Colorado’s quick temperature drops can catch you off guard, but some flowers don’t seem bothered at all. I’ve planted a few of these right before winter and was shocked at how steady they stayed.
They bring life to beds that would otherwise look bare. Their toughness makes late-season planting feel much less risky.
1. Pansies
Bright and cheerful, pansies bring a splash of color even when snow starts falling. Their petals can handle freezing nights and still look fresh the next morning.
Colorado gardeners love them because they keep blooming through mild winter days. Plant them in well-drained soil and watch them brighten up your flowerbeds.
Pansies come in every color imaginable, from deep purples to sunny yellows. Their smiling faces make winter feel a little less harsh and a lot more hopeful.
2. Violas
Smaller cousins of pansies, violas pack just as much personality into tiny blooms. They thrive in Colorado’s chilly weather and actually prefer cooler temperatures over summer heat.
Plant them along borders or in containers for pops of color throughout the cold months. Violas spread easily and fill in gaps beautifully.
Their sweet faces come in shades of purple, yellow, white, and blue. Water them regularly before the ground freezes, and they’ll reward you with blooms all winter.
3. Snapdragons
Standing tall and proud, snapdragons add vertical interest to any garden bed. Kids love squeezing the blooms to make them snap open like little dragon mouths.
Colorado’s cool fall weather helps them establish strong roots before winter arrives. They can handle light frosts and keep producing flowers when other plants have quit.
Choose from tall varieties for dramatic backdrops or dwarf types for containers. Their spiky blooms come in nearly every color and last for weeks.
4. Ornamental Kale
With ruffled leaves in shades of purple, pink, and white, ornamental kale looks more like a flower than a vegetable. Cold weather actually makes its colors more vibrant and intense.
Colorado homeowners use it as a stunning focal point in winter gardens. Plant it in groups for maximum impact, and it’ll look gorgeous until spring.
Frost brings out the best in these beauties, turning them into living works of art. They’re tough, low-maintenance, and absolutely stunning.
5. Dianthus
Spicy-scented blooms make dianthus a favorite among Colorado gardeners who want flowers that smell as good as they look. Their fringed petals add texture and charm to any planting.
Cold nights don’t bother these tough little plants one bit. They’ll keep blooming through fall and sometimes even peek through snow in winter.
Pink, red, and white varieties offer plenty of choices for your color scheme. Plant them where you can enjoy their clove-like fragrance on sunny winter days.
6. Primrose
Cheerful and compact, primroses start blooming when most plants are still sleeping. Their bright petals seem to glow against Colorado’s winter landscape.
Plant them in partial shade where they’ll get protection from harsh afternoon sun. They prefer moist soil and will reward you with weeks of continuous color.
Available in jewel tones from ruby red to sapphire blue, primroses make excellent border plants. Their early blooms signal that spring isn’t too far away, even in January.
7. Dusty Miller
Silvery leaves give dusty miller an elegant, almost magical appearance in winter gardens. While technically grown for foliage rather than flowers, its soft texture complements blooming plants perfectly.
Colorado’s cold weather makes the silver color even more pronounced and beautiful. Use it to brighten dark corners or create contrast with darker plants.
Frost clings to its fuzzy leaves like glitter, creating stunning morning displays. It’s incredibly tough and asks for almost nothing in return for its beauty.
8. Hellebores
Sometimes called Christmas roses, hellebores bloom when everything else has given up for the season. Their nodding flowers push through snow like little miracles.
Shade-loving and deer-resistant, they’re perfect for tricky spots in Colorado yards. Plant them under trees or along north-facing walls where other flowers struggle.
Their blooms last for months, not weeks, giving you incredible value. Colors range from pure white to deep burgundy, with speckled varieties adding extra interest.
9. Creeping Phlox
Carpets of color make creeping phlox a showstopper in Colorado rock gardens and slopes. Its low-growing habit protects it from harsh winds while creating stunning displays.
Plant it in fall and watch it establish roots before winter sets in. Come late winter, it’ll burst into bloom with flowers that cover every inch of foliage.
Purple, pink, and white varieties spread slowly but surely, filling spaces between rocks beautifully. It’s drought-tolerant once established, making it perfect for Colorado’s climate.
10. Sedum
Fleshy leaves store water, making sedum one of the toughest plants for Colorado’s unpredictable weather. Even after blooming, its dried flower heads add architectural interest all winter long.
Plant varieties like Autumn Joy for late-season color that transitions beautifully into winter. Their pink flowers turn rusty red, then bronze, providing months of changing beauty.
Butterflies love them in fall, and birds appreciate the seed heads in winter. They ask for almost no care and deliver year-round appeal.
11. English Daisy
Tiny but mighty, English daisies pop up in lawns and gardens when you least expect them. Their button-like flowers open on sunny winter days and close at night.
Colorado’s cool climate suits them perfectly, and they’ll naturalize over time to create charming drifts. Plant them in fall for early spring blooms that sometimes start in winter.
Kids love picking them for tiny bouquets, and they’re perfect for fairy gardens. White petals with yellow centers bring classic cottage garden charm to your yard.
12. Alyssum
Honey-scented clouds of tiny flowers make alyssum irresistible to both gardeners and beneficial insects. Plant it in fall and enjoy blooms well into Colorado’s winter during mild spells.
It self-seeds readily, so you’ll likely see volunteers popping up year after year. Use it to soften edges of pathways or fill gaps between larger plants.
White, purple, and pink varieties create a sweet-smelling carpet that handles light frosts beautifully. Its delicate appearance hides a surprisingly tough constitution perfect for Colorado.
13. Calendula
Sunshine-colored petals make calendula a must-have for Colorado gardeners wanting winter cheer. Also called pot marigold, its edible flowers add color to salads and have traditional medicinal uses.
Plant seeds in late summer or early fall for winter blooms during warm spells. They’ll keep flowering until hard freezes arrive, then often resume when temperatures warm.
Orange and yellow varieties glow like little suns in the garden. They’re easy to grow from seed and reseed themselves generously for future seasons.