Here are some flower suggestions for Cochrane’s cool climate.

Perennials:

When given a well prepared site and some winter protection, most perennials will thrive in the north. The secret is to protect them from the freeze-thaw cycles with a mulch or adequate snow cover.

Peonies, lilies, Maltese cross, delphinium, and shasta daisy do not require any protection, even in the north.

Anemones, Arabis, and astilbe are not recommended for the north.

Annuals:

Almost all annuals can be grown in the north. Some requiring a longer season are best started indoors. For a longer season of bloom, select annuals that will withstand a few degrees of frost.

This will ensure that those late spring frosts will not wipe out all your work and the plants will survive the first fall frosts to give you colour after the more tender annuals are gone.

The annuals that will survive minor frosts are alyssum, snapdragons, asters, calendula, Dusty Miller, nicotiana, pansy, phlox, Schizanthus, Wee Willie, strawflowers and petunias. Pansies, violas, and even Wee Willies will often survive the winter to give you an early spring show.

Photo supplied by News Canada

Vines:

Finding climbers for the north involves a lot of searching through catalogues.

Most nurseries carry the tender ones such as Clematis jackmanni, but a few carry the hardy ones like riverbank grape, Virginia creeper, bittersweet, western virgin’s bower, or Canada moonseed.

Bulbs and Tubers:

Most bulbs can be grown in the colder areas except for hyacinth, daffidols and various narcissi unless they are given extra care. These bulbs are best grown indoors. Most tubers such as dahlias are very successful in the north. The main difficulty with the early spring bulbs is the planting time.

Quite often the weather becomes unsuitable for planting before the bulbs arrive. When planning on planting bulbs in the fall, prepare the ground ahead of time and mulch to prevent freezing.

— calgaryarea.com

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