Cool Annuals

Table of Contents

These plants cannot survive South Florida’s brutal summer heat and humidity. They are planted in late fall or winter, put on a massive show of color, and will naturally die off by May. 
 
October to November: The ideal window to put plants in the ground. Soil temperatures drop enough for roots to establish without heat stress.
 
December: Acceptable for a secondary planting, though early-season blooms will arrive slightly later. Avoid Spring Plantings: Do not plant cool-season annuals in spring; the weather warms up too fast and cuts the lifespan very short.
January & February: Plants finish strong root and foliage growth, starting their initial heavy flush of flowers (like sweet peas, snapdragons, and dianthus).
 
March & April: Peak bloom period. Plants flower heavily in the mild South Florida winter and early spring conditions.
 

May: High temperatures and humidity return, causing cool-season annuals to “bolt,” stop flowering, and die back. 

 

Alyssum

Baby’s Breath

Bachelor Button

Bells of Ireland

Calendula

Chinese Houses

Cineraria

Clarkia

Five Spot

Globe Gilia

Nasturtium

Nicotania

Nigella

Painted Tongue

Phacelia

Poppy

Saponaria

Snapdragon

ISO 100 100.0 mm f/4 1/250 sec
ISO 200 100.0 mm f/2.8 1/125 sec

Stock

Sweet Pea

Viola