• Winter-flowering plants add a splash of color to a dull landscape.winter flowers image by Bobi from Fotolia.com
  
  Flowering plants add a touch of color to the changing landscapes of fall and winter. While most people commonly think of flowers as a spring or summer occurrence, there are a number of flowering plants that bloom in the colder seasons. If you're looking to extend the floral beauty of your yard, there are a number of options. Most plants that blossom in the fall or winter tolerate frost and snow very well.
  
  

Vernal Witchhazel

• Hamamelis vernalis, or vernal witchhazel, flowers during the late winter months. Blooms are either red or yellow on this dense shrub that grows up to 10 feet tall. In landscaping, this plant is commonly used in screens or windbreaks. New leaves are purple and turn golden yellow in the fall.
  
  

Chrysanthemums

• Chrysanthemums, or mums for short, are a popular flowering fall plant. The plant blooms in the fall because long periods of darkness are required to produce the flowers. Plants range in height from 1 1/2 to 3 feet. Flower colors vary and include shades of yellow, bronze, pink, purple, burgundy and white.
  
  

Hellebores

• Hellebores are a family of flowering winter plants that include the Christmas rose and Lenten rose. Considered herbaceous perennials, the plants bloom throughout the winter. Despite the names, the plants are not roses, but belong to the same family as the buttercup. Flower colors include lavender, white and pink.
  
  

Bluebeard

• Caryopteris, or bluebeard, is an herbaceous perennial that produces small blue flowers. The plant thrives in direct sunlight and works well as a border plant. Plant height ranges from 3 to 4 feet. Blue flowers emerge in early fall and last for approximately two months.
  
  

Flowering Quince

• The flowering quince is a type of shrub that blooms in late winter and early spring. This deciduous plant grows 6 to 10 feet tall. Flowering quinces thrive in full sun and produce blooms of red, white and pink. Blooms emerge on the bush before new leaves.
  
  

Black-eyed Susan

• Rudbeckia hirta, or black-eyed Susan, is one of the most common American wildflowers. Blooms typically emerge in summer and last throughout the fall season. Flowers are yellow with a dark-brown center and make a colorful addition to flower gardens.