• Cold Season Annuals
Spring is so close it is palpable in the air. A gardener can sense that the thrill of creating an outdoor oasis is merely weeks away. With the approaching arrival of spring a gardener cannot help but have some lofty expectations. We envision a space filled with lush walkways, private outdoor areas laden with scents to arouse and sights to inspire. A space that transports us from
Let us be gone with all of the dull browns of winter and re-introduce a palette of color to our weary landscape. Say hello to cold season annuals. Annuals are generally grouped into three categories; hardy, half-hardy and tender. Cold season annuals are usually hardy and can with stand fairly frigid temperatures and even a frost or two, although, it is best to plant them once the threat of frost has past.
Cold loving annuals will do well planted in containers, which is nice because they are transportable and easy to bring indoors in case of a freak snow storm. However, they look fantastic intermingled among spring flowering bulbs and the ground will keep these annuals warmer than a container.
Some cold tolerant annuals are Pansy, Viola, Sweet Alyssum, Stock, Snapdragon, Dianthus, Sweet Pea, Forget-Me-Not, Calendula, Lobelia, Ornamental Kale, Cabbage, Mustard and Swiss Chard.
Ann Peuser, Owner and Manager of Clinton Parkway Nursery, advises, “Be sure that the annuals you purchase have been hardened off by simply asking if they have been kept outside. If they have not been hardened off it will take you a week to ten days to do so at home by moving them outside in the day and in at night.” Peuser also suggests, “Do not plant your annuals until the ground is dried out.”
According to The American Gardener Magazine there are five cold season annuals that a gardener can really rely on; Pansies, Violas, Dianthus, Snapdragons and Ornamental Kale & Cabbage.
Pansies and violas are considered the kings of cold-tolerant annuals. They both display a distinctive and cheerful “face” with their five-petal shaped flowers that bloom in early spring and they have even been known to bloom when temperatures are in the 20’s.
The Pansy was named for the Swedish botanist V.B. Wittrock who did extensive breeding work on the flower in the late 19th century and early 20th century. He crossed and back crossed several Viola species which were all alpine natives. Pansies are in fact biennials or short-lived perennials but are most commonly grown as annuals. When asked which cold loving annual was her favorite Ann Peuser responded, “Pansies are probably my favorites. I prefer planting them in the fall they seem to produce a bigger, brighter and bolder flower. But, if you plant them now they will still put on a great show of color. I especially love mixing my pansies in with tulip bulbs - the combination is fantastic.”
The Viola, which is closely related to the Pansy, is generally a more petite plant producing a smaller flower than the Pansy. However the Violas tend to have more abundant blooms. They are also more tolerant of heat and will last longer in the garden plus they tend to re-seed themselves to bring color back to the garden year after year. Their colors range from white to nearly black and they range from bright colors to muted pastels so no matter what the color scheme of the garden a Viola will fit right in.
Dianthus are another cold loving annual that are worthy of introducing to your garden space. The taller Dianthus have a wild flower look and make a good background plant. They grow best in well drained, neutral to slightly alkaline soil in full sun. The Dianthus plant has an interesting spiky foliage which will add great texture to any garden plan.
Snapdragons can often be seen in a flower arrangement that comes to your door but they are also excellent cold season annuals to incorporate into your garden. North of zone 7 snapdragons can be planted after the danger of a hard freeze has past. They provide beautiful early spring color and are best grown in part-shade here in
Ornamental Kale and Cabbage are non-flowering plants which are edible. They are extremely easy to grow, tolerate temperatures well below freezing and will remain attractive for months on end. In fact they often develop their best color after a few frosts. The textural interest that Kale and Cabbage bring to a garden is what makes these cold lovers such show stoppers. The arbitrary basis for distinguishing between ornamental cabbage and kale comes from their leaf margins. A smooth leaf margin earns the name cabbage, while a fringed or feathered margin is considered kale. Ann Peuser has her own opinion on kale, “Kale is cool. You have to acquire a taste for the look. I think the white kale with the pink center is absolutely gorgeous.”
A gardener may also consider adding some Swiss chard and lettuce to their cold loving annuals shopping list. As Peuser recommends, “Some of the colored vegetables are amazingly beautiful and they allow you to have your cake and eat it too, particularly in the lettuce family which can endure colder temperatures and provide an interesting display of texture and color.”
So, shake off those winter dole drums by splashing your landscape with color and texture. Add hardy cold loving annuals to appease the need for warm sunny days and with any luck before we know it we’ll be introducing tender annuals to the garden.
Pansy Varieties:
Universal Plus, Bingo Blue Blotch, Nature Blue, Dynamite Lavender,
Viola Varieties:
Penny, Sorbet Coconut Swirl, Hobbit Bilbo Baggins, Sorbet Yellow Delight, Gem Yellow, Sorbet Blackberry Cream, Penny Violet Flare
Dianthus Varieties:
Joan’s Blood, Little Jock, La Bourboule
Snapdragon Varieties:
Tom Thumb, Montego, Floral Showers
Kale & Cabbage Varieties: