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Cold Tolerant Annuals for Early Spring Planting

Ready to do some early spring gardening? This list of cold tolerant annuals will add some life to your outdoor space after a long winter!

This has been a challenging spring for gardening to say the least. Will the snow ever stop?

Usually by this time, my Lily of the Valley is peeking out of the ground. It is the flower for May, after all. Not this year. Notta. It’s not even brave enough to come out yet!

When I was decorating our front porch last week, I knew the chances for more cold weather were pretty good. What plants could I put in my containers that wouldn’t be too wimpy?

Cold Tolerant Annuals to Plant in Early Spring

It didn’t take long to realize there are quite a few cold tolerant annuals available at the garden centres right now. Although I was going for a white flower theme like last season, there are many options out there for adding colour too.

Cold Tolerant Annuals

Cold Tolerant Annuals for Early Spring Planting - Bacopa

Bacopa

Bacopa is an annual I’ve never planted before. I adore their tiny white blooms with yellow centers, and apparently they’re fairly low maintenance in the growing season. Bacopa can tolerate cool weather, but not a hard frost like some other annuals. Cover or take inside if it looks like it’s going to freeze.

Cold Tolerant Annuals for Early Spring Planting - Pansies

Pansies

Don’t let the name Pansy fool you. These plants are hardy and can even tolerate light frost. Look for them in colours, too, such as purple, yellow, blue, orange and more.

Cold Tolerant Annuals for Early Spring Planting - Alyssum

Alyssum

Alyssum plants do well in the cool weather and will bloom throughout most of the growing season. Most varieties are like pansies and can tolerate some frost, making them good contenders right through to late fall.

Cold Tolerant Herb for Early Spring Planting - Rosemary

Rosemary

The herb rosemary is an annual in our area (zone 3b), but will sometimes keep in our garage over the winter, acting more like a perennial. Rosemary is a very frost-resistent and low-maintenance plant that’s great for adding flavour to dishes all summer long!

Cold Tolerant Annuals for Early Spring Planting - Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemums

Chrysanthemums are favourites due to their tolerance in a range of weather. In the spring, I usually select white or yellow mums so they don’t fade throughout the summer like the darker blooms do.

What are some of your favourite annuals to plant in early spring? Have you lost any plants this year to frost?

A List of Cold Tolerant Plants for Early Spring Planting - Satori Design for Living

P.S. Have you checked out my Spring Front Porch yet? If not, head over there now!

Front Porch Decorating Ideas for Spring, Including Square Boxwood Wreath, Vintage Sap Bucket, Yellow Pillow and More

Also, don’t forget the Outdoor Extravaganza starts next week. Can’t wait to see your Plants & Flowers projects!

Join the Outdoor Extravaganza 2014

One other thing before you head off… If you’re looking for more useful and pretty ideas in your life, make sure you’re on the email list! You can subscribe here.

Happy planting!

Shauna at Satori Design for Living Blog - Home Decor, DIY, Vintage Finds, Recipes

9 Comments

  1. I’m a huge fan of pansies! Lambs ear is another favorite – its super hearty and volunteer plants itself at random if you let it, primroses, dianthus, blackeyed Susans… I’ve only ever planted Alyssum and Bacopa in hanging baskets, and haven’t made any baskets for a long time… I love your pansy planter!!

    1. I’ll have to check out lambs ear- that’s a new one to me. Anything that can handle our range of weather I’m up for. It froze so hard last night!

  2. I like your all white blooms (except the Lavender) on your porch Shauna and thanks for the plant info. I have lot’s of Lambs Ear too (come and get some Sheila and Shauna!) and I do lot’s of Bachelors Buttons, it reseeds itself and blooms for a long, long time! For annuals I love nasturtiums, I’m growing a lot this year and putting them all over in containers and baskets – it’s going to be wild! 

    1. Apparently nasturtiums are good for keeping aphids away. I should plant those in our back yard. Would love to stop by some day. We’ll have to plan a meet-up when we’re in your neck of the woods :)

  3. Awesome Shauna! I have no idea what I’m doing in the garden… so this is just perfect timing for the porch. Working on the bench right now, looking for the perfect plants to finish off the whole look!

  4. Thanks for sharing this. It is Autumn here in Australia and Winter is fast approaching so I need some pretty plants for the cooler months. I might plant some pansies!

    Best wishes,
    Natasha in Oz

  5. Great choices, Shauna!  I love white flowers and these all look so beautiful!  You are inspiring me to do something with my front porch!

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