It's not uncommon for gardeners to experience some winter blues as the weather turns colder and the growing season comes to an end. If you find yourself missing the fresh growth and vividness of summer, it may be time to consider some winter annuals that boast colorful flowers even into the chilly months. Here are 10 annual flowers that keep blooming late into the year.
Why Grow Winter Flowers?
- Late-season joy. Winter-flowering annuals are an easy way to keep color in your garden as everything else fades away. Some of these even make excellent cut flowers, so you can bring a splash of color inside in the late fall and winter.
- Great for pollinators. Plants like bachelor's button, pot marigold, and sweet alyssum keep pollinators happy in the fall and winter when growth is harder to find.
- Keeps us outdoors. When the list of garden tasks slows in the late fall, having some remaining growth to enjoy is a great way to get more time in the fresh air and sunshine.
10 Winter Flowering Annuals to Plant This Year
Here are 10 of the best winter flowers to enjoy as the weather turns cold.
- Bachelor's Button/Cornflower
- Dianthus
- French marigolds
- Geraniums
- Pansies
- Pot marigold/Calendula
- Snapdragons
- Sweet alyssum
- Sweet peas
- Winter jasmine
1. Bachelor's Button/Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus)
Bachelor's buttons are usually known for their bright blue hue, but their beautiful flowers now come in a variety of colors, including pink, purple, white, and burgundy. These hardy plants keep showing off their vibrant blooms into the cooler months, surviving the first frosts and often even some light freezes.
Bachelor's buttons, or cornflowers, are ideal for attracting pollinators and beneficial insects to your garden. Butterflies, bees, and ladybugs love their brilliant colors.
They also make beautiful cut flowers, lasting up to two weeks when harvested correctly.
2. Dianthus
The dianthus family covers a number of popular species including carnations, Sweet William, and pinks. These fragrant flowers are known for their bright pops of color and ability to survive even in the winter landscape.
Flowers in the dianthus family enjoy full sun and well-drained soil. Many of these beautiful flowers keep blooming in the cooler temperatures of the late fall, with some even continuing to provide gorgeous blooms into the winter months.
3. French Marigolds (Tagetes patula)
French marigolds tend to be hardier than traditional marigolds. Depending on the climate, they typically bloom later into the fall than most annuals, often showing their flowers after the first frost and—in warmer zones—sometimes even blooming into the wintertime.
French marigolds come in bright reds, oranges, and yellows and can be planted either in containers or in-ground garden beds.
4. Geraniums
Geraniums are often the star of the show in the early spring and through the summer months, but they don't stop there. Often, they'll continue blooming into the cool season as temperatures dip into the 40°Fs.
Geraniums can thrive in flower beds, window boxes, or hanging baskets in a sunny spot.
These favorite annuals come in a wide display of colors for a big impact all throughout the garden season.
5. Pansies (Viola x wittrockiana)
The cheerful and variegated color of these delicate-looking flowers comes with a hardiness that may surprise some gardeners. Pansies keep blooming into the colder months and can often survive even past the first hard freeze. At the end of the growing season, it's so enjoyable to sit back and watch these hardy annuals keep showing off their joyful shades.
Pansies are low-maintenance, easy-to-grow plants that work well for mass plantings and can make a good choice for arrangements and cut flowers.
6. Pot Marigold/Calendula (Calendula officinalis)
Pot marigold, sometimes referred to as calendula, can sometimes be grown through the winter in mild climates. Even in colder climates, pot marigolds can bloom into the cool temperatures of fall and can often survive a light frost or two.
Their bright orange flowers are beloved by insects and pollinators, and they're also edible! Sprinkle them on salads or make a warming tea.
7. Snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus)
These stunning flowers may be one of the very best choices for your winter garden. Snapdragons thrive in chilly weather, showing off their dazzling flowers into the frosts and snows of the cold season, often even after the ground freezes.
These hardy annuals come in a variety of colors, and some varieties grow up to 4 feet tall.
8. Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritima)
Sweet alyssum is a shorter (4-6" tall) plant that can trail through your garden with its tiny flowers that come in white, pinks, purples, and blues. These cool-season annuals can bloom for a long time, starting in the early spring and thriving through the fall. When well established, they'll continue producing even below temps of 30° F.
Sweet alyssum is well-loved by pollinators and enjoys full sun to partial shade.
9. Sweet Peas (Lathyrus odoratus)
These bright purple flowers are pros at showing off their blooms as they shoot up to 6' tall. For southern gardeners, sweet peas are a winter flower plant that can bloom all the way through the mild winters. In colder zones, they'll survive the cooler temperatures of fall but will stop blooming after hard freezes. To extend their season as long as possible, mulch them thoroughly and provide cover during frosts.
Sweet peas are not edible flowers and are actually quite toxic to people and animals, so it's a good idea to keep them away from edible gardens.
10. Winter Jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum)
Winter jasmine is one of the best landscape plants for ensuring bright colors throughout the cold weather. Its eye-catching yellow flowers are incredibly cold-hardy and tend to bloom throughout the wintertime, offering a great border or ground cover with their cascading blooms.
Although not fragrant, these beloved flowers are still well worth it for gardeners who want to see a pop of color outside during the winter seasons.
