8 Flowers to Plant in November for a Burst of Color in Winter and Beyond

Tulips

Planting tulips in November can set them up perfectly for the spring. "These bulbs actually need a period of cold dormancy," says Kate Walz, owner and founder of KW Garden Design. "Soil temperatures in November are typically cool enough—below 55 degrees Fahrenheit—to ensure they won't sprout too early."

Walz says these flowers are "a welcome sight in the spring after months of winter gray."

• Zones: 3 to 8
• Size: 9 to 24 inches tall
• Care requirements: Full sun; well-drained soil

Yarrow

If you live in a climate with milder winters, then yarrow can withstand a mid to late fall planting. "Its foliage simply pops in the autumn garden," says Teri Speight, landscape gardener and author of The Urban Garden. "Make certain the ground isn't frozen, and there's a four to 6 week window before a hard freeze."

Speight suggests planting it in unexpected gaps in a border or even in pots. It also attracts beneficial bugs, like bees and ladybugs.

• Zones: 3 to 8
• Size: 9 to 24 inches tall
• Care requirements: Full sun; well-drained soil

Hellebores

Hellebores are the perfect winter flower. They establish best when the weather is cool and "bloom in late winter or very early spring," says Walz. "Sometimes, they even bloom through the snow!"

Walz grows them underneath her Japanese maple tree. "They bloom well before the leaves of the maple emerge, and when they finally do, the hellebores leaves create a lovely carpet of green underneath the tree," she says.

• Zones: 5 to 8
• Size: 12 inches tall x 18 to 24 inches wide
• Care requirements: Partial to full shade; rich soil
  

Snapdragons

Snapdragons make for beautiful spring bouquets, and children love to "snap" the petals open and closed, almost as if the flowers themselves were talking. Walz recommends sowing them in fall so they can develop strong roots and bloom earlier and longer in spring.

"Start from seedling transplants or direct sow seeds outdoors," she says. "Protect them with a light mulch or frost cloth through freezes."

• Zones: 7 to 11
• Size: 1 to 3 feet tall x 6 to 18 inches wide
• Care requirements: full sun; well-draining soil rich in organic matter

Asters

Asters are an important food source for pollinators and native bees—and they fill your garden with beautiful color. While they won't bloom until the weather gets warmer, you can plant them in November for best results.

"The cool temperatures reduce transplant shock, allowing the plant to focus its energy on establishing its roots," says Mary Phillips, head of native plant habitat strategy at the National Wildlife Federation. "With this early start, asters can develop a robust root system that will be ready to bloom strongly the following fall."

• Zones: 3 to 8
• Size: 1 to 6 feet tall x 1 to 4 feet wide
• Care requirements: Full sun; well-drained soil

Sweet Peas

"I adore sweet peas, and they love growing at the cooler periods of the year," says Speight.

She suggests scratching their outer surface after soaking them overnight so they're more receptive to germination. Also, protect them from pests over the winter—a copper band around them, for example, will deter slugs.

Once they're in full bloom, sweet peas have a wonderful fragrance—they're perfect for bouquets, too.

• Zones: 3 to 8
• Size: 4 to 6 feet tall x 2 to 3 feet wide
• Care requirements: Full sun; rich, well-drained soil

Coneflowers

Planting coneflowers in November gives them time to set roots before spring. "If you're lucky enough to plant this perennial with already-formed seed heads, these seeds will feed many birds over the winter," adds Walz.

Walz recommends the taller varieties in particular, as they'll peek out from a garden border when in full bloom.

• Zones: 5 to 8
• Size: 2 to 3 feet tall x 1 to 2 feet wide
• Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; well-drained soil

Peonies

"Peonies do not like to be disturbed once growing, so planting them in November, while dormant, is perfect," says Walz. "This allows the roots to establish themselves before the spring growing season."

In particular, she notes that their longevity is a real perk: "Plant them once and they can bloom for decades!"

• Zones: 3 to 8 (depending on variety) 
• Size: 1 to 5 feet x 2 to 3 feet wide (depending on variety)
• Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; well-drained soil