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
Explore Other Zones
👉 Join our Gardening Forum
If you're unsure about frost dates, planting times, or what works in your garden, this is the best place to ask.
I’ll be there as your gardener, cook and admin - sharing real-world experience, not just textbook answers.
Beginner questions are absolutely welcome.
You don’t need to be experienced to get helpful answers.
Posts are answered publicly so other gardeners can learn from your question too - and you’ll often get more than one perspective.
👉
Visit the Garden Forum - quick replies and a growing Canadian gardening community
Site support: Advertising helps support canadian-gardening.ca and keeps the site free for everyone.