Sonnet snapdragon plants grow up to 30 inches tall and offer colorful flower spikes in a kaleidoscope of shades that are great as cut flowers. They are thrilling in a cool-season combination container and have a soft cinnamon scent. (Photo by MSU Extension Service/Gary Bachman) ###
Four Plants for Winter Color
by Bronwynne Bailey
As cold weather makes it way to Mississippi, the vibrant colors of summer and fall begin to fade. Winter months are traditionally very bland in terms of landscape, but they do not have to be! There are several colorful plants that work well in cold temperatures, and many of them are minimal maintenance. Here are four annual plants you can incorporate into your flowerbeds or containers to add a nice pop of color to your winter landscape:
- Snapdragon: If you do not want to have big and tall snapdragons, there are nice dwarf-growing types. One of the best is the Montego series. Montego snapdragons will grow to only ten inches tall and wide. Like their big cousins, they are available in a variety of colors that would be gorgeous lining the front edge of a flower bed, including red, yellow, white, pink and bicolor. Deadheading will keep them blooming and looking tidy. These plants are tolerant of low temperatures, but to prepare for extremely cold nights, cover them with a sheet or box until the cold spell passes. Plant them in a well-drained landscape bed or container. Snapdragons need consistent moisture but don’t like wet feet. When planting, put a teaspoon of slow-release fertilizer in the hole first to keep the plants well fed. When warmer weather arrives in the spring, feed them again for a great colorful display.
- Dusty miller: Known botanically as Senecio cineraria, this Mediterranean plant is cold and heat tolerant. This plant may be grown as an annual or cut back in spring to rejuvenate growth. The velvety, silver foliage of the dusty miller stands out amongst the greenery of other bedding plants. These are drought-tolerant plants. Water the transplants to get them established and then only sparingly or during prolonged dry periods. Prune back the golden-yellow flowers that appear in summer to stimulate new growth.
- Dianthus: Another garden showstopper is dianthus flowers. They come in a variety of distinct colors and are a great annual to plant in the masses. Although these plants can withstand cold temperatures, they may need a bit more protection during hard freezes.
- Sweet Alyssum: This impressive bedding plant with its delightful fragrance usually relishes our winter months. In zone 8 we consider it a fall bedding plant; in zone 7 it is a late-winter or early-spring plant. This small bedding plant is known as Lobularia maritma and is native to coastal southern Europe. It is ideal for the front of the border and comes in white, rose, lilac, and purple. The sweet alyssum persists a lot longer into the warm season than many realize. They may only reach 4 inches high, but their landscape impact and fragrance make them irresistible.
Mississippi weather can be unpredictable. Remember to keep an eye on the temperatures to prepare for a hard freeze. Extension Publication 2303, “Protecting Plants from Cold Temperatures,” offers insight and advice on how to protect your plants when the temperatures drop below freezing.
