When you think of flowers, you probably think of summer flowers growing in your flower bed. But with fall being here and winter approaching, the precious flowers in your garden will soon begin to wither away. Although your summer flowers cannot withstand the cold weather, you can welcome some new fall flowers into your garden instead. Today, I'll be going over the different kinds of fall flowers to plant that grow well in cold weather. Hopefully, by the end of this article, you will be ready to plant some fall flowers into your flower bed for a gorgeous look all year long. Let's get started!
Candytuft (Iberis)
The Candytuft plant (scientific name: Iberis) is one of the flowers that will stay green year-round, including in the winter. It will grow 8 to 12 inches high and wide. Their pure white flower clusters are carried on stems long enough to cut for bouquets. When cut, these flowers last a long time. The Candytuft plant thrives in full sun or part shade and regular water. This flower needs well-drained soil and should be pruned lightly after bloom to stimulate new growth. It blooms early in the spring while there is still snow on the ground, and it blooms again in the fall.

Pansies (Viola)
Pansies, also called Viola, thrive in cool weather and will brighten up your home in the dead of winter. Coming in a variety of colors, there are so many color choices to choose from. Old-fashioned varieties grow in tidy mounds, but there are also newer varieties that are ideal as groundcovers or hanging baskets. A bonus is that if you plant pansies in the fall, they come back to bloom again in the spring.

Flowering Kale (Brassica oleracea)
Flowering kale, unlike regular kale, grows beautiful purple leaves in addition to its green leaves. Also called flowering cabbage, this is one of the toughest plants for fall. It holds up well to frosty temperatures and looks good all winter long in mild-winter areas. Flowering kale pairs well with almost every fall flower. In addition to looking great in your garden, flowering kale is edible, just like regular kale.

Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritima)
Another flower to grow for its beautiful fragrance is the sweet alyssum. This flower creeps along the ground creating a carpet of color in the fall. You can also plant it in pots so that the flowers spill over the edges. Sweet alyssum tolerates cool weather well and can bloom all fall and winter long in mild areas.

Dianthus (Dianthus barbatus)
Dianthus flowers are most often in pink, salmon, red and white hues. Because they are usually pink colored, dianthus plants are often called Pinks. Dianthus use to have a short blooming season until 1971, when a breeder learned how to grow forms that did not set seed and, therefore, had a prolonged bloom period. Today, modern varieties will typically bloom from May to October. This flower has a sweet fragrance, so be sure to plant it somewhere where you can enjoy the scent.

Mums (Chrysanthemum)
Perhaps the most common fall flowers are mums. Perennial mums have the best chance for surviving the winter when planted in the spring. If you plant them in the fall though, the roots don't have enough time to establish. You can prepare mums for winter after the first hard frost by adding mulch up to 4 inches with straw or shredded hardwood. Add the mulch around the entire plant, spreading well between branches. Pinch off dead blooms to clean up the plant, but leave branches intact. Mums have a better chance of surviving if you wait to prune old stems until spring. Although garden mums are often called hardy mums, they may not survive the winter if drainage is poor or if you live in an extremely cold climate. That said, this is one of the best fall flowers because they continue to be colorful even in the cold weather as long as they are cared for properly.

Iceland Poppy (Papaver nudicaule)
Are you looking to add some color to your fall garden? Consider planting the Iceland poppy. Iceland poppies grow 1 to 2 feet tall. This flower comes in the colors cream, orange, pink, rose, salmon, yellow, or white. They need full sun and moderate to regular water. In mild-winter climates, you can plant the Iceland poppy in the fall or winter. In cold winter areas, plant these flowers early in the spring for summer bloom, and then expect them to bloom again the following year.

English Primrose (Primula vulgaris)
Most primroses bloom in spring or summer, but English primrose is also a good choice for some a fall color. English primrose comes in nearly every color and grows 8 to 12 inches high and 9 inches wide. Primroses can take full sun in cooler climates but need full shade in other climates. All need regular water.

Snapdragons (Antirrhinum)
Snapdragons bloom all winter in mild-winter climates, but in colder climates, they may not bloom until the spring. This flower comes in many colors. Some have double flowers, some are bell-shaped, and some blooms look like azaleas. Snapdragons take full sun and regular water.

Winter Jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum)
Winter Jasmine is one of the earliest flowering plants to bloom, often in January. Although it does not have a scent, these yellow fall flowers is still a favorite among gardeners because it blooms so early in the year. The vine will reach 4 feet high and 7 feet wide if unsupported. If you use a trellis or wall, it will grow to 15 feet tall.

Snowdrops (Galanthus)
Snowdrops are beautiful white flowers that will thrive in the winter. Depending on your region, they will bloom in February or March. Snowdrops take full sun to partial shade. They thrive in well-drained soil that has plenty of humus. While it isn't colorful, this is still the perfect flower to plant in the fall since it thrives in cool weather.

Nemesia
Nemesia grows to 2 feet tall and 1 foot wide, with small bright green leaves and upright stems. This flower needs well-drained soil, full sun, and regular water. Some types have a strong fragrance, while others are unscented. If you live in a mild-winter climate, you can sow seeds in fall for winter and spring bloom. Remove faded flowers to prolong bloom.

Cock's Comb (Celosia)
Perhaps the best flowers for fall color are the Cock's Comb. This annual flower is very unique looking, as it has plumes instead of regular flower petals. They come in a large range of colors, including red, yellow, orange, and purple.

Coral Bells (Heuchera)
Coral bells are good fall hanging basket flowers. In addition to looking great in pots and hanging baskets, coral bells can withstand down to -25 Fahrenheit degrees. This plant comes in many different colors, and their leaves have a nice texture.

Stonecrop (Sedum)
Stonecrop is also called Sedum and Autumn's Joy. Its flowers bloom from August into November. They start as pink fall flowers, but as they mature they turn into red fall flowers. Sedum is a good choice for hanging baskets and pots. They look great in the winter because the dried flowers can look beautiful, especially covered with snow or frost. Sedum is hardy to a temperature of -40 Fahrenheit degrees and is a perennial in zones 3 to 9.

Croton (Plantae)
Rich shades of red, orange, yellow, and purple, this fall plant is perfect for growing in containers. This is a good choice if you are wanting fall colors because those are the colors that they come in. They are generally hardy to temperatures around 25 to 30 Fahrenheit degrees. They don’t require heavy pruning, needing only to be trimmed to maintain a compact shape and to remove unhealthy foliage.

Final Thoughts
Are you looking for the best flowers that grow in the fall? You have come to the right place. Today I went over a list of fall flowers that thrive in cold temperatures. From popular fall flowers such as mums to unique fall flowers such as Cock's Comb, these fall flowers are meant to brighten up your yard this winter. Keep in mind that some of these fall plants and flowers are hardier than others. A few hardy fall flowers include the Stonecrop and the Coral Bells. Flowering kale is also a very hardy fall plant that is more colorful and tastes better when the weather is cooler outside.
Make sure you have researched which zone you are in so that you know which fall flowers will work well for you. Consider if you have mild or cold winters before you buy any of these fall flowers. Although some of these fall flowers are extra hardy, there are also some that can only tolerate mild winters. If you happen to have any problems, you may find that you need to bring them indoors for the winter. But hopefully, your fall flower garden will thrive as the cold weather comes on. I hope that this article was helpful to you and helped you understand more about planting fall flowers. Happy planting!