The spring and summer months present opportunities to introduce colors into our gardens with the help of flowering plants, the warm season (spring and summer) brings inspiration to transform our outdoor living space into an oasis or garden paradise that’s restful and inviting. However, the warmer months are long behind us as we approach the cooler season that brings with it winter chills as the temperature drops.

Warm-season flowering plants are beginning to fade because of this time of the year but the good news is we can still keep our South Florida gardens and landscapes vibrant with cool-season annuals that will provide that color pop for our winter gardens.

If your desire is to continue a colorful garden during this time of the year then look no further you have come to the right place to receive inspiration that will equip you with the know-how of maintaining a colorful garden even during winter time.

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7 Best Cool Season Annuals for your South Florida Garden

1. Pentunias

Petunias are some of my favorite flowering plants that can really bring that color pop, Because of their exceptional blooms petunias are one of the most popular flowering annuals that are used in plant design. Petunias are grown in USDA Zones 10 to 11 but are treated as annuals in most areas and can be grown as perennials in USDA Zones 9 to 11.

I have worked on many garden projects with these flowering beauties and have seen the show display that they put on, easy to care for, petunias will surely bring much color into your garden brightening your winter days.

Petunias can be grown in containers, hanging baskets, or in a garden flower bed. When installing petunia for optimal effect install in masses. The planting location for petunias should be a sunny location so ensure when installing that they get as much sun as possible.

The soil type for these garden beauties can be from clay, and sandy to well-drained soil. When watering petunias give them a good soaking and allow the soil to dry out somewhat between watering before watering again. But during the winter months only water as needed. Petunias use less water during winter time so allow the soil to dry somewhat before irrigating, during the warm season petunias can receive a balanced fertilizer such as 12-12-12 or 10-10-10. There is no need for fertilizer application during the colder months.

2. Geraniums

Although most Geraniums are grown as annuals they are grown as perennials in USDA zones 10-11 and are a great choice to add to your gardens and landscape designs, my former place of employment every few months would order a 40-foot container of plants, and among those plants which were ordered many were geraniums. Geraniums will work wonders by beautifying your gardens, landscapes, and interior as well. Geraniums look great when installed in a plant bed giving that needed flavor with its beautiful flower bloom.

When installing make sure and take advantage of as much sunlight for your geraniums to thrive, geraniums don’t like wet feet, sandy soils will keep them growing their best. When watering give them a good soaking then allow the soil to dry thoroughly before watering again. But because of the winter months, you don’t need to water as often,  however, keep check on the soil moisture level and water as needed. Once the warm months return and after new growth emerges feed your geraniums with a liquid fertilizer every 3 weeks throughout the growing season.

3. Dianthus

Dianthus are low-maintenance plants that give your garden that color pop while attracting butterflies and other pollinators, dianthus also go by the name Sweet William. Dianthus are in a family of flowering plants that contains 3000 species. Most dianthus are perennials but because of how tender they are, they are grown as annuals. These garden beauties grow best in USDA zones 4-10.

To keep your dianthus growing healthy take advantage of the winter sun by installing them in a sunny location, the soil type should be well-drained with a pH that is slightly alkaline to neutral. During the summertime ensure that the soil is somewhat moist and not waterlogged. Allow the soil to dry out a bit before giving your dianthus another drink. Decrease water application during the cool season monitor the soil moisture level and apply water as needed.

4. Lantanas

In warmer Southern climates lantanas are treated as perennials, but in other climates lantanas are treated as annuals, lantanas are a tropical plant that is known for its versatility thriving in the most adverse conditions. This hardy perennial is native to the tropical regions of the Americas and Africa and thrives best in USDA zones 8-11.

Lantanas are beautiful plants that produce small clusters of flower blooms, there are many varieties that will give your gardens and landscapes that color pop. These garden beauties will attract wildlife such as butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, and other bird species withstanding the drought as well as salt sprays in coastal areas. Lantanas carry an aroma that is mild and pleasant.

When growing lantanas install in an area that gets lots of sunlight. The soil type should be soil that has good drainage because lantanas don’t like wet feet although they can tolerate poor soils. The soil pH should be slightly acidic. When watering your lantanas give them plenty of water and allow the soil to dry out a bit before giving another drink however decrease and monitor the soil’s moisture level during winter.

5. Violas

There are about 500 plus species of violas, some species of violas are native to North America, the Andes, Hawaii, and Australasia. There are about 500 plus species of these garden beauties. Violas are hardy cool season plants that thrive in USDA zones 3-8.

Although violas are considered to be cool-season plants they thrive well in full sunlight so ensure that your violas are planted under this condition. Viola’s love and organic-rich well-drained soil with a pH of 5.4-5.8

When watering your violas ensure that the soil is moist and not waterlogged which can lead to root rot, allow the soil to dry out a bit between watering before giving your violas another drink. Decrease water application during the winter months and water only as needed. Fertilizing your violas in the spring and again during the late summer months with a slow-release fertilizer that promotes flower bloom will help your violas to bloom in the fall. However, in winter time discontinue fertilizer applications.

6. Marigold

Marigold produces bright vibrant colors that will not only provide that color pop but will brighten those long winter days, these garden beauties can be grown as summer or winter annuals. During the spring and summer months, these garden beauties will attract pollinators, marigolds grow best in USDA zone 2-11.

When installing marigolds locate an area that gets lots of sunlight even though these plants can survive in partial shade. The soil should be well-drained but hold moisture. Adding organics to the soil will help greatly.

During the warmer months ensure that the soil is somewhat moist and not waterlogged, once the cooler months arrive decrease but monitor the soil’s moisture, the use of a diluted liquid feed or quick-release fertilizer will keep your marigold looking great. Just the other day I was at one of the local plant nurseries to collect a few plant species marigolds being one of them and the nursery owner suggested to me and give me a small bag of osmocote saying this will also keep your marigolds blooming.

7. Coleus

A Plant that I have come to love over the years and have used in many garden designs is coleus, the leaves of these garden beauties are so beautiful and come in so many colors, I assure you that with coleus you can’t go wrong in your winter garden. Coleus grows best in USDA zones 10-13 as a tender perennial but is most often grown as an annual.

Although the flowers of coleus are removed to encourage a fluffy or bushier growth if allowed to remain will attract bees and other pollinators. Coleus grows their best in partial shade although some varieties perform well in the full sun.

When watering your coleus give them a good soaking, especially during summertime, and allow the soil to dry out before giving them another drink of water. During the winter months decrease irrigation and monitor the soil’s moisture.

The use of a balanced fertilizer such as triple ten or 10-10-10 will keep your coleus in tip-top shape. Make sure and read the manufacturer’s label before applying.

The final word on cool season annuals for South Florida

The winter months shouldn’t spell gloom and doom for your garden because the cooler months also present opportunities for us to keep our gardens going with beautiful colors as we prepare for wintertime. The spring and the summer months are not the only time to create that color pop, there are many cool season perennials that can help you to accomplish the end (colorful garden) results. With this list of plants, your winter will be bright and colorful as we once again enter the spring and summer months.