Fall and Winter
Color

By Robin Lelevier
Commercial sales associate at
Miramar Wholesale Nurseries'
San Diego Commercial
Landscape Center.

Fall has finally arrived here in San Diego County. For landscapers and property managers, now is the time to begin changing out the old spring and summer annuals and replacing them with an array of new fall and winter color. Fall and winter annuals are now in stock and available at your local nursery. Good choices for this season include pansies, violas, calendulas, Iceland poppies, snapdragons and stock for the sunny areas. For the less sunny areas, consider English Primrose to catch the eye.

Pansies are one of the most popular flowers used for fall and winter color. Technically perennials, pansies are used as annuals in mild climates like Southern California. The flowers are 6" - 8" in height and come in an assortment of colors including whites, blues, yellows, reds and mixes. The Crown and Crystal Bowl blossoms come in pure colors, whereas the Majestic Giants have a face in the center. These popular annuals make excellent border edgings and look great in box containers. They also work well in mass settings. They grow well in all zones and require minimal care. They need ample watering, and we recommend pinching back the old blossoms to produce new blossom growth.

Violas like Johnny Jump Ups are recommended for low border areas. These delicate miniature pansies work well as annuals in fall through winter. They are perfect for rock gardens and edging areas. Johnny Jump Ups are violet, yellow and white tri-color. They are 7" in height and prefer rich, well-draining soil.

Calendula officinalis, commonly known as “Pot Marigold,” are a wise choice for bold autumn colors. We offer Bon Bon yellow and orange blossoms. They are 12" in height and their blossoms are 2 1/2" — 4 1/2" across. This variety performs well from early fall all the way into early spring. They show best in mass settings and make attractive borders. They require very little care and need ample water, but try to avoid overhead water. These are also good as long-lasting cut flowers.

Papaver nudicaule, most commonly known as Iceland Poppies, are a wonderful soft annual color choice. We suggest purchasing a mixed flat in a variety of colors, such as white to cream, soft pink and orange. The Champagne Bubbles hybrid will bloom two to three times longer than the standard strains. They work well in borders, beds and pots and will last through most of the winter. They will grow in all zones. Moderate care is needed. They need well-drained soil, ample watering and old flowers should be picked frequently to prolong blossoms. Iceland poppy stems are 12" in height and take full sun to partial shade.

Antirrhinum majus, more commonly known as Snapdragons, are great for height in the back of borders and bedding areas. They come in an assortment of colors such as rose, white, yellow and pink. Look for a variety called Sonnet, which will reach 24" in height. It does well in full sun or partial shade areas and has sturdy stems, making it suitable for planting in windy areas. Snapdragons do well in rich, well-drained soil. You need to keep them evenly moist. Pinch back old blooms to produce new flower growth. They also make excellent cut flowers.

Matthiola incanav, best known as Stock, are a big favorite of Southwestern landscapers. These are another great choice for back borders or for height in bedding settings. Midget varieties are available in such colors as violet, pink, red, white and cream. Their height is 8" - 10" and their blossoms are 1" - 2" wide. They also have a spicy sweet fragrance that makes them great linear cut flowers. Stocks prefer full sun, but can tolerate some light shade. They will work well in most zones. They can take some light frost, but heavy frost can cause them to produce fewer blossoms.

Primula polyantha, best referred to as English Primrose, are a wonderful fall and winter shade annual. The English Primrose “Danova Mix” put off an excellent show of large blossoms that nearly cover the rosette of foliage. They work well in shaded borders, sheltered containers and go well with bulb beds. Their height is 8" -12". They like rich, well-drained soil and ample water. They can be mulched in milder climates. English Primrose prefer cooler weather and will only last through the winter months.

This is the time to refresh your bedding areas and borders. Visit your local wholesale nursery to find everything you need to get started.