This winter flowers shortlist for Britain here is the hardy colour that slips through frost and snow to brighten grey days from January to March

Here is the frost friendly colour that keep patios cheerful when daylight is short.

Winter does not silence every border. In Britain’s cool, damp months, a surprising cast of hardy plants steps forward with quiet colour, fragrance and structure, often when everything else has retreated. From the first nodding bells of snowdrops to glossy berrying shrubs, the garden can still feel alive.

Timing matters, and so does choosing the right plant for the right spot. Many of these picks flower from January into March, some even earlier in a mild spell, and several shrug off snow or a sharp frost. The effect is small but steady. And that is the charm.

Winter flowers that shrug off frost without fuss

Snowdrops are perennial and ethereal, and once established they can carpet the ground. They bloom in winter as early as January or February, depending on where you live, and they ask for very little once settled.

Crocuses pop up in late winter to early spring. Their bulbs are actually corms, and rodents do like them, so tuck them in with less tasty bulbs such as hyacinths and daffodils that rodents tend to ignore. Those bright goblets make the first sunny morning feel like spring is close.

Glory of the snow carries bluish purple tipped petals with a white centre and is often seen poking straight out of snow. Its genus name comes from Greek, with chion meaning snow and doxa meaning glory, a neat clue to its party trick.

Winter aconite, part of the buttercup family, is one of the first bulbs to bloom in early spring. The small yellow flowers cope in snow or frost, and bees love them, so you get colour and movement on still days.

Fragrant shrubs and climbers to lift grey mornings

Winter jasmine carries pretty yellow flowers on arching branches in late winter. It does not have a fragrance like other types of jasmine, yet it delivers a clear splash of colour in mild climates when borders feel bare.

The daphne shrub thrives in warmer climates and brings tubular pink or white flowers in late winter with an amazing sweet, fruity scent. It is the sort of perfume that draws you down the path.

Winter hazel is a deciduous shrub that produces clusters of yellow flowers with a fragrant scent. Blooms appear in late winter and early spring, typically from February to March, right when you need them most.

Mahonia pushes up large sprays of fragrant yellow flowers in late autumn to early winter. The architectural foliage keeps presence, then those citrus spikes turn the dial up on dark days.

Winterberry holly bursts with bright red berries that add cheery colour through winter. Some types are deciduous while others are evergreen, and the berries really pop against snow. Plant both a female and a male plant for pollination and the formation of berries.

Cold weather performers for borders and paths

Hellebores, also called Lenten roses, bloom in early winter in mild climates and late winter in cold regions. They appear delicate yet they are undemanding and super cold hardy, so they hold their own through rough spells.

Algerian iris, also known as winter iris, produces beautiful purple flowers in later winter. They make neat border plants near walkways where long lasting flowers are easy to enjoy up close.

Camellia is an evergreen shrub that can form a small tree, with exquisite blooms in late winter to early spring. Varieties flower across the year, so buy one that is a winter blooming type to hit the right window.

Holly leaved barberry, also called Oregon grape, begins with small yellow flowers in late winter that keep going into spring. Planting one brings a bright brush of colour and useful backbone at the same time.

• Quick wins near the path, based on bloom time and staying power, include hellebores in early or late winter, ornamental cabbage with frilly heads through most of winter in mild areas, and Algerian iris for later winter purple.

Pots and bedding that keep colour through the cold

Violas greet chilly mornings with cheerful faces, and in mild climates they last all winter long. Many types are technically annuals yet they self seed freely, so they often pop up again next year on their own.

Ornamental cabbage and kale bring gorgeous frilly heads in many colours and forms. They last most of the winter in mild climates and well into late autumn in colder areas, so pots do not give up after the first frost.

Snapdragons might feel like spring or autumn plants, yet they are cold hardy from zones 7 through 11. Once hardened off, they can last well past the first few frosts, especially with a layer of mulch to keep the ground warm.

Cyclamen is often recognised as a houseplant, but it is a perennial that works as a ground cover. It likes to sit under deciduous trees, soaking up winter sun while the branches are bare, then enjoying shade from summer heat.

Carolina jessamine brings bright yellow, sweet scented flowers in late winter and early spring, usually starting in February. It is a native vine to the southern United States, Guatemala and Mexico, and it adds a lively ribbon of colour just when walls look empty.

Manzanita is an evergreen shrub that bears bell shaped flowers in pink or white. Clusters open in mid to late winter or sometimes early spring, adding a soft note when skies look heavy.