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Think Spring!: "Ontario groundhog says "early spring is coming!" is it time to start thinking "seeds" or pulling out the groundhog? 🦁Zones 6–7 Flowers
Annuals & Perennials
Welcome to your Zones 6–7 flower guide! Find sowing dates, bloom periods, and Lion Gardener notes to make your garden thrive.
Annuals – Zones 6–7
| Flower | Sow/Plant Dates | Bloom Period | Sun/Shade | Notes / Tips | Resources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cosmos | Indoor: mid-March Outdoor: after frost |
July–Oct | 🌞 Full Sun | Self-seeds 🌱 | Attracts pollinators 🐝 | Leave spent blooms for seed | Grow Cosmos |
| Sweet Peas | Outdoor: early spring (pre-frost) | June–July | 🌞 Full Sun | Fragrant 🌼 | Trellis support | Cut often to extend bloom ✂️ | Sweet Peas |
| Dahlias | Plant tubers: after last frost | July–Oct | 🌞 Full Sun | Excellent cut flower ✂️ | Lift & divide tubers | Pollinator-friendly 🐝 | Grow Dahlias |
| Gladiolus | Plant corms: after frost | July–Sept | 🌞 Full Sun | Cut flowers ✂️ | Stake tall stems | Succession plant for longer bloom | Grow Gladiolus |
| Calendula | Indoor: Feb–Mar Outdoor: after frost |
May–Oct | 🌞 Full Sun | Self-seeds 🌱 | Edible petals | Companion for vegetables 🌿 | Flower Calendar |
| Impatiens | Indoor: Mar–Apr Outdoor: after frost |
June–Oct | Partial Shade | Shade color pop | Keep evenly moist | Containers & borders | Shade Plants |
| Fuchsia | Indoor: Mar–Apr Outdoor: after frost |
June–Oct | Partial Shade | Pinch for bushy growth ✂️ | Attracts hummingbirds 🐝 | Great baskets | Plants 4 Baskets |
| Dusty Miller | Indoor: Mar–Apr Outdoor: after frost |
June–Sept | 🌞 Full Sun | Silver foliage | Texture contrast | Drought tolerant once established | Soil Amendments |
| Zinnias | Indoor: Mar–Apr Outdoor: after frost |
June–Sept | 🌞 Full Sun | Self-seeds 🌱 | Excellent cut flower ✂️ | Attracts pollinators 🐝 | Flower Calendar |
| Poppies | Outdoor: early spring | June–July | 🌞 Full Sun | Self-seeds 🌱 | Do not transplant | Delicate blooms |
Plant Today Flower Calendar |
| Stock | Indoor: Feb–Mar Outdoor: after frost |
May–July | 🌞 Full Sun | Strong fragrance 🌼 | Cool-season bloomer | Cut flowers ✂️ |
Frost Dates Flower Calendar |
| Sunflowers | Outdoor: after frost | July–Sept | 🌞 Full Sun | Self-seeds 🌱 | Tall types need staking | Pollinator magnet 🐝 | Grow Sunflowers |
| Geraniums | Indoor: Feb–Mar Outdoor: after frost |
June–Sept | 🌞 Full Sun | Easy from cuttings ✂️ | Containers & borders | Overwinter indoors | Seasonal Blooms |
| Marigolds | Indoor: mid–Mar Outdoor: after frost |
June–Oct | 🌞 Full Sun | Attracts pollinators 🐝 | Deters pests 🌿 | Companion plant |
Flowers Flower Calendar |
| Petunias | Indoor: late March Outdoor: after frost |
June–Sept | 🌞 Full Sun | Deadhead for bloom ✂️ | Take cuttings | Containers & beds | Petunias |
Perennials – Zones 6–7
| Flower | Sow/Plant / Care Dates | Bloom Period | Sun/Shade | Notes / Tips | Resources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lilies | Plant bulbs: fall or spring | July–Aug | Full Sun–Partial | Divide every 3–4 yrs ✂️ | Supports 🐝 | Companion: alliums, lavender |
Growing Lilies |
| Peonies | Plant/divide: fall or early spring | May–June | 🌞 Full Sun | Long-lived, may take years to bloom ✂️ | Fragrant 🌼 | Companion: irises, lilies | |
| Carnations | Plant cuttings or divisions: spring | June–July | 🌞 Full Sun | Fragrant 🌼 | Good for cutting ✂️ | Companion: lavender, roses | |
| Rudbeckia | Sow seeds: indoor Mar–Apr or outdoor after frost | July–Sept | 🌞 Full Sun | Self-seeding 🌱 | Drought tolerant | Attracts pollinators 🐝 | |
| Coneflowers | Sow seeds: spring indoors / early spring outdoors | July–Sept | 🌞 Full Sun | Self-seeding 🌱 | Attracts pollinators 🐝 | Companion: rudbeckia, yarrow | |
| Roses | Plant bare-root: spring/fall | June–Sept | 🌞 Full Sun | Prune annually ✂️ | Mulch for winter | Fragrant 🌼 | Companion: lavender, carnations | Growing Roses |
| Snapdragons | Sow indoor: Jan–Mar, transplant after frost | June–Sept | Full Sun–Partial | Self-seeding 🌱 | Pinch tips for bushy growth ✂️ | Attracts pollinators 🐝 | Grow Snapdragons |
| Hollyhocks | Sow outdoor: spring or fall | July–Aug | 🌞 Full Sun | Self-seeds 🌱 | May need staking | Companion: hollyhocks with roses for height |
Growing Hollyhocks |
| Wallflowers | Sow indoor: Jan–Mar, transplant after frost | May–June | 🌞 Full Sun | Fragrant 🌼| Short-lived perennials ✂️ | Companion: pansies, violas | |
| Feverfew | Sow seeds: spring indoors / after frost | June–Sept | 🌞 Full Sun | Self-seeding 🌱 | Medicinal use | Companion: yarrow, coneflowers | |
| Pansies | Sow indoor: Feb–Mar, transplant after frost | May–June | Full Sun–Partial | Cool-season 🌱 | Can overwinter | Companion: wallflowers | |
| Lavender | Sow indoor: Feb–Mar, transplant after frost | June–July | 🌞 Full Sun | Good drainage | Prune lightly after blooming & Fall | Attracts pollinators 🐝 | Companion: roses, carnations |
Growing Lavender Flower Calendar |
| Iris | Plant outdoors after frost | May–June | 🌞 Full Sun | Good drainage | Divide every 3–5 yrs ✂️ | Companion: peonies, lilies |
Growing Irises |
| Autumn Joy Sedum | Plant outdoors after frost | May–June | 🌞 Full Sun | Good drainage |Drought tolerant | Attracts pollinators 🐝 | Companion:Coneflowers, Ornamental Grasses |
Autumn Joy Sedum |
| Astilbe | Plant outdoors after frost | May - some August | 🌞 Full Sun | Keep Soil Moist | Attracts pollinators 🐝 | Companion:Hostas, Ferns, Heuchera, Japanese Forest Grass |
Astilbe Perennial Gardening |
| Delphiniums | Plant outdoors after frost | June-July | 🌞 Full Sun | Prune after blooms, Staking, lasts 2-3 years | Attracts pollinators 🐝 | Companion:Salvia, Roses, Daisies, Yarrow, Peonies, iris |
Delphiniums Perennial Gardening |
| Heuchera | Plant outdoors after frost | June-August | Partial shade - Full Sun | Attracts pollinators 🐝 | Companion: Hostas, Ferns, Columbines, Bleeding Heart |
Heuchera Perennial Gardening |
| Spring Flowering Bulbs | Plant: fall before frost | Mar–May | Full Sun–Partial | Divide every few years ✂️ | Includes tulips, daffodils, crocus | Companion: pansies, violas |
Grow Spring Bulbs |
Seasonal Checklist
- Start pansies and other hardy annuals indoors
- Prep soil for perennials
- Transplant annuals outdoors after frost
- Stake tall flowers
- Deadhead and water regularly
- Monitor for pests
- Divide perennials if needed
- Collect seeds for next year