Even as the days get shorter and the nights get cooler, our love for the outdoors doesn't wane. Winter walks through the garden are great for improving circulation as the days take on a fresh chill — and what better way to encourage a visit to the garden than with some beautiful blooms to admire?
All Green Nursery & Garden has over 150 plant varieties at our plant nursery at Hoppers Crossing. Visit us in-store to see them for yourself, or come and have a chat with one of our in-house horticulturists. They have all the knowledge and experience you need to get the most out of planting flowering plants in winter.
What zone am I in?
One of the first things you will need to establish when looking to plant some new varieties in your garden is to work out what zone you are in. Australia is a vast country, and a key part of your winter planting success will come down to ensuring you plant the right varieties for your region.
How do I know which plants to choose for winter?
Plants are assessed based on their 'hardiness' and given a rating, which was originally based on a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) rating. Australia was assessed and seven zones were developed which gave gardeners some idea of what would work in their garden or yard.
Today, it's as easy as turning to Google to find out what type of plants will work in your local area, but it doesn't hurt to know a little more about the region you are in. After all, once you know where you are positioned in Australia's climate zones, you are better equipped to know what to plant!
Subtropical
This region includes south-east Queensland, parts of central Queensland, parts of northern NSW and a small section including Perth and up to Geraldton.
When considering what to plant in this region for winter, you want to choose the following:
SOW - get your pansies, violas, snapdragons and poppies in the ground now. Love gerberas? They can go in too - as can verbena, daisies, chrysanthemums, petunias, and lavender. We love putting in some sunflowers for depth and height and planting in some zinnias for garden colour.
Plus, if you have planted grevillea, have banksia or magnolia, they will all start to bloom in winter, as will any of your euphorbia.
Wet & Dry Tropical
This region includes North Queensland, the Northern Territory and the top parts of Western Australia.
You have a bit more flexibility with these parts of Australia when it comes to winter planting as you are not subjected to the freezing overnight temperatures and blistering cold mornings that our southern dwelling neighbours are. Despite that, you still need to be a bit circumspect with what you choose. Get these in the ground:
SOW - We love a blooming garden full of sunflowers, calla lilies, carnation, hibiscus, geranium, gerbera, kangaroo paw, nasturtium, snapdragon, wallflower and zinnia.
You will reap the benefits of sowing these blooming beauties in your garden and love the bright colours.
Desert and Grassland
This region covers much of Australia's centre and extends almost from coast to coast.
Again, while you are somewhat sheltered from the harsh cold you still need to consider your garden carefully when it comes to winter planting.
SOW - look to getting marigolds in the ground, along with your kangaroo paw, salvia, Stuart desert pea, verbena, gaillardia, dahlia, cineraria silver dust or dianthus. As you know, this part of Australia does not get a heap of rain which means you need to choose your plants based on how much you can maintain them and give them enough water.
Temperate
The temperate region includes Sydney, coastal NSW, sections of southern Western Australia and parts of Victoria.
Love getting your hands dirty in the winter months? Us too. When you live in the temperate zones you have a wide range of options when it comes to prettying up the garden for the cooler months.
SOW - look at linaria, violas, magnolias, lily of the valley, godetia, larkspur, lavender, daisies, clarkia, statics, snowdrops, and sweet peas all make for a blooming lovely garden. A smattering of native Leptospermum makes for a lovely addition to your garden - with the bonus that these natives are hardy and can tolerate dry and cool conditions well.
Cool & Southern Tablelands
Cool regions include Melbourne, Tasmania and parts of the highlands in Victoria and Tasmania.
This is where your winter planting is really put to the test, as parts of these regions see snow regularly throughout the winter months. Despite this, you can happily plant a range of blooms for your garden.
SOW - plant your geraniums, snapdragons, foxgloves, lobelia, violas, begonia and alyssium in the winter.
Natives to plant in winter
Love native plants? There is a range of options when it comes to winter planting for native plants:
- Syzygium 'big red' — this medium-sized lillypilly is a great choice for a hedge and grows quite quickly.
- Acacia 'limelight' — this lush, low plant is a wonderful addition to your garden beds and makes an attractive winter choice.
- Grevillea deua gold — rich, golden flowers cap the branches of this stunning plant and will make an exceptional mark on your garden.
- Heath-leaved banksia — such a stunning plant, the heath-leaved banksia offers a flash of red and orange that will enhance any winter garden look.
