Pansies are winter bedding plant classics. With a huge range of flower colours from deep midnight black and going through yellow, orange to two-tone raspberry frazzles there really is something for everyone. Violas are a close second to pansies with their delicate, subtle blooms and fantastic cold tolerance.
If you have a woodland style garden, the native blush pink cyclamen coum and buttery primula vulgaris thrive in shady spots and their striking blooms will draw out darker areas with the promise of spring.