Newsletter Articles
Best Winter Flowers and Plants for Southern California
Written by Susan B.
The best winter flowers and plants for Southern California are fall-planted cool-season annuals for instant color (pansies, violas, snapdragons, Iceland poppies, cyclamen, and primrose) paired with winter-flowering shrubs for lasting structure (sasanqua camellia, emu bush, and mahonia). Our mild winters are the advantage: while much of the country is buried in snow, you can plant in fall here and keep the garden in bloom all the way into spring.
Quick answer: For Southern California winter color, plant cool-season annuals in fall: pansies, violas, snapdragons, Iceland poppies, calendula, stock, and sweet alyssum, with cyclamen and English primrose for shadier spots. For year-round structure, add winter-flowering shrubs such as sasanqua camellia, emu bush (Eremophila), mahonia, grevillea, and Australian fuchsia (Correa). Most want full sun to part shade and well-drained soil.
| Type | Plant picks | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Cool-season annuals | Pansies, violas, snapdragons, Iceland poppies, calendula, stock, sweet alyssum | Fast winter-to-spring color in beds and pots |
| Winter-flowering shrubs | Sasanqua camellia, emu bush, mahonia, grevillea, Australian fuchsia (Correa) | Lasting structure and winter blooms |
| Shade and cool spots | Cyclamen, English primrose, mahonia, Australian fuchsia | Color where sun is limited |
When to Plant Winter Color in Southern California
Southern California’s mild-winter climate spans roughly USDA hardiness zones 9 through 11 (Sunset zones about 18 to 24). The USDA system divides the country into zones by average winter low temperature,[1] while many California gardeners also use the Sunset zones, which factor in summer heat, growing season, and ocean influence to describe western climates more precisely.[2] What matters for winter color is that our winters rarely bring the hard freezes that limit colder regions, so you can keep the garden blooming right through the cool months.
The key is timing. The plants that carry a Southern California winter are cool-season annuals, and they go in the ground in fall. Hardy, cool-season annuals are grown for color in the cool and cold seasons, are usually planted in fall, and decline or die once summer heat arrives.[3] Plant them from October into late fall and they will bloom through winter and into spring. For a fuller seasonal plan, see our guide to cool-season gardening and landscape plants, plus our tips for helping outdoor plants through a SoCal winter.
Best Cool-Season Flowers for a Southern California Winter
Pansies and violas are the backbone of the winter flower bed. Plant them in fall for winter and early-spring blooms in a spot with full sun to partial shade.[4] Snapdragons are another cool-season favorite; they thrive in cool conditions and bloom most heavily in fall and early spring.[5] Iceland poppies grow best in cool climates and are used as annuals in warmer areas like ours, bringing tissue-paper blooms to the winter garden.[6] Round out the bed with other hardy cool-season annuals: calendula (pot marigold), stock, sweet alyssum, dianthus, and ornamental kale and cabbage are all grown for cool-season color and planted in fall.[3]
For shadier or cooler corners, two classics take over. Cyclamen blooms in winter, prefers cool temperatures, and does best in part to full shade; its buds stall in heat, so it is happiest in the cool season or in containers you can move.[7] English primrose brings reliable winter bloom in a range of colors (look specifically for English primroses if you want winter flowers), and pansies and violas will keep blooming right alongside it.[8]
Winter-Flowering Shrubs for Structure and Color
Annuals give you a fast splash of color; shrubs give the winter garden its bones. The sasanqua camellia (Camellia sasanqua) is the signature Southern California winter shrub, blooming from late fall into winter on an evergreen plant that takes full sun to partial shade.[9] The popular red-flowered cultivar ‘Yuletide’ is a favorite for holiday color. Camellias reward a little know-how, so see our guide to growing camellias in Southern California.
Emu bush (Eremophila) is a tough, heat- and drought-tolerant Australian native that wants good drainage and full sun; the well-known ‘Valentine’ cultivar is grown for its rose-red, winter-into-spring flowers.[10] Because it is so water-thrifty, it pairs naturally with the rest of a drought-tolerant planting. Mahonia (Mahonia x media ‘Charity’, now also classified under Berberis) carries spikes of yellow flowers in late autumn and winter and tolerates full sun to partial shade, making it one of the best shrubs for winter bloom in a shadier spot.[11]
Two more Australian shrubs earn a place in a mild-winter garden. Grevillea is largely drought-tolerant, takes full to partial sun, and includes types that flower through winter.[12] Australian fuchsia (Correa) is an easy, drought-tolerant shrub that blooms in winter and spring and will even grow in dry shade.[13] For more woody winter interest, see our picks to plant shrubs for winter interest.
Ready to plant your winter garden? Visit any Green Thumb Nursery location and our team will help you choose the right winter flowers and shrubs for your light, your soil, and your corner of Southern California.
Southern California Winter Flowers and Plants FAQ
What flowers are best for winter gardens?
Cool-season annuals are the best winter-garden flowers: pansies, violas, snapdragons, Iceland poppies, calendula, stock, and sweet alyssum. They are planted in fall and bloom through the cool months, then fade when summer heat returns.[3]
What flowers can you plant in winter in Southern California?
In our mild climate you can set out pansies, violas, snapdragons, Iceland poppies, cyclamen, and primrose for color through winter and into spring. Plant them in fall for the longest show.[4]
What grows in winter in Southern California?
Both flowers and shrubs. Cool-season annuals give you quick color, while winter-flowering shrubs such as sasanqua camellia, emu bush, and mahonia add evergreen structure and bloom in the cool season.[9]
Do flowers bloom in California in winter?
Yes. Because Southern California winters are mild and rarely bring hard freezes, cool-season annuals and winter-flowering shrubs bloom right through the season, which is why fall is such a productive time to plant.[8]
When should you plant winter flowers in Southern California?
Plant in fall, roughly October into late fall. Cool-season annuals are planted in fall so they can establish and bloom in cool weather; they decline once summer heat arrives.[3]
Sources
- [1] USDA Agricultural Research Service, Plant Hardiness Zone Map: planthardiness.ars.usda.gov
- [2] UC Master Gardeners of Placer County, USDA and Sunset Zones: ucanr.edu
- [3] Clemson Cooperative Extension HGIC, Growing Annuals: hgic.clemson.edu
- [4] NC State Extension, Viola x wittrockiana (Pansy): plants.ces.ncsu.edu
- [5] Missouri Botanical Garden, Antirrhinum majus (Snapdragon): plantfinder.mobot.org
- [6] NC State Extension, Papaver (Poppy): plants.ces.ncsu.edu
- [7] Clemson Cooperative Extension HGIC, Cyclamen: hgic.clemson.edu
- [8] UC Master Gardeners of Napa County, Flowers for Your Winter Garden: ucanr.edu
- [9] NC State Extension, Camellia sasanqua: plants.ces.ncsu.edu
- [10] UC Master Gardeners of Fresno County, Emu Bush: ucanr.edu
- [11] Royal Horticultural Society, Mahonia x media ‘Charity’: rhs.org.uk
- [12] NC State Extension, Grevillea: plants.ces.ncsu.edu
- [13] UC Master Gardeners of San Luis Obispo County, Australian Fuchsia (Correa): ucanr.edu
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