Cyclamen - hederifolium are flowering now til about November, followed by lovely marbled leaves, Cyclamen coum to follow - they flower in winter til spring, again with pretty leaves.

Polyanthus / primulas are really spring flowers, but get going really early. Also bulbs - last year I had some Narcissus 'Paper White' that said they were ready to flower at Christmas, but they couldn't wait til then and burst into bloom as soon as they hit the ground! Snowdrops? Ornamental cabbages?

I've never been keen on winter 'Universal pansies' they don't look much when the weather is bad. and they seed everywhere. I agree with Beattie and think maybe shrubs can look good in winter too. I have two Dogwoods, red and yellow, look fab on a cold sunny day. also Euonymous Emerald n' Gold looks good in an urn with a few blue bulbs poking through.

Winter flowering heathers are guaranteed to provide colour for 3 months in winter/early spring. Erica darleyensis is one of the best and comes in white or shades of pink/red. Type erica darleyensis into google images and there's feast of photos!

I love winter Pansies, Primulas, mixed with dwarf bulbs (Narcissus, Tulip Chinadoxia, Iris) for winter baskets and tubs, I put them with an evergreen small shrub and some trailing Ivy. I never feed and rarely water. This year I have grown some Wall flowers from seed to brighten up a border.

Like Wallflowers, especially their scent. They're also useful in a border that's predominantly mid to late flowering perennials as you don't need to whip them out before they've finished to make way for stuff like Lupins and Delphiniums.

I agree with you Heron I have one bed that needs colour in spring before the perennials flower and wall flowers do look so pretty.

thanks for ideas.

i have just done 9 pots of wallflowers allso