Winter is such a beautiful time – the cool winter breeze, the mild drizzles, the romantic atmosphere – it’s just all too magical to seem true.
An experience that makes this almost dreamy atmosphere all the more magical is sitting in your garden with a cup of hot coffee or tea, and enjoying the flowers that you took the time to plant and care for. All the dahlias and marigolds and the snapdragons dancing with the delicate dewdrops in the very light fog – nature, the way it’s designed to be!
Although you may think growing your own winter flowers may not be your cup of tea, it’s actually quite simple. learn about these Top 10 Winter Season Flowers in India that you can grow in your garden with just a bit of persistence and care.
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1) Alyssum
Also known as “sweet” alyssum, this is a beautiful plant to have in your lands and gardens. The name comes from its inherent sweet smell that carpets the whole area when fully blossomed. Alyssum is a must-have if you like having bees and butterflies hovering around in your garden. It’s especially great for pollinator gardens as well. Hindi Name of Alyssum: एलिसा फूल | Elisa Phool
Growing tips: Alyssum seeds can be planted directly on to the ground, close to each other. Keep them less than 6 inches apart from each other to get a carpet look.
Keep in mind that alyssum seeds need a well-moisturized soil to flower. During dry summer months, they tend to wither. (Elitech Drip has some pretty sweet deals for your irrigation needs, go check them out!).
The need for 4-6 hours of direct sunlight is a necessity for better flowering.
Plant the seeds 8 – 10 weeks before the last frost date.
Care: Shearing your alyssum plants by 1/3rd of their height during mid summer will aid growth and flowering. Make sure you fertilize the soil monthly, if the planting area is less with little soil
Alyssum tends to self-sow, however, it’s best to plant new seeds from time to time, since the seedlings bear lower quality flowers.
2) Calendula/Pot Marigold
Pot marigold, as it’s commonly called, is an absolute must-have winter flower. Unlike alyssum, calendula has a faint smell, and grows up to 24 inches! And did we mention it’s also edible?
Calendula’s petals and seeds are used in several different processes to aid skin restoration. They come in shades of orange and yellow and brighten up the tone of the garden. Hindi Name of Calendula: गेंदा | Genda
Growing tips: Calendula can be planted directly into the garden or it can be planted in large containers filled with organic potting soil, 6-8 weeks before the last frost.
It takes 5 – 15 days for the seeds of calendula to germinate, and around 45 days to mature from seed to flower.
Care: Calendula plants need proper moisture. Hence, water the soil properly throughout the gardening season. Perform mulching to avoid pests and weeds, and to keep the roots of the plant cool.
Space the plants at least 24 -36 inches apart from all directions.
3) Snapdragons/Dog Flower
Although the scientific name is Antirrhinum, we think it’s super cool that it is commonly called Snapdragon. The snapdragon plant prefers to grow in cooler temperatures and comes in various colours. Native to North America and Europe, these plants can also be cultivated in India, and can grow anywhere between 6 and 48 inches, depending on the variety.
Growing tips: Grow snapdragons in full sunlight, since they prefer blooming at such conditions more.
Snapdragons are not long-term plants, and hence feed on the soil less. However, adding manure can do no harm.
Adequate water is needed for cultivating these annuals. Keep the soil moist for the first few weeks, after which water one inch every week in terms of no rainfall. Make sure to water near the crown of the plant.
Snapdragons are most often started indoors, 8 -10 weeks from the last frost date.
Care: Snapdragons are not affected by many pests. Rust and other fungal diseases can be a problem as well. Keep different varieties of the plant, to identify which would better suit your environment.
4) Dahlia
Dahlias are really a collector’s dream, boasting a huge variety of almost every hue possible. Care for dahlia plants really depends on the region they’re grown in, but here are a few general growth and care measures for growing your own collection of Dahlias. Name in Hindi: डहेलिया
Growing tips: Dahlias require plenty of sunlight and well-drained sunlight.
Dig the ground about 8 to 12 inches deep, and add compost. This will increase porosity and nutrient density since dahlias are heavy feeders.
Don’t forget to add a 5-10-15 fertilizer (2 pounds or approximately 1 kg per 100 sq.feet). If you’re planting small dahlia plants, it’s okay to have them spaced 12 inches apart. Big ones, however, require to be kept 3 feet apart from each other.
Care: Remember to pinch the buds when they’re around 15 inches tall. This will enforce good branching, and help increase budding. Add plenty of water to the plants, as they require much nutrients, and use organic mulch to conserve moisture while preventing weed formation.
5) Nasturtium
The thing so spectacularly good about nasturtium, other than its vibrant colours, is that its flowers and leaves are edible. Their pleasant fragrance and vibrant colours make them great ground cover plants. They are also good for fresh cuts. What’s more? Children love having them around! Name in Hindi: जलकुंभी | Jalkumbhi
Growing tips: You can start by planting the nasturtium seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before the last frost.
Planting the seeds in full sun in a moist full drained soil is the best planting condition for Nasturtium. Yes, you can plant the seeds in partial shade, but the blossoms aren’t as rewarding. DO NOT use fertilizers unless your soil is too poor. Nasturtium produces lesser blossoms when a fertile soil is used. Plant the seeds about half an inch deep into the soil.
Care: Overwatering the plants can be an issue. But don’t refrain from watering regularly either. If you’re planting the seeds in containers, you may want to trim them back from time to time. This will prolong blooming over the growing season.
6) Phlox
Also known as garden phlox, these plants have the potential to grow upto 5 feet tall. What better way to describe its beauty than in the words of plant breeder Karl Foerster:
“A garden without phlox is not not only a sheer mistake but a sin against summer”
Phlox Name in Hindi: पटुआ | patua
Growing tips: Phlox is a native woodland plant, so it can grow in partial sunlight, but growing in full sunlight doesn’t hurt. Let it sit in the sun for about 6 hours a day.
Well-drained moist fertile soil, with rich compost and other organic manure (cow dung serves best) works well for planting these plants. Space the plants around 18 to 24 inches apart from each other, and plant them after the last frost.
Care: Clone your plants using the division method. You can also use stem cutting.
Use these plants in mass plantings, or wherever you need to add a bit of colour to your garden.
Thoroughly water the plants, and mulch around the roots.
7) Nemesia
Nemesia is a low-maintenance plant that blooms in various different colours and smells pretty amazing. It also doesn’t require much effort to grow.
Growing tips: Nemesia is a plant that prefers to be kept in the sun a lot. Preferably, around six hours of sunshine a day keeps it in a healthy state. Keep the soil highly moist. A lack of moisture can keep it from blooming. Every growing season, the plant would require the application of fertilizer. Water-soluble fertilizers are best for growing plants.
Care: Make sure to protect the plant from Powdery Milkdew. This is a layer of white mold on the flower, often after too much water is absorbed by the plant. In the event that your plants are affected by milkdew, you can get rid of it by increasing the air circulation in the garden and getting rid of any moisture that’s been remaining stagnant.
Spraying easy-to-create soap water on the plants keeps them away from pests like aphids.
8) Osteospermum
Osteospermums or African daisies (as they’re popularly known) are a joy to behold for any garden owner, and that’s why these beauties have made it into our list as well. They are large plants and have the potential to grow up to 36 inches tall. These flowers are simply stunning and are a treat to watch when they’re planted in masses.
Growing tips: African daisies bloom during bright lightings. They close up during the nights, when it gets dark. So you might not want these flowers in your garden if you’re a night person.
These plants need at least an inch of water per week to stay hydrated. They are pretty drought tolerant, however, if not watered regularly they can tend to grow slow and go dormant. Osteospermum is really a cool-climate plant, and hence it tends to cease blooming during times of drought.
Care: Sprinkle the seeds on top of the soil and slightly press them inside, as daisies require a lot of light.
Keep the soil and seeds moist until they germinate. Cutting will help them easily reproduce. Aphids can be a problem, but sprinkling with pesticides much early on can help solve the problem.
9) Petunia
Petunias are one of the most popular flowers on our list. And quite rightly so. Grown as annuals, these bright, vibrant flowers are a delight to have in one’s garden. They’re planting is easy, and practically anyone can grow them. Hindi Name: पेटुनिया
Growing tips: Petunias can be grown from seeds, but it would be a lot easier to have them grow as transplants. Start planting the seeds 10 to 12 weeks from the last frost date. Have them watered regularly.
Planting petunias in full light instead of partial light helps increase the number of blossoms. Space the plants at least 1 foot apart.
Care: Regular and thorough watering of the petunia seeds once a week is quite enough, with the exception if there has been a drought in your region for some time. Monthly fertilizing of the soil keeps the plants healthy and blooming.
10) Cineraria
If you like small, yet beautiful flowering plants, then the cineraria plants are the way to go. These are colourful plants that have daisy-like features surrounded by dark green leaves. Cineraria plants can reach heights of up to 20 inches depending on the variety. They are mostly plants that are used as “gifts” for people. Hindi Name: सिनेरिया
Growing tips: Cineraria is an indoor plant, and hence direct sunlight can be quite harmful to it. Hence, place it in places with very high indirect light. Make sure the place to plant cineraria is also cool. Windows facing North or East have a more cooling effect than South and West-facing ones. Keep the plant moist. However, make sure it’s not too wet or soggy.
Care: Use smaller pots, since cineraria plants bloom better when root bound in them, compared to larger containers. If there is inadequate light or too much heat, cineraria plants tend to wilt away. This can also cause the plants to attract pests like aphids and whiteflies. Basic household humidity is best for these plants. Again, too much heat can be stressful. Use well-aerated, loose potting soil to plant the seeds.
How to Grow Winter Flower Seeds
The ideal temperature for these winter flowers is 10° to 25° Celcius. Buy good quality flowers seeds and sow them around 1 inch deep in the potting mix. You can sow them in regular soil also. But for the best germination rate, use 70% vermicompost with 30% sand or cocopeat. Note: While sowing, ensure that seeds don’t overlap each other.
Best time to sow winter flower seeds is right before the winter sets in. So October to November is the ideal sowing period.
After 15 to 20 days, you notice that seedlings have grown to about 3-4 inches tall. At this point, they can be transplanted to the potting mix. For potting mix use 30% organic compost/vermicompost, 20% fine sand, and 50% Normal soil. Note: Make sure the pot is at least 6 inches deep so that roots can grow easily.
Also Read: Best Flowers for Summer Gardening in India
Growing your own plants requires a little bit of dedication, care, and patience. We hope that you were able to choose good flowers for winter season. Let us know in the comments what all flowers are you growing this winter season in India. If you ever need help related to gardening and the nitty-gritty of it, we’re just a click away.
This is a good video on Winter Flowers:
Winter season flowers name list: Alyssum, Calendula, Snapdragons, Dahlia, Nasturtium, Phlox, Nemesia, Osteospermum, Petunia, Cineraria.
Checkout: Permanent flowering plants for Indian Climate
FAQ for growing Winter Season Flowers
When to sow winter flower seeds in India?
Winter flowers like temperature between 10 – 25 degree celcius. Therefore, October to November is the ideal time for sowing seeds winter flowering plants.
How long it takes to grow flower from seed?
It takes around 2 month for a flower to bloom since the sowing of seed. However, it might take longer for some plants as they can go into hibernation during the coldest months of December and January. They start growing as temperature starts rising again.
Which Flowers Grow in India during Winters?
List of Indian winter flowers: Alyssum, Calendula, Dog Flower, Dahlia, Nasturtium, Phlox, Nemesia, Osteospermum, Petunia, Cineraria