By Sally Scalera
November 22, 2021
Source: Florida Today
Photo / Image Source: Unsplash, Mostafa Meraji
Many annual flowering plants can’t tolerate Florida’s heat but handle colder weather just fine. As your flowering plants start to die, replace them with any of the following, which can only survive here through the winter.
These plants flower best in locations that receive full sun, which is at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. They would be great choices to add color throughout your landscape, in or around your vegetable garden or in containers on your porch.
Petunias are low-growing, trailing annual flowers that produce large flowers that come in many colors. To prolong the life and blooming season of the plants, deadhead the spent flowers and wear gloves if you don’t want the flowers to stain your fingers. Deadheading the plants will help them look more colorful and neater. Petunias also look great cascading down from a hanging basket or over the side of a container.
Snapdragons are another great annual choice. They come in numerous bright colors including yellow. There are dwarf types and tall growing forms, but the tall ones should be staked to keep the plants upright. Once the flowers start to fade, deadhead them to encourage more blooms.
Pansy flowers are bright and cheery and come in two types. One type has a face, made up of two colors on the same bloom, and the second type come in one solid color. Pansies are low-growing, so they can be planted in front of shrubs to add color. Pansies don’t require deadheading to improve the look of the plants, but deadheading will prolong their blooming period.
Alyssum is one of my favorite winter annuals, because I love their scent. They also grow in attractive little mounds, so they are another great choice to place in front of other plants. Alyssum come in two colors, producing either white or purple flowers. Another great thing about alyssum is that they don’t require deadheading.
Calendula is a taller-growing annual that has large, daisy-like flowers. They come in bright colors and can be used as cut flowers. To encourage more blooms and to prolong the life of the plant, cut off the spent flowers.
Stock is another fragrant annual that produces white, pink, red or purple flowers. They are not as low-growing as pansies or alyssum, but they can still be planted in front of shrubs. Plant a mass planting of stock to increase your chances of enjoying their fragrance.
Delphinium, which is technically a perennial, is grown as a winter annual here in Florida. The plants can grow from 2 to 6 feet, depending upon the variety. These plants are striking, even before the blooms appear, because they produce delicate, lacy foliage. What really makes these plants striking is when they begin blooming, typically in March. There are varieties that produce a true-blue flower, which is rare in the plant kingdom, while other varieties produce purple, pink or white blooms. If you can’t find transplants at the garden center, start them from seed. I have found seeds locally for the Pacific Giants Blend and the Butterfly Blend. The Pacific Giants Blend plants grow 3 to 6 feet tall, and the Butterfly Blend plants are dwarf and only grow 12 to 16 inches tall. The dwarf blend is also able to handle heat better.
Delphiniums can be planted in full sun to partial shade, and when temperatures begin to heat up, the plants will fade and need to be removed. One word of caution: Delphiniums are poisonous to both humans and some animals when ingested, so plant these in a location where small children and pets won’t have access.
Geraniums are another perennial, and when planted in the right location, they will live year after year. The perfect location to plant geraniums would be under deciduous trees, because they need shade through the warm months of the year but love full sun in the cooler months.
Remove faded flowers so the plant continues to produce new flowers and to keep the plants looking colorful and neat. The plants can be spaced 12 to 24 inches apart to form an attractive ground cover or planted in containers. If a freeze is in the forecast, cover the plants with a blanket or quilt and secure the edges if high winds are expected.
Now you've got lots of options. If you have any empty spots that could use a little color, consider adding some winter annuals. Most of them won’t need to be protected if a cold front is in the forecast. Plus they will brighten up both your yard and your day.
What will you plant in the fall and winter? What will you landscape or decorate your porch with this season? Which garden zone are you in?
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