Even if the sun doesn’t shine, these sunny winter flowers will brighten even the greyest of days.
Yellow and orange are the predominant colours of winter flowers, and those are just the colours we
need to brighten and warm up our cold gardens. Like white, yellow is a luminous colour that reflects
light, and that is why such flowers stand out.
While shades of yellow and orange might feel too hot for summer gardens, they are almost
indispensable for winter gardens. What would we do without cheerful pansies and violas?
Early April into May is the season for sowing winter bedding colour. Namaqualand daisies, winter
vygies, Iceland poppies, calendulas, nasturtiums and winter sunflowers can be sown where they are to grow, while pansies are easier to start in seed trays.
Namaqualand daisies are not just for large gardens. They are just as effective in smaller spaces, like
a narrow bed lining a driveway, or as a border, especially for roses that are reduced to bare pruned
stems in July. Or why not grow them in a pot?
Namaqualand daisies grow very easily from seed. Kirchhoffs has small as well as bumper packs of
Namaqualand daisies and their Namaqualand mix, called ‘Scatterings of Africa’ includes other
Namaqualand flowers.
To sow, dig over the soil, mix in compost, scatter the seed over and rake in lightly. Keep the area
moist during germination and soon there will be a mass of tiny seedlings. Very important; don’t weed
until the daisies are well established and identifiable from the weeds. Once established they are very
drought tolerant.
No winter garden is complete without pansies, and open pollinated varieties grow easily from seed
and are very free flowering. Kirchhoffs ‘Engelmann’s Giants Mixed’ is an heirloom variety with very
large, blotched blooms, while ‘Clear Crystal Mixed’ (also heirloom) has clear coloured blooms. They
are ideal for colour blocking.
Sow the seed in seed trays rather than direct sowing. Fill a seed tray with seedling mix and dampen it.
Sprinkle the pansy seed evenly over the surface and cover with a fine layer of seedling mix, firm down
and water gently. Cover the seed tray with plastic to create a microclimate during germination which
can take up to14 days. Once the seedlings have two true leaves they can be planted out.
Calendulas offer bright orange, yellow and white flowers in winter. The heirloom variety, ‘Pacific
Beauty Mixed’ has bright yellow, apricot or orange double daisy like blooms. They flower best when.
grown in full sun. Dig over the soil, rake it level and sprinkle over a packet of seed. Cover with a light
layer of soil, firm down and water. They are frost hardy and will flower into early summer.
Iceland Poppies ‘ Super Giant Art’ are spectacular in late winter through to early spring. The
enormous papery flowers look like crinkled silk in gold, lemon, apricot and salmon. The pickable
flowers are carried on sturdy stems.
Grow in full sun and sow directly where they are to grow or in seed trays. For in-situ sowing, sprinkle
the seeds thinly and lightly cover with shallow soil. Gently firm down the soil and use a mist spray to
moisten the surface. Keep the soil moist during germination and when the seedlings are a few
centimetres high, thin them out about 20cm apart or to 30cm apart if interplanting with other flowers.
Winter vygies (Mesembryanthemum) also known as Ice Plants, are spectacular winter flowering
succulents. Their satin textured daisy-like blooms are a mix of dazzling colours including yellow.
This low growing groundcover will tumble over a rockery, brighten a succulent garden or provide a
brilliantly coloured border. For a really good show try double sowing in a bed that receives full sun.
Divide the seed into two portions. Mix each portion with mealie meal or sand. Take the first portion
and scatter it over the entire area. Then take the second portion and scatter it over the whole area
again. This ensures good coverage of the area. Firm the soil so that it makes contact with the seed.
Water well and keep the soil damp during germination.
Nasturtiums prefer the cooler temperatures and will bloom throughout winter in warm, frost free
gardens. The edible flowers and leaves have a peppery flavour..
Sow seed directly where they are to grow in a sunny position. Scarifying the seed by nicking them or
rubbing lightly with sandpaper will help with germination.
Kirchhoffs has six different nasturtium varieties, both bush and climbing, with ‘Alaska’ having
variegated cream and green leaves and ‘Laby bird mix’ have ladybird-like blotches on the petals.
For gardeners who would love to grow these statuesque beauties there is a variety called ‘Winter Sunflower’ that grows and flowers in winter because it is daylight neutral.
It has a classic dark disc with yellow petals and although cold weather may slow down its growth it will still flower in mid-winter. The plant is mildly frost resistant and can be expected to grow 1,3 to 1,7m high in a sunny, sheltered position.
Because of their large seed, sunflowers are easy to sow in situ. It’s also preferable because sunflowers don’t like their roots being disturbed. Grow in a position that receives full sun and in soil that drains well.
Buy seed online www.gropak.co.za or visit www.kirchhofs.co.za.
Article and images supplied by Alice Spenser-Higgs.