What are the characteristics of hardy flowers?
If a flower is defined as hardy, it can withstand frost and snow at its location without protective measures. This floral masterpiece is based on a sophisticated survival strategy. The following characteristics distinguish perennial flowers:
- All herbaceous parts of the plant die off after the first frost
- The roots survive the winter deep in the ground
- In spring, hardy flowers sprout again on their own
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Diverse types of flowers make use of this clever master plan. This includes not only plants with strong roots and rhizomes. Bulb flowers, like Daffodils and tulips also fall into this category. Of course, we are not allowed to lump together bulbous flowers. While anemones thrive hardy up to - 30 degrees Celsius, exotic ones survive Dahlias the cold season only in frost-free, dark winter quarters.
Winter hardiness zones - practical guidance
Since winter conditions largely depend on the geographical location, a plant cannot be generally described as frost-hardy. A year-round blooming diva from the Mediterranean shivers in Central Europe at temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius. Look out for perennials plants for your flower garden, take a look at the associated winter hardiness zone.
In order to capture the sometimes drastic climatic differences, special maps divide Europe into hardiness zones with temperatures as a central criterion. A total of five winter hardiness zones are valid for Germany. These range from WHZ 6a (- 23.4 degrees to - 17.8 degrees for high altitudes) to WHZ 8a (- 12.3 degrees to - 6.7 degrees for mild wine-growing regions).
In practice, however, it has been found that winter hardiness zones are only useful as a rough guide. The local microclimate in your garden is decisive for the frost tolerance of perennials. In a warm, sheltered niche within the winter hardiness zone 6a, there are better ones for Mediterranean flowers Prospects for an undamaged winter time, than at the exposed, windswept location within the hardiness zone 8a.
Tips
The imaginative, Mediterranean garden design is not limited to frost-sensitive flowers and trees. Torch lily (Kniphofia uvaria), Sun hat (Rudbeckia) and lavender (Lavendula angustifolia) inspire every year anew with their colorful flowers and Mediterranean charm.
