by Judy Evans

Created on: January 09, 2011   Last Updated: January 26, 2012

Nothing lifts the spirit more than signs that spring is just around the corner. However if you are anxious to get out in the garden and start planting, you may do well to start with frost-tolerant plants so that all your hard work does not shrivel up with a late frost.

Your location and area will have some bearing on plants that are suitable for early spring planting and buying locally should ensure that the plants you buy are adapted to the region and its climate. It is a good idea to talk to your nurseryman about your choices as he has the local expertise to help you make wise decisions.

Perennials in general are more frost tolerant than annuals. The hosta is a hardy, reliable perennial of some 40 odd species. The hosta is almost impossible to kill although they are very attractive to snails and slugs. They are a lily-like plant and a great choice for beginning gardeners or those with limited time to spend in the garden.

They are grown for their attractive foliage as much as for their flowers. The leaves can be colourful (as in the blue hostas) and/or variegated and many have a pleasing texture being puckered or pleated. The flowers are generally white or lilac and some have a very pleasant fragrance. Hosta plantaginea is strongly fragrant with the flowers opening in the evening and closing again by morning. Hostas grow from rhizomes and have broad lance-like or ovate leaves.

Hostas come in such a variety of colours and flowers that you could just about plant your garden entirely around this plant. Blue hostas naturalise and mass plantings become a dense mat helping to choke out weeds.

Geraniums come in a range of colour and are tough and hardy. They can be pruned after flowering to stop them becoming too straggly. Almost as varied in their form and colour are the lily family. Their versatility is well documented and they will brighten up your garden while waiting for later plantings to mature. Marigolds and daisies are easy-to-grow plants that spring to mind when ‘hardy’ and ‘frost-resistant’ are mentioned.

Frost tolerant annuals include pansies, violas, lobelia, dianthus, stocks, snapdragons (antirrhinum), petunias and sweet alyssum. Dusty miller, centaurea and ornamental kale are other possible choices. These can be transplanted out as seedlings. Sweet pea seeds can be planted as well.

There are well over 300 species of centaurea which is also called cornflower, knapweed or starthistle. The blooms of these robust, weedy plants come in a range of colours. Asters, calendulas, foxgloves, gazanias, carnations, chrysanthemum, hollyhock, nemesia, linaria, phlox, Californian poppy, Shasta daisy, salvia, rudbeckia and verbena will all bring colour and beauty to your garden.

 As you can see, there are many plants which can be planted early in spring and which will survive light frosts. And within weeks you will have swathes of gorgeous colour to your garden.

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