What's in Bloom

There's not a lot in bloom in January. But keep that in perspective. In most of the country there's not anything in bloom! January blooms really depend on how cold it has gotten. In 1997 we really didn't have serious cold in the Heights and that was true through mid January of 2000. Thus, more plants were in bloom those years than would have been with a freeze. We had lots of cold in January of 2002, thus limiting the booms. 2003 was fairly mild, with a couple of weekends of cold weather.
Althea 'Zebrina' in bloom (2001)
Alyssum (1998, * 2009, 2010)
Anaheim Pepper in bloom! (2004)
Angel's Trumpet (2009)
Begonia 'Scarletta' in bloom (2001, 2004)
Begonia 'Dragon Wing' in bloom (2001)
Begonia 'Super Olympia White' in bloom (2001)
Begonias (Whiskey) in bloom (1998)
Bougainvillea (2000)
Broccoli in bloom (2003)
Cape honeysuckle in bloom (2000, 2001, 2004)
Clasping Coneflower (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, * 2009, 2010)
Crown of Thorns (2001, 2003, * 2009 (protected on real cold nights))
Cyclamen in bloom (2000, 2001, 2003, 2009)
Dahlberg daisies in bloom (2000)
Dwarf Bottlebrush (2009)
Dwarf Cherry has berries (2004)
Encore Azalea (2010)
Firecracker Fern (cream) in bloom (2004, * 2009)
Fireccracker Fern (red) in bloom (2004, * 2009)
Firespike (2009)
Golden Yaupon berries light gold (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, * 2009)
Hibiscus (2000, 2003, 2004, * 2009 (sometimesprotected on cold nights))
Johnnie Jump-Ups in bloom (2004)
Kalanchoe (2000, * 2009)
Key Lime (1998, 1999, 2000, 2003)
Lantana 'Loneweep' in bloom (2003, 2004, * 2009)
Lantana 'White Lightning' in bloom (2003, 2004)
Mexican Bush Sage (2004)
Mexican Heather in bloom (1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004, * 2009)
Mexican Honeysuckle (2000)
Mexican Lime in bloom (2002, 2004)
Mexican Mint Marigold (2001)
Meyer lemon in bloom (2002)
Passionflower (red) in bloom (2000)
Peach, 'Tropic Snow' (2009, 2010)
Pentas in bloom (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, * 2009)
Plumbago in bloom (2004)
Possumhaw has red berries. (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004)
Prickly Pear in bloom (2009)
Princess Flower in bloom (2001, 2003, 2004 (but cold stopped that), * 2009)
Pyracantha has beautiful red berries. (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004)
Roses: I have stopped listing roses doing well in January. Roses are not supposed to be doing well in January. They are supposed to be dormant. Often that is not the case here in Houston. But don't try to get blooms from your roses in January. Let them sleep.
Past rose data for January includes: Climbing Pinkie (2001), Katy Road Pink (2001), Louis Philippe (1998, 2000, 2001), Martha Gonzales (2001), Mutabilis, (1998, 1999, 2000) and Old Blush (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001), Popcorn (2001), Starina (2001).
Rosemary in bloom (1997, 2000, 2001, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2009, 2010)
Ruellia, standard (2009)
Salvia Lady-in-Red (2004, * 2009)
Sedum 'Autumn Joy' in bloom (2003, * 2009)
Shrimp Plant. (1997, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004 (but somewhat nipped), * 2009)
Sweet Olive (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, * 2009, 2010)
Thunbergia Grandiflora still has blooms (1998, 1999, 2000, 2004)
Turk's Cap still blooming but not looking its finest (1998, 1999, 2000, 2003)
Verbena, red (2009)
Virburnum Suspensum (1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, * 2009, 2010)
Walter's Viburnum in bloom (2002, 2003, 2004)
Weeping Yaupon Holly has red berries (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, * 2009)
Yarrow (2000)
Yaupon Holly has red berries. (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004)
What to Plant in January
Start your annual seeds indoors.
New Year's Day: Plant your refrigerated tulip bulbs.
First week: Relax.
First half of January: snow peas, onion seeds.
Second half of January: brocilli, brussel sprouts, carrots, kohlrabi, lettuce, radish, spinach, onion sets, start tomato seeds, start pepper seeds.
Last week of January: cilantro seeds, garden peas, All: onion sets should be ok to plant anytime in January. Ditto for English peas and spinach.

MISC Color in winter is prized. Try planting Pyracanthus, Possumhaw and Yaupon Holly for the red berries and green foliage.Also, in 1998, Mutabilis had an outstanding display of blooms.
Start your annual seeds in seed trays.
In mid January fertilize trees and shrubs over one year old.

Don't forget to rustle the leaves neighbors set out for trash pickup. Put them in the compost pile or use them as free mulch for winter protection.

If you have to protect plants from a light freeze be sure to avoid putting plastic next to the plant leaves. The cold will conduct right through and burn the leaves where they touch the plastic. If it is wet and you must use plastic, put and old sheet or blanket next to the leaves and the plastic on the outside. For more on freeze protection click here.

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