Top 5: Fall Annuals
As trees and shrubs begin to display their beautiful autumn colors and fall-blooming perennials start to blossom, why not enhance the vibrancy of your garden by planting some cold-tolerant annuals? These resilient plants will bring even more color and life to your outdoor space during the cooler months.
These lovely plants are ideal for replacing tired ones in your summer container gardens, adding a splash of seasonal interest to beds and borders, or giving your front door, patio, or deck a fresh and vibrant appearance for the fall season.
1. Strawflower
Strawflower is truly a delightful addition to any garden. Not only does it bring vibrant colours, but its unique texture adds a touch of beauty as well. The petals, with their stiff and paper-like feel, make this flower particularly perfect for dried floral crafts.Strawflowers can be found in a beautiful variety of hues like yellow, orange, red, pink, and white.
To ensure your strawflowers stay vibrant and blooming for a long time, it's important to protect them from freezing temperatures. These delicate flowers are not tolerant of frost, so taking precautions against the cold will help them thrive and provide continuous beauty in your garden. To ensure their healthy growth, it's best to plant them in a spot blessed with plenty of sunshine and well-drained soil.
2. Flowering Kale
Flowering kale, while it belongs to the same family as the kale you'd typically eat, is primarily grown for its beauty rather than its edibility. Its leaves are thick and tough, making them less desirable for consumption. Interestingly, despite its name, flowering kale doesn't actually produce flowers. However, the inner leaves often showcase stunning shades of white, pink, or purple.
You can create a beautiful seasonal display by combining mixed pansies with it. Even in freezing temperatures, this pairing will stand strong. For the best coloring, make sure to plant them in an area that receives full sun.
3. Calibrachoa
Calibrachoa is a cherished annual flower that brings joy with its vibrant hues and requires minimal upkeep. Although it is typically seen as a summer plant, calibrachoa exhibits resilience in colder temperatures as well. One of the wonderful things about fall annual container gardens is how they can effortlessly bring beauty to any space. A perfect example is when this gorgeous plant cascades from a hanging basket, creating a stunning visual. With its jewel-tone flowers available in an array of colors, it effortlessly complements and enhances any design theme you can dream up.
When you're ready to plant, try to find a sunny area with soil that drains well. This will give your plants the best chance to thrive and flourish.
4. Pansy
These delightful and cold-resistant plants bring joy with their vibrant flowers that come in a variety of colours. You can enjoy the cheery blooms in shades of red, orange, yellow, white, purple, and blue. Pansies are commonly grown as annuals, especially in container gardens. However, it's important to know that they are actually short-lived perennials. They can withstand colder temperatures and thrive in zones 6-11.
5. Ornamental Peppers
These resilient annual plants are sure to add a dash of excitement to your garden! Ornamental Peppers not only produce vibrant fruits in a range of striking colors like red, orange, yellow, blue, purple, and even black but they are also quite easy to cultivate. While some varieties do pack a spicy punch, there are others that have non-pungent fruits and can be safely grown around small children.
Not only do these varieties showcase their delicious fruits, but they also boast stunning variegated foliage. To ensure optimal growth, make sure to plant them in a sunny area with well-draining soil. However, it's important to note that like strawflowers, these fall annuals are not very frost tolerant. So, when the colder weather arrives, remember to cover or protect them for their wellbeing.
