UC Master Gardeners, Santa Clara County, CA
University of California
UC Master Gardeners, Santa Clara County, CA

Cool Season Ornamentals

Cool Season Ornamentals

Some cool season ornamentals bloom in the winter while others grow slowly then explode into flower for fabulous spring blooms. Plant in Sept–Oct for beautiful bouquets in a few months.


Agrostemma Mixed Agrostemma githago
4-pack. Delicate, satiny flowers in lavender-rose, shell pink, and white. Tall slender stems and grassy foliage. Beautiful as cut flowers. 3–4' tall. Plant 8–10" apart.
  • 4-pack

Milkweed, Showy Asclepias sp.
Quart. California native. Pink to white flowers and thick green leaves attract monarch butterflies. Wooly seedpods are decorative. Perennial, full sun, 2–6' tall
  • Quart

Clarkia ‘Mountain Garland’ Clarkia elegans
4-pack. Easy to grow native wildflowers. Multiple flower stems are covered with small, ruffled blossoms in soft shades of coral, salmon, rose-pink, lilac, and white. Reseeds readily. 2–3' tall. Plant 6" apart.
  • 6-pack

Datura wrightii Sacred Datura

Quart. California native. White flowers at night. Poisonous, especially spiny fruit & seeds. 3' tall x 5' wide. Low water. Full/part sun. Semi-deciduous perennial. Hardy to 15°F.


Gomphocarpus fruticosus, Milkweed Balloon Plant
Quart. Star-shaped flowers make puffy green seedpods. Attracts butterflies. Cut back to 6" in fall for bushy plants. 4–6' tall. Tender perennial, full/part sun, 4–6' tall
  • 4-pack

Grass pea ‘Electric Blue’ Lathyrus sativus azureus
6-pack. Dainty bright blue flowers borne singly on grassy foliage. Rare heirloom variety. Annual, Full sun. 3–4' tall. Plant 3" apart.

Linaria ‘Fairy Bouquet’ Linaria maroccana
6-pack. Charming flower looks like a miniature snapdragon, with delicate ferny foliage. Lovely mix of crimson, yellow, orange, lavender, white and pink. 9–12" tall. Plant 4" apart.
  • 6-pack

Salvia White Sage Salvia apiana
Quart. Very aromatic foliage, with tall white flower spikes. Attracts birds & bees. Perennial, summer semi-deciduous. Full sun. No/low water. 3–5' tall x 3–8' wide.

Snapdragon Butterfly Chantilly Summer Flame mix Antirrhinum majus
6-pack. Open-faced flowers in warm shades of apricot, bronze, orange, and vermilion on well-branched plants. 30" tall. Annual, full sun
  • 6-pack

Snapdragon ‘Night and Day’ Antirrhinum majus
6-pack. Stunning crimson red flowers with bright white throats. Deadhead regularly for best display. 18" tall. Annual, full sun
  • 6-pack

Snapdragon Tall Maximum Blend Antirrhinum majus
6-pack. Classic tall snapdragon in a bright blend of red, white, yellow, and pink. 24–36" tall. Annual, full sun
  • 6-pack

Sweet Pea ‘April in Paris’ Lathyrus odoratus
6-pack. Intensely fragrant sweet pea with cream flowers edged in dark lilac. Strong grower. Developed by Dr. Keith Hammett. 6–8' tall. Plant 4–5" apart.
  • 4-pack

Sweet Pea Cheri Amour Mix Lathyrus odoratus
6-pack. Fragrant flowers with ruffled wing petals in bi-color combinations of salmon, pink, lavender, & rose. 8–10' tall. Plant 4–5" apart.
  • 4-pack

Sweet Pea Heirloom Cupid Lathyrus odoratus
6-pack. Fragrant heirloom bush sweet pea with rose-pink picotee-edged blossoms is perfect for containers or hanging baskets. 8–10" tall. Plant 4–5" apart.
  • 4-pack

Sweet Pea Jewels of Albion Lathyrus odoratus
6-pack. Fragrant antique varieties in cool shades of blues, lavenders, and white. Heat tolerant with succession blooming. 6–9' tall. Plant 4–+F155" apart.
  • 4-pack

Sweet Pea Perfume Delight Lathyrus odoratus
6-pack. Heirloom blend of large, ruffled flowers with exquisite fragrance. Rainbow blend includes purple, red, rose, scarlet, white, blue, cream and some bicolors. More heat resistant than other sweet peas. 5–6' tall. Plant 6" apart.
  • 4-pack

Sweet Pea Queen of the Night Lathyrus odoratus
6-pack. Stunning blend of super-fragrant antique varieties in rich, deep shades of mauve, maroon, crimson, navy blue, and salmon pink. 6–8' tall. Plant 4–5" apart.
  • 4-pack

Sweet Pea ‘Zinfandel’ Lathyrus odoratus
6-pack. Fragrant early bloomer with large ruffled blossoms in a stunning deep burgundy color. 6–8' tall. Plant 4–5" apart.
  • 4-pack

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