Fall's brightest flowers

 

31 cool-season bloomers

Climate zones are taken from the 2001 edition of the Sunset Western Garden Book.

Cool colors

Bachelor's button ( Centaurea cyanus); 1-24, H1-H2.

Canterbury bell ( Campanula medium); 1-9, 14-24.

Chinese forget-me-not (Cynoglossum amabile); 1-24, A2-A3, H1-H2.

Corn cockle ( Agrostemma githago); 1-24.

Florists' cineraria ( Senecio x hybridus); 16-17, 22-24.

Flowering cabbage and kale; all zones.

Forget-me-not ( Myosotis sylvatica); 1-24, A1-A3.

Honeywort ( Cerinthe major); 1-24.

Stock ( Matthiola); 1-24.

Sweet alyssum ( Lobularia maritima); all zones.

Warm colors

African daisy ( Dimorphotheca); 1-24 (best in warm-summer climates).

Calendula ( C. officinalis); 1-24, H1.

Chrysanthemum ( C. multicaule); 1-24, A1-A3.

Multicolors

Dianthus (many); 1-24, A2-A3.

English daisy ( Bellis perennis); 1-9, 14-24.

Foxglove ( Digitalis); zones vary by species.

Godetia ( Clarkia amoena); 1-24.

Iceland poppy ( Papaver nudicaule); annual in 7-9, 12-24; perennial in 1-6, 10, A2-A3.

Larkspur ( Consolida ajacis); 1-24.

Nemesia ( N. strumosa); 1-24.

Pansy ( Viola x wittrockiana); all zones.

Petunia ( P. x hybrida); winter annual only in zones 12-13.

Poor man's orchid ( Schizanthus pinnatus); 1-9, 14-24 (best in 1-6, 15-17, 21-24).

Primrose ( Primula); zones vary by type.

Shirley poppy ( Papaver rhoeas); 1-24, A1-A3 (best in cool-summer areas).

Snapdragon ( Antirrhinum majus); 1-24, A3.

Sweet peas ( Lathyrus odoratus); all zones.

Toadflax ( Linaria); 1-24.

White

Globe candytuft ( Iberis umbellata); 1-24.

Chrysanthemum ( C. paludosum); 1-24, A1-A3.

Viola ( V. cornuta); all zones.

...and their partners

bacopa
chartreuse fever-few chives
cyclamen
daffodil
diascia
freesia
lettuce
mustard
parsley
red cabbage
tulip

More: 20 best perennials to plant in cool weather