Cool Flowers

“Cool Flowers” is a term often used to describe flowers that thrive in cooler seasons, such as early spring or fall. The concept was popularized by gardener and author Lisa Mason Ziegler in her book “Cool Flowers: How to Grow and Enjoy Long-Blooming Hardy Annual Flowers Using Cool Weather Techniques.”

Here are a few examples of cool-season flowers:

1. Snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus) - These flowers come in a variety of colors and can tolerate light frost.

2. Sweet Peas (Lathyrus odoratus) - Known for their fragrance and beautiful hues, sweet peas prefer cooler weather.

3. Pansies (Viola tricolor var. hortensis) - Pansies are hardy and can even tolerate a bit of snow.

4. Larkspur (Consolida ajacis) - These are tall, spiky flowers that can add height and texture to a garden.

5. Bachelor’s Buttons (Centaurea cyanus) - Also known as cornflowers, these are easy to grow and come in shades of blue, pink, and white.

6. Calendula (Calendula officinalis) - With vibrant orange and yellow blooms, calendula is also known for its medicinal properties.

7. Stock (Matthiola incana) - Stock flowers are wonderfully fragrant and come in various pastels.

Techniques for growing cool flowers generally involve planting them in the fall so they establish roots before winter and then bloom early in the spring. It’s essential to understand your local climate and frost dates to successfully grow these types of flowers. You may need to protect them with row covers or cloches if unexpected frost or severe weather occurs.