Heather and her husband are currently weathering the storm of two teenage daughters and one attention-hungry dog named Stella. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()