The garden doesn’t have to be dull just because winter is around the corner. Annuals are a quick colour fix for beds or pots.
Flowers to plant for winter blooms
Viola
POSITION Sun, semi-shade.
CULTIVATION Picking the small pansy-like flowers encourages further blooms.
Plant viola flowers in sun or semi-shade. Image: Alamy
Linaria
POSITION Sun.
CULTIVATION Sow seeds where they are to grow. Good for mixed planting in pots.
Sow Linaria seeds directly where you want them to grow. Image: Alamy
Cineraria
POSITION Semi-shade, shade.
CULTIVATION Grow in pots and bring indoors when the plant begins to flower.
Grow Cineraria in pots and bring indoors when the plant begins to flower
Iceland Poppy
POSITION Sun.
CULTIVATION Shelter from wind and plant in soil with excellent drainage.
Plant the Iceland Poppy in soil that has excellent drainage
Primula
POSITION Sun, semi-shade.
CULTIVATION Grow in pots and garden beds.
Grow Primula in pots and garden beds. Image: Alamy
Pansy
POSITION Sun, afternoon shade in hot climates.
CULTIVATION Picking flowers encourages more blooms.
Picking Pansy flowers will encourage more blooms. Image: Thinkstock
Calendula
Position Sun.
CULTIVATION Remove spent blooms to prolong flowering. Petals are edible.
Calendula petals are edible, add them to salads for added flavour. Image: Alamy
Polyanthus
POSITION Sun, semi-shade.
CULTIVATION A perennial, often grown as an annual. Don’t allow the potting mix to dry out.
Plant Polyanthus in sun or semi-shade. Image: Alamy
Nemesia
POSITION Sun.
CULTIVATION Pinch out the growing tips while young to encourage bushiness.
Plant Nemesia flowers in a sunny spot. Image: Alamy
How to grow
REMOVE the plant carefully from its punnet so you don’t disturb the roots.
PLANT it into damp soil or potting mix and water in well.
FEED it monthly with a soluble complete plant food.
DEADHEAD flowers on a regular basis.
GROW TIP Always water annuals in seedling trays before you transplant them into garden beds or pots.
Plant flowers in pots
Containers and pots filled with flowering annuals can transform any courtyard or patio from insipid to inspired in no time.
You can mix annuals in different sizes and colours in a pot or stick to just the one colour theme.
Use high-quality premium mixes that carry an Australian Standard label to get your plants off to a good start. And while planting in plastic pots is best for water retention, you could use an attractive terracotta pot as a sleeve.
Seasonal scents
Fragrance need not be missing from the garden during the cooler months.
Daphne odora shows off at this time of the year with pink flowers that have a heady scent. It needs good drainage, slightly acidic soil and morning sun only.
Another plant that likes morning sun is Luculia gratissima. It grows 3m high and has equally sweet-smelling flowers.
Other great fragrant winter shrubs include Buddleia salvifolia, Boronia megastigma and Viburnum farreri.
Flowering climbers
The orange flowers of the evergreen flame vine, Pyrostegia venusta, will brighten the garden from winter into spring in frost-free climates. It is best used for screening purposes.
Depending on the cultivar, you could also choose purple, white or pink flowering hardenbergia. Another evergreen, this native is ideal for metal fences.
The orange flowers of the evergreen flame vine, Pyrostegia venusta, will brighten the garden from winter into spring in frost-free climates
Food for birds
It’s hard for birds to find nectar in winter and you can help them by planting winter-flowering natives. Introducing these plants will also have a good impact on the overall environment, as the birds, animals and insects they attract will find their way into other neighbourhood gardens.
What flowers to plant to attract birds in winter
Grevilleas
Best used as a screening or feature plant, the grevillea flowers in cooler weather, attracting many honeyeaters. You can choose from a variety of colours.
Grevillea flowers in cooler weather, attracting many honeyeaters
Banksia
The heath banksia (Banksia ericifolia) and the coast banksia (Banksia integrifolia) are two hardy flowering shrubs that will attract birds during winter.
The heath banksia attract birds during winter
Flowers
Other good natives are pink waxflower (Philotheca australasius), Thryptomene saxicola and Geraldton waxflower (Chamelaucium uncinatum).
The Geraldton waxflower is a native plant that will attract birds to your garden
Winter bulbs
The dark-green strappy leaves of Clivia miniata look good throughout the year and its orange-scarlet flowers lift the tone of the garden during late winter.
Ideal for planting in dry, shady positions, this flowering plant comes in cream, pale yellow, salmon pink and bright-red cultivars.
Snowflakes and early jonquils also begin to make an appearance during the last month of winter to add another burst of colour to the garden.
DESIGN TIP Bring brightly coloured potted cyclamen indoors during winter to use as living decorations.