10 Winter Annuals to Brighten Your Garden in Cold Months

Colorful snapdragon flowers in a garden — Photo:
baona / Getty Images

When winter weather ushers in colder temperatures, it signals the end of the season for many of the frost-sensitive annuals growing in your garden. But this doesn't mean the end of beauty in your landscape for the year. Some cold-tolerant annuals continue to endure and bloom after temperatures drop and frosts and freezes set in. Here's a look at several expert-recommended hardy winter annuals that can brighten your garden even in the cold.

Laura Irish-Hanson, horticulture educator at the University of Minnesota Extension
Jan Johnsen, landscape designer and author of Floratopia: 110 Flower Garden Ideas for Your Yard, Patio, or Balcony

01 of 10

Pansies

Pansies (Viola spp.) immediately enter the conversation when anyone talks about hardy annuals. Not only are they colorful, cheery, and vibrant, but they're also quite cold-hardy. "I must admit, I love pansies," says Jan Johnsen, landscape designer and author. "The colors of pansies are so varied, and they add a pop of color when the early spring days are still drab." At the other end of the growing season, pansies continue to put their cold-hardy nature to good use. Those first few frosts won't phase pansies, and they may even keep going through some harder freezes. Pansies may look sweet and delicate, but they're resilient and tough, too.

Zones: 3 to 8
Size: 6 to 12 inches tall x 4 to 12 inches wide
Care requirements: Full to partial sun; well-drained soil

02 of 10

Kale

When a plant is as beautiful as kale (Brassica oleracea), it being edible feels like a special bonus for an already lovely plant. "My favorite cool-season annual is kale," says Laura Irish-Hanson, horticulture educator at the University of Minnesota Extension. "Kale is also a gorgeous addition to any landscape because there are so many varieties and cultivars to choose from." She adds that kale provides lovely textures in the garden, and its coarse leaves pop next to finer leaves of plants like carrot, dill, and alyssum. "I am particularly fond of lacinato and redbor kales," she says. "Each can grow quite tall and peek out from under the snow in December."

Zones: 2 to 11
Size: Up to 18 inches tall x 12 to 18 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun; fertile, well-drained soil

03 of 10

Bachelor's Button

Cornflower in garden — Queserasera99 / Getty Images

Pollinators love bachelor's button (Centaurea cyanus) and gardeners do too. This plant is best known for its bright blue blossoms, but it's also found in shades of white, pink, and purple. Best of all, bachelor's button is a hardy annual and keeps blooming through the first few frosts and even light freezes. It's also known as cornflower.

Zones: 2 to 11
Size: 2 to 3 feet tall x 1 to 2 feet wide
Care requirements: Full to partial sun; well-drained, sandy soil

04 of 10

Snapdragons

When cold temperatures arrive, snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus) calmly keep blooming. In frosts, freezes, and even snow, this plant deftly handles early winter conditions. Snapdragons are found in a wide range of colors, and their brilliance and resilience make them eye-catching and reliable.

Zones: 7 to 10, but grown as an annual elsewhere
Size: About 36 inches tall x 8 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun; slightly moist, well-drained soil

05 of 10

Parsley

While technically a biennial plant that doesn't produce seed until its second year, parsley (Petroselinum crispum) is grown as an annual in most locations. "Parsley plants do well with temperatures slightly below 25 degrees Fahrenheit," says Irish-Hanson. "They are not in active growth at these low temperatures, but the plants usually survive. Having cover or protection from desiccation from wind can prolong the harvest window for cool-season crops," she adds.

Zones: 4 to 9
Size: 8 to 24 inches tall x 12 to 24 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun; moist soil

06 of 10

French Marigolds

Orange yellow French marigold — svf74 / Getty Images

Marigolds (Tagetes) don't typically come to mind when thinking of cold-tolerant annuals, but some French marigold varieties offer a bit more hardiness than the average marigold. You'll find they aren't as hardy as pansies or snapdragons, but when temperatures drop to the 30s, you may find that French marigolds hang on even through the first couple of frosts. And who doesn't appreciate the extra time with those bright and sunny blooms?

Zones: 2 to 11
Size: 6 to 12 inches tall x 6 to 12 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun; well-drained soil

07 of 10

Petunias

Although not as hardy as some annuals, petunias (Petunia spp.) are somewhat cold-tolerant and can sometimes withstand temperatures around 30 degrees Fahrenheit. The Wave series of petunias are said to be among the hardier types, and the ‘Laura Bush’ cultivar is another smart option because of its increased cold tolerance. By carefully choosing your petunias, you can continue enjoying their vivid blooms into early winter.

Zones: 2 to 11
Size: 6 to 12 inches tall x 20 to 30 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun; well-drained soil

08 of 10

Dusty Miller

If you want to add visual interest to your early winter garden with an eye-catching foliage plant, dusty miller (Jacobaea maritima) will not disappoint. It features curvy, silver-colored leaves that almost appear to be frosted. Dusty miller is a hardy annual and doesn't mind frost, although it doesn't handle hard freezes as well. It's a beautiful plant and a lovely complement to some of the flashier, colorful blooms other annuals offer.

Zones: 7 to 11, grown as an annual elsewhere
Size: 12 inches tall or more x 12 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; slightly moist, well-drained soil

09 of 10

Sweet Peas

The lovely sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus) is very cold-hardy and will continue to put out its charming blossoms during chilly weather. Eventually, this plant will lose its battle with the thermometer when temperatures reach about 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Until then, they will keep their bright green foliage and white or purple blossoms, filling your garden with winter cheer. Note: sweet peas are not edible and are toxic to consume.

Zones: 3 to 8
Size: 6 feet tall x 2 to 3 feet wide
Care requirements: Full sun, well-drained soil

10 of 10

Carnations

Depending on where you live, carnations (Dianthus) can be grown as annuals, biennials, and perennials. These fragrant cut flowers bloom in beautiful shades of pink, pinkish-purple, or white. In addition to being frost-tolerant, carnations are attractive to pollinators and resistant to deer.