December Gardening Guide: Celebrate the Season & Prepare for a Beautiful Spring

December is a magical time to garden in Southern California. While many parts of the country are covered in snow, our mild winter weather allows gardens to stay vibrant with colorful blooms, productive vegetable gardens, and beautiful evergreen landscapes.

From festive containers and flowering camellias to fresh herbs for holiday meals and planting for spring, December is full of opportunities to enjoy your garden while preparing for the seasons ahead.

What’s Taking Root This Month

Your December priorities at a glance.

Refresh beds, containers, and entryways with winter flowers, camellias, evergreen accents, and living holiday plants.
Plant trees, shrubs, native plants, berries, dormant roses, and perennials while cooler weather supports root development.
Harvest winter fruit, grow cool-season vegetables and herbs, and adjust lawn and houseplant care for shorter days.

What You’ll Find in This December Garden Guide

Celebrate the Holidays with Colorful Winter Gardens

Bring holiday cheer outdoors by refreshing your landscape with cool-season flowers that thrive throughout winter.

Beautiful choices include:

Cyclamen
Pansies
Violas
Snapdragons
Alyssum
Geraniums
Ornamental cabbage
Ornamental kale
Hellebores

Mix seasonal flowers with decorative pottery, evergreen accents, and festive containers to create a welcoming front porch for holiday guests.

Create a Festive Winter Garden

Combine cool-season flowers, pottery, evergreen accents, and seasonal décor for an inviting holiday display.

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Camellias Are the Stars of Winter

December is peak camellia season in Southern California.

Their glossy evergreen foliage and elegant blooms brighten the landscape when many other plants are resting.

Choose from beautiful shades of:

White
Pink
Red
Variegated blooms

Pair camellias with companion plants such as ferns, heuchera, cyclamen, and shade-loving perennials for a stunning winter display.

Once flowering slows, feed camellias with an acid-loving fertilizer according to label directions to encourage healthy growth for next season.

Plant Now for a Beautiful Spring Garden

Southern California's mild winters make December another excellent planting month.

Now is a wonderful time to plant:

Trees
Shrubs
Perennials
California native plants
Groundcovers
Dormant roses
Berry plants

The cooler weather allows plants to establish healthy root systems before spring arrives.

Tip from Our Garden Experts

Winter planting can mean less transplant stress, lower water use, and stronger root development. Plants installed now often outperform those planted in late spring.

Start Planning Your Spring Garden Now

Use Southern California's mild winter weather to establish trees, shrubs, natives, berries, and perennials before spring growth begins.

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Brighten Your Garden with Winter Interest

Winter landscapes don't have to be dull.

Add texture, berries, and colorful foliage with plants such as:

Heavenly bamboo (nandina)
Holly
Pyracantha
Pomegranate
Persimmon
Succulents that develop rich winter color

These plants provide year-round beauty while also supporting birds and other wildlife.

Grow a Fresh Winter Vegetable Garden

Southern California gardeners can continue harvesting fresh vegetables all winter long.

Plant and enjoy:

Leafy Greens

Lettuce
Kale
Spinach
Swiss chard

Root Vegetables

Carrots
Beets
Radishes
Turnips

Fresh Herbs

Perfect for holiday cooking:

Rosemary
Sage
Thyme
Parsley
Oregano

December is also an excellent time to begin planting blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries for future harvests.

Keep Winter Harvests Growing

Check soil moisture regularly, harvest leafy greens from the outside first, and plant small batches of quick-growing crops every few weeks for a steadier supply.

Harvest Citrus & Winter Fruit

Many home orchards are at their best this month.

Harvest favorites like:

Tangerines
Oranges
Lemons
Limes
Kumquats
Late-season avocados

Remember that avocados ripen after they're picked, while citrus develops its sweetness on the tree.

Keep trees healthy by removing fallen leaves and refreshing mulch around the root zone while keeping mulch away from the trunk.

Roses Begin Their Winter Rest

As roses become dormant, December is the perfect time to prepare for another spectacular blooming season.

Remove spent blooms.
Clean fallen leaves from around plants.
Begin planting dormant roses later in the month.
Plan pruning for January.

Dormant roses establish quickly during winter and reward gardeners with vigorous spring growth.

Celebrate the Holidays Indoors

December is the season for bringing plants into your holiday celebrations.

Decorate with favorites like:

Poinsettias
Amaryllis
Paperwhites
Christmas cactus
Orchids
Rosemary trees
Norfolk pines

Looking for a thoughtful gift? Living plants make beautiful presents that continue growing long after the holidays are over.

Give a Gift That Keeps Growing

Living holiday plants bring color and warmth to the season and make thoughtful gifts for friends, family, teachers, and hosts.

Find Holiday Plants Near You

Care for Your Houseplants During Winter

As daylight becomes shorter:

Move plants closer to bright windows.
Reduce watering frequency.
Rotate containers regularly for even growth.
Remove damaged foliage.
Increase humidity if indoor heating dries the air.

Healthy houseplants help brighten your home throughout winter.

Winter Lawn Care

Your lawn still benefits from regular attention.

December lawn care includes:

Feed cool-season lawns when appropriate.
Remove fallen leaves.
Water only as needed.
Monitor for winter weeds.
Continue mowing when necessary.

Healthy winter lawns provide a lush green backdrop throughout the cooler months.

Welcome Backyard Birds

Winter is one of the best seasons for backyard birdwatching.

Keep bird feeders full, provide fresh water, and include berry-producing shrubs and evergreen plants that provide natural shelter.

A few minutes spent watching birds from your patio with a warm cup of coffee is one of the simple pleasures of winter gardening.

December Garden Checklist

Plant trees, shrubs, and dormant roses.
Refresh containers with winter flowers.
Plant berries and cool-season vegetables.
Harvest citrus and avocados.
Feed camellias after flowering.
Decorate with poinsettias and holiday plants.
Move houseplants into brighter light.
Feed cool-season lawns as appropriate.
Refresh mulch around trees and shrubs.
Plan next year's landscape improvements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to common December gardening questions about winter planting, seasonal flowers, vegetables, roses, watering, and holiday plants in Southern California.

Is December still a good time to plant in Southern California?

Yes. Mild winter weather makes December an excellent month for planting trees, shrubs, roses, perennials, berries, and California native plants.

What flowers bloom in December?

Cyclamen, pansies, violas, camellias, snapdragons, alyssum, ornamental cabbage, ornamental kale, and hellebores can all provide beautiful winter color.

What vegetables can I grow in December?

Lettuce, kale, spinach, Swiss chard, carrots, beets, radishes, turnips, and many herbs continue growing beautifully throughout winter.

Should I plant roses in December?

Yes. Dormant roses planted during winter can establish quickly and be ready to produce vigorous spring growth.

How often should I water during winter?

Reduce watering as temperatures cool, but continue monitoring soil moisture during warm, dry periods and Santa Ana wind events. Watering needs will vary by plant, soil, exposure, and rainfall.

What are the best holiday plants?

Poinsettias, cyclamen, amaryllis, paperwhites, Christmas cactus, rosemary trees, camellias, orchids, and Norfolk pines all make beautiful seasonal decorations and gifts.

Celebrate the Season and Prepare for Spring

December offers a special mix of holiday color, cool-season harvests, winter planting, and preparation for the year ahead. By refreshing seasonal displays, caring for winter-growing plants, harvesting homegrown fruit, and establishing new additions now, you can enjoy a beautiful garden throughout winter and head into spring with a strong start.

For recommendations tailored to your garden and local microclimate, visit your local Armstrong Garden Center and speak with one of our garden experts.