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A grey July morning looks a lot better with a bright pansy or a pink camellia outside the window. The good news is that winter flowers Australia gardeners can grow are plenty, from cool-climate Tasmania to warm Queensland. Here are 20 favourites, with simple tips for pots, borders and cut flowers, so you can fill your garden with colour until spring arrives.
1. Pansies
If you want instant colour, start here. Pansies fill pots, borders and hanging baskets with faces in purple, yellow, apricot and near-black. Plant seedlings in autumn in cool and temperate areas, or from May in the tropical north. Give them sun and regular water. Pick off spent flowers every week or two and they will keep blooming right through the coldest months.
2. Violas
Think of violas as pansies’ tougher, daintier cousins. The flowers are smaller, but there are far more of them, and they handle frost and cold winds better. Tuck them along path edges, around roses or into window boxes. Some varieties, like Johnny Jump Ups, self-seed, so you may get free plants next winter. The petals are edible too, which looks lovely on a cake.
3. Polyanthus
Polyanthus bring a cheerful, spring-like feel to the shadier corners of the garden. Their ruffled flowers come in nearly every colour, often with a bright yellow eye. Plant them under deciduous trees or in a pot by the front door, in rich soil that drains well. They love cool weather, so they shine in Victoria, Tasmania, the ACT and the highlands.
4. Cyclamen
Cyclamen are perfect for a shady verandah. Their swept-back petals in pink, red, white and magenta sit above marbled leaves that look good even before flowering. Keep them in bright light without direct afternoon sun, and water the soil, not the top of the plant. Soggy corms rot fast, so let the pot dry slightly between drinks. Mini varieties suit tiny balconies.
5. Camellias
Few shrubs say winter like a camellia in full bloom. Sasanqua types flower from autumn into early winter, while japonicas take over in mid to late winter. Both like dappled shade, acidic soil and a layer of mulch. Fallen petals look beautiful floating in a bowl indoors. Give a young plant a deep soak weekly through its first summer so it settles in well.
6. Snapdragons
Snapdragons give winter gardens some height. Their tall spikes of ruffled flowers in pink, red, orange and cream make great cut flowers, and they look lovely at the back of a border. Plant seedlings in autumn in a sunny spot. Pinch out the top when they are about 15 cm tall and you will get branching plants with many more flower spikes.
7. Sweet Peas
Nothing beats the scent of sweet peas drifting across the garden. Sow seeds in autumn, ideally around Anzac Day in cooler areas, and give them a trellis or tepee to climb. Soak the seeds overnight first so they sprout faster. Then pick often. The more you cut, the more flowers they produce, which means a steady supply for vases.
8. Stock
Stock is the flower to grow if you love perfume. Spikes of ruffled blooms in pink, purple, white and cream give off a spicy, clove-like scent, especially in the evening. Plant it in full sun with well-drained soil and a little lime if your soil is acidic. It grows best in cool and temperate regions and makes a long-lasting cut flower.
9. Iceland Poppies
Iceland poppies look like crumpled tissue paper on thin, wiry stems. Colours range from sunny yellow to soft peach and white. Sow seed straight into the garden in autumn, because they dislike being moved. Cut stems when the buds are just cracking open, and dip the cut ends in boiling water for a few seconds to help them last in a vase. They flower from late winter into spring.
10. Calendula
Calendula is about as easy as flowers get. Bright orange and yellow daisies pop up through frosty mornings with almost no fuss. Sow seed in autumn in a sunny spot, and let a few flowers go to seed for next year’s plants. The petals are edible, so scatter them over salads or rice. It also works well planted among vegetables.
11. Cineraria
Cineraria is pure colour for shady spots. Dense domes of daisy-like flowers in electric blue, magenta, purple and white cover the plants so thickly that the leaves almost vanish. Grow them in pots on a sheltered porch or in a shaded bed. Watch for aphids, and keep the soil evenly moist but not wet. They are short-lived, so treat them as seasonal colour.
12. Hellebores
Hellebores flower when almost nothing else will. Their nodding blooms in cream, plum, green and speckled pink appear from mid winter and last for weeks. Plant them in shade under trees, where they quietly spread. Trim old, tatty leaves in early winter so the flowers show off. Pick short stems and float them in a shallow bowl. All parts are toxic, so wear gloves.
13. Daffodils
Daffodils are the classic sign that winter is easing. Plant bulbs in autumn, around April or May, about twice as deep as the bulb is tall, in sun or light shade. They thrive in cool regions, but warmer gardens can try jonquils and paperwhites, which cope better with mild winters. Plant them in clumps of at least ten for a natural look.
14. Freesias
Freesias are what you smell before you see them. These small funnel-shaped flowers come in yellow, white, pink and purple, and the fragrance is sweet and fruity. Plant corms in autumn, pointy side up, in a sunny spot with good drainage. Let the leaves die back naturally after flowering. In many Australian gardens they naturalise and return each year. Cut stems last well indoors.
15. Ranunculus
Ranunculus look like paper roses in jewel colours. Soak the dry corms in water for a few hours, then plant them claws down about 4 cm deep in full sun. They flower from late winter into spring, so plant a few batches in autumn for longer colour. Water regularly but keep drainage good. They suit pots, borders and long-lasting bouquets.
16. Cymbidium Orchids
Cymbidium orchids are a winter showstopper outdoors. Tall arching spikes carry a dozen or more waxy flowers in green, pink, cream and burgundy. Keep them in bright shade, and feed regularly in spring and summer. Cool autumn nights help trigger flower spikes, so avoid bringing them into a heated room. Stake the spikes as they grow, and a single stem can last weeks as a cut flower.
17. Daphne
Daphne is small but unforgettable. Clusters of pale pink flowers open in mid to late winter and fill the air with a rich, sweet scent. Plant it near a path or entrance where you will pass often. It likes morning sun, cool roots and excellent drainage, and it dislikes being moved, so choose the spot carefully. It suits cooler, temperate gardens best.
18. Grevillea
Many native grevilleas flower right through winter, when honeyeaters need nectar most. The spidery blooms come in red, pink, orange and cream, and the foliage is tough. ‘Robyn Gordon’ is a popular pick. Plant in full sun with well-drained soil, and avoid high-phosphorus fertiliser. A light prune after flowering keeps plants dense. They are great for low-water gardens and bring plenty of birds.
19. Hardenbergia
Hardenbergia, or native sarsaparilla, turns a plain fence into a purple wall. This tough Australian climber bursts into small pea flowers from late winter into spring. Let it scramble up a trellis or spill over a rockery. It handles dry spells and poor soil once established. Pink and white forms are available too. Trim lightly after flowering to keep it tidy.
20. Correa
Correas, often called native fuchsias, produce dangling bell flowers in red, pink, green and cream during winter. They cope with shade better than most natives, which makes them handy under trees. Try ‘Dusky Bells’ as a low groundcover. Plant in well-drained soil and mulch well. They are tough, need little water once settled, and attract visiting honeyeaters.
Conclusion
The best winter flowers Australia gardens can grow are the ones that suit your climate, light and time. Cold-climate gardeners can lean on daffodils and hellebores, while warmer spots shine with freesias and natives. Start with two or three that catch your eye, plant them in autumn, and watch them settle in. Before long, winter will be your favourite season for colour.
