Winter Garden Insights 2025

By Brian Nixon, Horticultural Manager

With the holiday season behind us and all the lights and ornaments on their way out, it’s time to roll up our sleeves and prepare for the upcoming gardening season. The fall cleanup is complete, and our gardening team is well prepared for any challenges the winter weather may throw our way for 2025. I’m very careful in saying this, but this is the second year in a row in which we did not receive a hard frost or snow during December, and now well into January it’s hard to believe that it is winter. Some varieties of hardy Fuchsias, as well as other summer flowers, have continued to flower through the entire holiday season. If we didn’t proactively force them into dormancy by cutting them back, they may have continued to flower for much longer.

How does this warm winter weather affect our gardening department? We are responsible for keeping all paths and roadways clear of snow and ice, so when there is no threat of winter weather, our productivity with gardening tasks is increased. If, for example, the landscape is covered in snow, our primary focus is centered on snow removal as well as path maintenance. There isn’t a lot we can accomplish from a horticultural aspect if the plants are covered in snow, but we are certainly kept busy dealing with snow related matters throughout The Gardens. Thankfully snow on the West Coast is a rarity! There was a recently published report stating that our region (Southern Vancouver Island) has been receiving more frost-free days than ever before.

Heading into the new year we are focusing much attention on the Spring Prelude Indoor Garden. The Spring Prelude takes our talented greenhouse team one week to set up from start to finish. If you have never visited The Butchart Gardens or had a chance to see The Spring Prelude, you may ask “What is it?” The Spring Prelude is an indoor garden oasis installed in the Blue Poppy Restaurant after the restaurant has been emptied of all tables and chairs following the busy holiday season. I promise this is the most amazing temporary indoor garden that you will have ever visited. You will find yourself surrounded by flowers, streams, fancy water features, and fish that can only be used indoors as we control the environment of this beautiful garden oasis.

When stepping foot into the Spring Prelude, I appreciate the fresh floral scents and sounds of running water. In this West Coast inspired garden, we incorporate lush tropical plants as well as native plant material. The Spring Prelude is designed to take you on winding pathways, leading you on an unimaginable journey through a flourishing spring garden. The pretty fragrance that radiates through this garden can trick your mind into thinking spring has arrived. From swollen flower buds to vibrant spring flowers, it is guaranteed to impress and have visitors eagerly awaiting the true arrival of the spring season. If you are a frequent visitor to The Gardens and have experienced the Spring Prelude in past years, you can look forward to a few new landscape design changes for 2025.

While much of the current attention may be focused on the Spring Prelude, the outdoor gardens are still beautiful during the winter months featuring some cool seasonal favourites like the Abeliophyllum distichum (White forsythia) known for its pretty white flowers, and the fragrant Daphne odora (Winter daphne). Another noteworthy blossom known for its intense fragrance, drawing attention on even the darkest winter days is the Sarcococca (Christmas box). These winter gems along with many others are nestled amongst our two gigantic Sequoia sempervirens (Coast redwood) trees that were planted in 1934. The Sequoia sempervirens (Coast redwood) trees are the largest trees in the world, and we are fortunate to have these wonderful specimens in our collection.

History plays an important role at The Butchart Gardens and we enjoy sharing with visitors our historical knowledge about The Gardens’ early beginning. During the winter months, we offer a glimpse into the past with our Historical Display, located in the Dining Room Restaurant, once the original Butchart Family home.  Showcasing an array of historical documents, photos, and interesting treasures dating back to the early 1900s, the Historical Display is open to the public from February 4 – March 23, 2025. We are all so thankful for Jennie Butchart’s vision in creating this beautiful garden, and we strive day in and day out to continue what she started over 120 years ago.

I welcome you to take a break from winter and come immerse yourself in the beautiful Spring Prelude, open from January 15 – March 23 for the 2025 season.

Below, I have included a detailed list of my winter favorites that can be found throughout The Gardens during the winter season.

Plants, trees, and shrubs that are blooming or of interest:

• Abeliophyllum distichum (White forsythia)
• Acer japonica (Japanese maple)
• Aucuba japonica (Spotted laurel)
• Bellis (English daisy)
• Bergenia (Elephant’s ears)
• Camellia
• Cornus mas
• Correa (Australian fuchsia)
• Cotoneaster
• Cyclamen
• Daphne odora
• Eranthis
• Erica (Heather)
• Erysimum (Wallflower)
• Galanthus (Snowdrop)
• Garrya elliptica (Silk- tassel bush)
• Hamamelis (Witch hazel)
• Helleborus (Christmas rose)
• Ilex verticillata (Winterberry)
• Jasminium nudiflorum (Winter jasmine)
• Mahonia x media ‘Charity’ (Oregon grape)
• Nandina domestica (Heavenly bamboo)
• Narcissus (Daffodil)
• Ophiopogon planiscapus (Black mondo grass)
• Pansy
• Pieris (Lily -of – the valley shrub)
• Polyanthus (Primula)
• Prunus (Flowering cherry)
• Pyracantha
• Rhododendron
• Sarcococca (Christmas box)
• Skimmia japonica
• Viburnum x bodnantense
• Viburnum tinus
• Viola

 Spring Prelude plants, trees, and shrubs that are blooming or of interest:

• Amaryllis
• Anthurium (Flamingo flower)
• Azalea
• Bromeliad
• Camellia
• Crocus
• Cyclamen
• Edgeworthia chrysantha (Paper bush)
• Erica (Heather)
• Hamamelis (Witch hazel)
• Helleborus (Christmas rose)
• Iris reticulata
• Kalanchoe
• Loropetalum chinese ‘Razzleberri’
• Magnolia x soulangeana (Saucer magnolia)
• Narcissus (Daffodil)
• Ophiopogon planiscapus (Black mondo grass)
• Orchid
• Pieris (Lily -of – the valley shrub)
• Pinus strobus ‘Louie’
• Polyanthus (Primula)
• Prunus (Flowering plum)
• Prunus incisa ‘Little Twist’
• Ribes (Flowering currant)
• Sarcococca (Christmas box)
• Sciadopitys verticillate (Japanese umbrella pine)
• Skimmia japonica
• Stromanthe
• Tulipa (Tulip)
• Viburnum x bodnantense
• Viburnum tinus
• Viola