Certain plants are just so tough that they are seldom killed off by frost; but as they say “never say never!” Anyway it takes a lot to kill off these toughies, so if you live in a very cold region which is prone to severe frost, why not plant out a couple of these to brighten up your garden and containers. Your local garden centre should have trays of seedling or seeds of these varieties.
Bedding plants which take heavy frost:
Alyssum mixedAlyssum can be grown year round and is available in lovely shades of pink, rose, purple, mauve, white and yellow. Alyssum mixes beautifully with other flowering plants in hanging baskets, window boxes and all manner of containers.Click here for more info..
Picture courtesy Maria KlangBokbaaivygies are unrivalled for their multitude of dazzling, brightly coloured flowers; and if planted en masse make a striking groundcover. They are perfect to use in hanging baskets and containers of all kinds, in massed displays with other annuals; and thrive in hot areas like sunny patios and driveways.Click here for more info..
Calendula Calendulas are fun and grow quickly throughout the country in full sun or light shade and are hardy to all but extremely severe frost. Plant them in window boxes and pots for weeks of warm colour; or sow them in massed beds or as an edging plant alongside walkways.Click here for more info..
Picture courtesy Ann SonghurstCanterbury Bell’s will remind you of a storybook English cottage garden with its tall flower spikes and elegant, bell-shaped flowers. The blooms come in a lovely range of colours from purple, violet, blue, lavender, pink, and white and last long in a vase. They are essential in cottage gardens and make an excellent backdrop for shorter annual and perennial plants.Click here for more info..
Picture courtesy Stig MadsenCornflowers are old-fashioned favourites which still hold their own in the flower garden and are a must-have for cottage or wild meadow gardens. Their flowers come in rich shades of blue and are complimented by soft grey-green leaves; making them sought after by gardeners and florists alike. Garden varieties normally also include shades of pink, red, lilac and white.Click here for more info..
DianthusDianthus are grown for the classical beauty of their flowers in clear colours as well as bi-colours; and in many shades of pink, red, violet and white. They grow well throughout South Africa for most of the year, provided they can be watered regularly, and are perfect for containers and edgings.Click here for more info..
Iceland Poppy. Picture courtesy www.lifeisagarden.co.zaIceland Poppies will brighten up even the coldest winter day and are available in bright and pastel shades of red, pink, yellow, orange, cream and white, as well as bicoloured varieties. They combine beautifully with most winter flowering annuals and make a fantastic backdrop for spring flowering bulbs.Click here for more info..
Ornamental Kale 'Purple'Ornamental Kale is very showy, and comes in colours, ranging from white to pinks, purples or reds. They look much the same as their edible cousins, but the ruffled foliage is much fancier and more colourful. The pigmentations for which these plants are known do not appear until after prolonged cool weather and several frosts. Combine them with other seedlings in pots and window boxes; or plant them in massed beds for a striking display.Click here for more info..
Pansy 'Lavender & Face'Pansies & Violas are timeless winter and spring favourites which come in a staggering range of bright or pastel shades; including pink, blue, yellow, gold, orange, purple, violet, red, russet, white and even black. They are available in clear single shades as well as bi-colours. They are perfect planted in hanging baskets and containers of all kinds and combine beautifully with spring flowering bulbs for a brilliant display.Click here for more info..
Picture courtesy Malcolm MannersPhlox are garden annuals of exceptional quality and character; and the fragrant flowers are splendid for cutting. The large clusters of delicate blooms come in many pastel and bright shades of red, pink, coral, blue, lilac, purple white and even yellow. Some varieties have beautiful fringed, star-shaped petals with a white edge. Use them in the flower border or in containers; or mass them in annual flowerbeds and along walkways.Click here for more info..
Picture courtesy Jonathan CohenPoor Man's Orchids produce a profusion flowers in winter and spring, with an infinite range of patterns and colours; from pink, blue, violet, lavender, magenta, white, yellow, orange, gold, red and salmon. These excellent border plants also grow exceptionally well in containers, because they bloom best when their roots are restricted. They grow throughout the country and are hardy to all but severe frost.Click here for more info..
Antirrhinum Floral Showers 'Scarlet'Snapdragons can be grown throughout the year and are available in dwarf, tall and even trailing varieties. They are available in nearly every available flower colour, or bicolour, including red, bronze, yellow, orange, pink, purple, cream and white. Use the taller varieties in the mixed flower and bulb border and the smaller ones as edging plants and in containers.Click here for more info..
StocksStocks are among our oldest and most dearly-loved garden flowers and are grown for their sweet perfume at night and handsome cut-flowers in shades of pink, mauve, crimson, purple, cream, yellow, peach and white; with both dwarf and tall varieties available. Stocks are invaluable in the flower border and the dwarf varieties are easy to grow in containers.Click here for more info..
Sweetpeas Picture courtesy Sebastian CrumpSweet Peas with their highly scented cut flowers bring warmth and cheer to any winter's day. They have been cultivated since the 17th century, resulting in a vast number of cultivars; in a selection of single and mixed colours ranging from almost black to the softest pink, blue, lilac, purple, red, white and all the shades in-between. Pick large bunches and fill your home with them. The more you pick them; the more they flower.Click here for more info..
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Bedding plants which take light frost:
Lobelia 'Dark Blue'Lobelia produces a profusion of tiny flowers in shades of blue, lilac, purple, pink, carmine and white. Some varieties have bronzy foliage and others bright green leaves. The cascading varieties produce billowing masses of flowers up to 30cm long and are favourites to mix with other plants in hanging baskets and containers. Lobelias are invaluable as edging plants and because of their dainty, compact growth, are perfect combined with bulbs.Click here for more info..
Lupins. Picture courtesy Sylvia OreifigLupins produce showy upright spikes of small pea-shaped flowers in winter and spring and are available in shades of yellow, white, rose, lilac and blue. They are excellent cut flowers and both the flowers and berries are used by florists. They are wonderful cottage garden plants that are most eye-catching when planted in large masses.Click here for more info..
Cape Jewels Sundrops mix Nemesia. Picture courtesy Ball Horticultural CompanyNemesias are grown for their masses of small snapdragon like flowers with intense colours, like gold, yellow, orange, rose, pink, peach, red and white. They grow beautifully in containers and make a colourful border plant. Planted in massed displays they make a spectacular show.Click here for more info..
Petunia grandiflora 'Cherry Frost'Petunia can be planted almost all year round in South Africa and thousands of hybrids have been bred, with flower sizes and shapes varying greatly; and in an outstanding array of colours varying from fiery reds, burgundy and purples, to all shades of pink, lilac, blue, yellow and white. Petunias bloom continuously all season with little maintenance and make perfect centrepieces to mixed plantings in pots, hanging baskets and window boxes.Click here for more info..
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For those shady areas:
Bellis perennisEnglish Daisies are loved for their bright-green leaves and double daisy flowers in all shades of pink to rose, scarlet and white. English daisies grow easily in pots, are lovely in woodland or pebble gardens and make excellent border and bedding plants. They are hardy to frost and will grow in full sun or light-shade.Click here for more info..
Foxglove Foxgloves remain firm favourites for woodland and shady gardens; and are planted for their striking flower spikes in spring and summer. Their velvety flowers last long in a vase and have marbled markings in all shades of white, yellow, cream, lavender, rose and red. They are hardy to frost and grow grow in semi-shade to sun.Click here for more info..
Common PrimroseCommon Primroses are hardy to frost and grown for their intensely coloured flowers in every colour except green and flower profusely in winter and spring. Plant them in pots, window boxes and hanging baskets or use them as a border to the shady flower garden. They combine beautifully with spring flowering bulbs.Click here for more info..
Fairy PrimroseFairy Primroses remain firm favourites with their masses of delicate flowers in delightful shades of lilac, purple, pink, carmine-red and white. They are hardy to moderate frost and flower all winter and spring. They are beautiful in window boxes, hanging baskets and pots; they also make great edging plants and combine well with spring flowering bulbs.Click here for more info..
German PrimroseGerman Primroses are like miniature floral bouquets with their clusters of cheerful flowers in a rainbow of colours; from yellow, orange and red, to pink, lilac, blue, purple and white. They are semi-hardy to frost and flower profusely in winter, spring and early summer. Plant them in pots, window boxes and hanging baskets or use them as a border to the shady flower garden. They also combine beautifully with spring flowering bulbs.Click here for more info..
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