| What are some colorful annuals and perennials that would last through the winter. I live in SC. |
| Here are some good ones: Mums are the most popular, sold by the thousands all over. They come in endless colors with large, medium and miniature blooms. Asters look like daisies but last until winter arrives. Pinching spent flowers results in mounds of plants. Sedum, a succulent, looks nice all year as a border plant, but the best is yet to come. In September, the plants suddenly sprout heads of color. Eventually, the plant is covered, and you can hardly see the leaves. I have a planting of Helianthus in my back yard and constantly am amazed. These look like yellow daisies, but they are on 5-foot stalks and bloom until the freeze. Some call them false sunflowers. Birds love their seeds. The plants expand rapidly. Helenium is similar to Helianthus, but is the choice if you have poor soil and drainage problems. While not a flower, pampas grass offers an unusual fall display. It sends out red, silver or pink feathery plumes each fall just before the green plant starts turning to straw. These guys will last until March, when the straw should be cut to make way for the new grass. They keep well indoors as a dried flower. The beauty of these is they are planted once and enjoyed for many years. |
