Spring is a great time to revive your garden and add some color. With a few simple steps and the right plants, you can have a beautiful garden full of vibrant colors that will last through the season. Whether you’re looking for flowers, shrubs, trees, or ground covers, there are plenty of options for creating a colorful spring garden.
With the help of cool-weather flowers, you can enjoy a vibrant and lively garden full of life and energy. These flowers offer an array of colors from soft pastels to bold and vibrant shades, allowing you to choose which ones best fit your style and personality. Not only are they visually appealing, but they also provide us with an array of benefits such as pleasant aromas, attracting pollinators, and adding texture to your landscape. They are sure to bring you joy and happiness when you look at them in the springtime. With colorful cool weather flowers in your garden this season, you can be sure that they will brighten up any dull day.
Here are five of our favorite cool-weather flowers:
Dianthus – Dianthus, also known as Pinks or Carnations, is a perennial plant native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa. The dianthus plant has a long history as an ornamental flower and has been grown in gardens for hundreds of years. Traditional colors are white, pink, or red, but new varieties include purple, peach, yellow, and bicolor. True dianthus flowers have a ruffled appearance. The flower will bloom for about six weeks. Don’t be upset if the flowers do not appear in the first year. They can be used as cut flowers or dried for potpourri and other crafts. The fragrant blooms attract bees and butterflies which help pollinate the plant. The dianthus flower is often associated with the Greek goddess of love Aphrodite due to its romantic symbolism. Hardiness zones 7-10.
Diascia - Diascia, also commonly known as Twinspur is a relative of the Snapdragon. The plant prefers cool weather and has a long bloom time from spring to fall. Diascia makes an attractive addition to any garden bed or container arrangement, providing continuous blooms in spring and summer until frost or heavy rainfall occurs. If the plant starts to fade in the heat, just cut them back a few inches and they will come back to life when it gets cooler. Pink is the most popular color, but it also comes in orange, white, and red. Hardiness zones 8-11.
Nemesias - Nemesias are beautiful tender perennial plants that are native to Southern Africa and are usually grown as annuals. They grow best in cooler temperatures and regions with mild summers. The plant comes in a wide range of colors and can tolerate both sun and shade. The flowers bloom from spring to fall. They will die back in the summer heat. The five-petal flowers come in shades from deep purple to bright yellow and bicolor. While their beauty is undeniable, it’s not the only thing that makes them desirable. Many varieties of nemesias also feature a pleasant fragrance. Depending on the variety, this fragrance can range from subtle to strong and is often described as sweet and citrus-like in nature. Nemesias make an excellent addition to any garden, providing long-lasting color and texture. They are very easy to care for, needing only minimal watering and occasional pruning to keep them looking their best. Hardiness zones 9-11.
Osteospermum - Osteospermum is native to Southern Africa and is also known as African Daisy. It is composed of over 140 species and includes both annuals and perennials. This ornamental plant is becoming increasingly popular with gardeners due to its hardy nature, as well as its bright and cheerful flowers. The flowers come in a range of colors including yellow, pink, white, purple, and blue. The leaves are typically lance-shaped with serrated edges. Osteospermum plants are drought-tolerant and respond well to regular trimming and pruning. They do best in sunny locations with well-draining soil and require regular fertilization for optimal growth. It can be used in flower beds, borders, window boxes, and hanging baskets.
Pansies and Violas – Pansies and viola plants are grown for their bright-colored blooms. They are easy to grow, can survive in much colder temperatures than other plants, and require very little maintenance. Viola plants are admired for their beauty and fragrance which makes them popular choices for gardeners. Deadheading them will help set new buds. There are newer varieties that are somewhat frost tolerant. Plant them in full sun with well-draining soil.
Dianthus, Diascia, and Nemesias photos courtesy of PlantHaven International, planthaven.com.
Osteospermum and Viola photo courtesy of Jill Mazur.
