Celebrate Spring with These Cool-Season Annuals

Grow your collection of cool-season annuals with this list of popular choices for Pennsylvania!

 

With winter making way for spring, it’s time to bring bright blossoms back into our Pennsylvania gardens with cool-season annuals! These annual blooms thrive in cold, wet conditions, making them ideal for kickstarting your garden this April. Here’s a guide to some of our favorite Pennsylvania-friendly cool-season annuals that you can get in the ground right now, along with a few of our experts’ top tips for arranging them into beautiful container gardens!

 

Pennsylvania-friendly Cool Season Annuals

Here are some of our favorite cool-season annuals that will instantly brighten up your Pennsylvania landscape this April:

• Snapdragons: With their tall spikes of colorful blossoms, snapdragons add a playful touch and vertical interest to any garden bed or container. These hardy annuals thrive in cooler temperatures and come in a range of hues, from bold reds and oranges to soft pastels and creamy whites. For best results, plant them in a well-draining spot with full to partial sun.
• Pansies: Pansies are the quintessential cool-season annual, universally adored for their cheerful petals and versatility. These low-growing plants bring indigo, purple, yellow, burgundy, and a range of other colors into your garden and make an excellent choice for spring garden planning. They prefer moist, well-draining soil and will bloom prolifically with regular deadheading.

• Violas: Often mistaken for pansies, violas are smaller in size but just as charming. These dainty spring annuals feature delicate petals with intricate markings and range from vibrant purples and blues to soft yellows and whites. They’re perfect when planted in containers, hanging baskets, or along garden borders. Although they thrive in cool weather, they usually prefer sun over shade.  

• Dianthus: Also known as “pinks” or “sweet williams,” dianthus are prized for their fragrant blooms and compact growth habit. These versatile plants come in various heights and shapes, with some varieties offering double or fringed flowers. Dianthus thrives in well-drained soil and prefers full sun, although they also tolerate light shade. Plant a few of them in groups throughout your garden for a stunning display of color and fragrance. 

• Calendula: Also called “pot marigold,” this easy-to-grow annual produces vibrant orange or yellow daisy-like flowers that are more than just beautiful; they’re also edible! Calendula thrives in cool weather and blooms profusely from spring until frost. Plant them in fertile, well-drained soil and deadhead any spent flowers regularly to prolong their blooming. 

• Lobelia: Lobelias add a splash of intense blue and purple to your cool-season garden. These low-growing plants feature delicate, cascading foliage adorned with small, tubular flowers. They prefer moist, well-drained soil and partial shade, making them an excellent choice for brightening shady spots in your garden this spring.  

 

Tips for Arranging Annuals into Container Gardens

Many cool season annuals make ideal choices for container gardens. Here are some of our top tips to help you create stunning annual displays this spring: 

• Choose the Right Container: When selecting containers, opt for pots that are as functional as they are decorative. Ensure they have drainage holes to prevent waterlogging, and choose attractive materials like terracotta, ceramic, or lightweight resin that complement your garden’s style.

• Mix and Match Plants: Create visual interest in your garden by combining different cool-season annuals with varying heights, textures, and colors in your containers. Pair trailing plants like lobelia or violas with upright varieties like snapdragons or dianthus for dynamic displays. 

• Include Thrillers, Fillers, and Spillers: Follow the classic thriller, filler, spiller formula to design eye-catching container arrangements. Choose a tall, focal plant as the thriller, fill in the middle with medium-sized filler plants, and allow trailing plants to spill over the edges for a cohesive look.  

 

 

• Pay Attention to Placement: Strategically arrange your planters in areas that receive the right amount of sunlight for your chosen plants. Most cool-season annuals prefer full to partial sun, but some, like lobelia, can also thrive in partial shade. Take your garden’s various microclimates into account when deciding on their placement. 

• Maintain Regular Care: Keep your container gardens looking their best by providing regular care and maintenance. Check your plants’ soil moisture levels regularly, water as needed, and fertilize them with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer every few weeks to promote healthy growth and abundant blooms. 

With these top cool-season annual picks and container gardening tips in hand, you’re well-equipped to welcome spring into your garden with a vibrant, color-packed oasis! Enjoy these gorgeous plants’ beauty and freshness as you usher in yet another new season of successful growth and renewal. To see our selections in person, stop by and visit our garden center in Glenside, PA, today!