Here in North Florida and Jacksonville, we are fortunate to have wonderful weather and temperatures during our cool season. Our cool season occurs from October to April. During this season, projects that have landscaping in Jacksonville, FL are able to use a large variety of winter annuals. Most colorful annual plants perform better in cooler temperatures than in summer. This provides a great opportunity for gardens to still have color despite most of our landscape plants and trees peaking their color in summer. While people around North Florida spend more time outside in the winter, Ethos Landscapes recommends planting these Top 6 Winter Annuals for Jacksonville, FL landscaping.
As you read more about these annuals, send us a message if you have any questions.
And when you are ready to do some planting, we will design and install the right plant in the right place for you!
Our Top 6 Winter Annuals
The Top 6 on our list are Pansies, Petunias, Snapdragons, Sweet Alyssum, Geraniums, and Dianthus.
While there are more winter annuals that will perform well in our area, these are the ones we like. They provide a variety of colors, sizes, and textures. When designing your bed layout, be sure to consider how you lay out the annuals based on their color, size, and texture. Will you arrange them formally, or in a more random pattern?
Be sure to provide rich, organic soil and fertilizer for the annuals. In addition, don’t plant your annuals too deep. Leave ¼ inch to ½ inch of the rootball out of the ground. The number one cause of annual plants dying is being planted too deep.
1. Pansies, Viola x wittrockiana
Pansies (aka Violas) are one of the best-looking annuals we have in Jacksonville. Flowers come in many colors and patterns. Pansies make great borders or are planted in masses with mixed colors.
These are a late-season annual, performing better in cooler temperatures. Plant in January and February to expect four to five months of blooming.
If possible, they prefer light shade in the middle of the day.
Color
Yellow, white, blue, purple, red, pink, orange, and even black.
Growth Form
They are low-growing plants reaching heights of less than 6 inches tall and spreading 6-8 inches wide.
Companion Annuals:
Try pairing white pansies with red geraniums for a festive look.
Another great pairing is yellow pansies with red salvias and purple petunias. If you want to learn more about pansies, The University of Florida has more information about Pansies on the IFAS website.
2. Petunias, Petunias spp.
Petunias are another favorite annual for Jacksonville and North Florida. Flowers come in a large variety of colors and sizes. They are very easy to care for and provide tremendous color.
Like pansies, they make great borders or are planted in masses of mixed colors.
In Jacksonville, Petunias are better suited to springtime planting after the risk of frost has passed. They may survive a light frost, but not a hard freeze. Plant in March and expect four to five months of blooming.
Color
Pinks, purples, red, white, salmon, and even striped.
Growth Form
They are low-growing plants reaching heights of 6 to 18 inches tall and spreading 10 to 24 inches wide.
Companion Annuals:
Petunias pair well with snapdragons, salvias, pansies, and geraniums.
Try pairing a midnight blue petunia with red or yellow annuals, such as red salvias and yellow pansies.
Another great pairing is yellow pansies with red salvias and purple petunias.
If you want to learn more about Petunias, The University of Florida has more information about Petunias on the IFAS website.
3. Snapdragons, Antirrhinum majus
Snapdragons are traditional annuals that provide great cool-season color for Jacksonville landscaping. They are easy to grow and will flower best in full sun.
As cool-season winter annuals for Jacksonville, FL, snapdragons should be planted from October to December with an expected blooming period of 5-6 months.
Color
Yellow, White, Orange, Pink, and Purple.
Growth Form:
Reaching heights of 6 to 36 inches tall, but more commonly 12 inches tall. Snapdragons have an upright growth pattern with spiked flowers.
Companion Annuals:
The spike/vertical shape of the snapdragon flower pairs nicely with a round flower, such as petunias, pansies, or geraniums. This provides a contrast between the spike and the round shapes.
Try a back layer of bright pink snapdragon, a middle layer of blue petunias, and a front border of yellow pansies.
You may also find that you like a more random arrangement of mixed snapdragons and petunias. If you would like to learn more details about Snapdragons, The University of Florida has more information about Snapdragons on the IFAS website.
4. Sweet Alyssum, Lobularia maritima
Sweet Alyssum is a beautiful, low-growing winter annual with small white or pink/purple flowers. They have a delicate appearance and are very fragrant.
These plants are great for borders or as cascading flowers in pots. Plant them in full sun only and do not overwater as they are prone to fungus.
In Jacksonville, sweet alyssum is better suited to springtime planting after the risk of frost has passed. They may survive a light frost, but not a hard freeze. Plant in March and expect three to four months of blooming.
Color:
White, light purple, rose
Growth Form:
3-6 inches tall with a spread of 8 inches wide.
Companion Annuals:
A simple, yet beautiful container arrangement is pink geraniums in the center, blue salvias on the sides, and white sweet alyssum around the edges.
Sweet Alyssum makes a great border in front of pansies, petunias, or snapdragons. If you want to learn more about sweet alyssum, The University of Florida has more information about sweet alyssum on the IFAS website.
5. Geranium, Pelargonium x hortorum
Geraniums are another traditional annual with beautiful flowers. The flowers grow in clusters that are 3-4 inches wide with 2 inch leaves that are round in shape.
For best performance, geraniums prefer dry weather. Also, be sure to pinch off dead flowers and leaves to maintain the best appearance.
For Jacksonville landscaping, geraniums are better suited to springtime planting after the risk of frost has passed. They may survive a light frost, but not a hard freeze. Plant in March and expect three to four months of blooming. Geraniums usually do not last once June arrives.
Color:
Many shades of red, pink, peach, white, and lavender.
Growth Form:
Geraniums usually grow to heights of 12-24 inches tall with a 12-18 inch spread.
Companion Annuals:
Companions are salvias, snapdragons, marigolds, or petunias.
Use bright geranium varieties with other bright annuals with yellow and blues.
Pair a bright red geranium with a purple petunia or pansy.
If you want to learn more about geraniums, The University of Florida has more information about Geraniums on the IFAS website.
6. Dianthus, Dianthus chinensis
With beautiful and slightly fragrant flowers, dianthus is a favorite winter annual for Jacksonville, FL.
Dianthus may be used as borders or edges in the Jacksonville landscape, as well as a mass planting. It also makes a great addition to a container arrangement.
Provide full sun and well-drained soil for best performance.
For North Florida, Zone 9, Dianthus may be planted in November or December, and then again in February. As a winter annual, dianthus usually does not last past May.
Color:
Red, lavender, pink, purple, salmon, and white
Growth Form:
A low-growing bedding annual, dianthus grows to a height of 6 inches with a spread of 12 inches.
Companion Annuals:
Pair a pink dianthus front border, a middle layer of purple petunias, and a yellow snapdragon as the back layer for a nice contrast in color and texture. If you would like to learn more details about Dianthus, The University of Florida has more information about Dianthus on the IFAS website.
Closing Thoughts
Winter annuals for Jacksonville, FL are a great way to add color and interest to your landscaping. We are fortunate to live in an area with enjoyable winter temps. Bright, cheery flowers can enhance your outdoor experience! Don’t let the wide variety intimidate you, pick a few from this Top 6 list and give it a shot!