6 Flowers to Plant in January

There are a number of different flowers to plant in January, depending on your region and Hardiness Zone. For the most part, flowers grown from seed do best when started indoors during this month. However, you may live in a warm enough region that sowing outdoors is entirely possible and even beneficial. But what flowers can you plant safely in the frigid month of January? 

If you live in Zone 8 or higher, you can directly sow poppies, pansies, and calendula outdoors. However, all of these flowers can also be started indoors if you live in a colder region or climate. Begonias, snapdragons, foxgloves, and pansies do best when established indoors in January and hardened off outdoors once any potential frost date has passed. Finally, if you forgot to plant your spring flower bulbs in the months of November and December, you may still have time to plant them in January. 

Knowing your average temperatures and regional climate is key to planting anything outdoors during the month of January. The weather during this time of year is particularly fickle, but that doesn’t mean you can’t prepare your garden for the busy and beautiful springtime season! Here are some of the flowers that you can plant in January, both indoors and out. 

The Best Flowers to Plant in January

From cold-hardy pansies to tall and beautiful foxgloves, here are the best flowers that you can plant in January, depending on your Hardiness Zone. Grab your grow lights and get your indoor seedling center set up for a busy January! 

Begonias

The average begonia is versatile enough to be grown indoors, outdoors, as ground cover, in containers, and much more. If you want to grow begonias from seed, you should start them during the months of January and allow them to become established plants roughly two months before your final spring frost date. Make sure to harden off any begonia plants before planting them in outdoor soil, giving them plenty of time to adapt to outdoor conditions.

Snapdragons

With cheerful faces and plenty of colors available, snapdragons are perfect to start during the month of January. Like begonias, you should start them indoors roughly two months before your frost date in the springtime. Depending on how large your plants get outside, you may want to give them some structural support, as some snapdragon varieties get quite tall! 

Poppies

If you don’t want to worry about growing flowers indoors before springtime, poppies are a great choice for most Hardiness Zones. They should be directly sown outdoors, roughly a month before your frost date ends if at all possible. You may not be able to work in your soil at this point, but poppies require some cold stratification in order to thrive in the spring and summertime. There are also plenty of varieties to choose from, adding color and drama to any garden! 

Pansies

Pansies are one of the few flowers that enjoy cold weather and in fact die during the summertime more often than in the wintertime. You can grow pansies from seed, but keep in mind that they need roughly three months to grow strong enough to be planted outdoors. Many gardeners enjoy buying pansies as established plants from nurseries, though you may not be able to plant them in the month of January, depending on your region. Timing is key, but pansies are easy to care for and delightful in any garden! 

Foxgloves

If you didn’t take advantage of planting foxgloves during the fall, you should definitely sow these seeds indoors during the month of January. Foxgloves enjoy cold weather to an extent. You should plant your established foxglove flowers in your garden roughly three weeks before your last frost date. Just like snapdragons, foxgloves need some support as they age, as these flowers can reach up to 8 feet tall! 

Calendula

If you are worried about whether or not you have a green thumb, you should try growing calendula. These cheery blooms are readily grown from seed, either directly sown outdoors in warmer climates or started indoors in colder climates during the month of January. You should plant these seeds lightly atop their soil, as they need sunlight in order to germinate successfully. If properly cared for and pruned throughout the springtime, you can expect calendula blossoms throughout spring and summer! 

Did You Remember to Plant Your Spring Flower Bulbs?

There are a number of popular springtime flowers that are traditionally grown from bulbs or tubers. However, most of these flowers require a cold stratification period of several months. If you forgot to plant your spring flower bulbs during the months of November or December, it isn’t necessarily too late. However, it will depend on your region as to when you will see your spring flowers, as a late planting will result in a late-blooming!

Here are some spring flower bulbs that you can attempt to plant during the month of January if you missed them in the months prior:  

• Tulips
• Hyacinths
• Crocuses
• Anemones
• Daffodils
• Dahlias
• Snowdrops
• Calla lilies

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The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/Olga U