Winter Flowers in Pakistan: What to Plant and How to Grow Them
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Winter flowers can turn a sunny balcony, rooftop or small garden into a colourful display. Petunias and pansies suit pots, stock and sweet peas bring fragrance, and calendula offers an easy starting point for gardeners growing flowers from seed.
In much of Pakistan, these flowers are sown in autumn and bloom during winter and spring. This guide helps you choose suitable flowers, plant them at the right time and care for them from seedlings to flowering plants.
Best Time
Begin sowing when the strongest summer heat has eased. Starting early in suitable weather gives plants more time to develop before flowering, but exposed trays can still become too hot during early autumn.
In Lahore, Faisalabad and much of central Punjab, sow from September to November. For September sowings, keep trays sheltered from hot afternoon sun while the seeds germinate.
In Islamabad and Rawalpindi, September to November is a practical sowing window. Starting during the earlier part of this period gives slower-growing flowers more time to establish before winter cold slows their growth.
In hotter southern Punjab, including Multan, Bahawalpur and Rahim Yar Khan begin during October after the strongest summer heat has passed. October to November is a useful starting window, with some flowers also suitable for December sowing during mild weather.
In Karachi and coastal Sindh, sow from October into December. Wait for cooler conditions before starting pansies, especially if your sowing area receives strong afternoon sun.
In colder northern and hilly areas, spring sowing is often more practical. March to April may suit milder locations after the risk of hard frost has passed. Higher, colder places may need a later start.
Autumn sowing does not mean every flower will bloom throughout winter. Faster flowers may begin during winter, while slower varieties and plants growing through cold, foggy weather may produce their main display in spring. If you are starting late and want flowers sooner, nursery plants with developing buds can fill the gap while your seedlings grow.
Choosing Flowers
Choose two or three flowers that suit your space before adding more varieties.
- For an easy start: Calendula and nasturtium have larger seeds that are easy to handle and can be sown directly into their final containers.
- For smaller pots: Choose pansy, compact petunia, dianthus or sweet alyssum.
- For fragrance: Grow stock, sweet alyssum or sweet pea near an entrance or sitting area.
- For taller flowers: Use antirrhinum or cornflower in beds or larger, stable pots.
- For climbing colour: Grow tall sweet peas beside a trellis or climbing net.
Check how much direct sunlight your planting area receives during winter. Most flowers in this guide bloom best with around six or more hours daily. Pansies and alyssum can manage some partial shade, but a balcony with no direct sunlight is unlikely to produce a strong display.
Getting Started
Pots and Soil
Use containers with open drainage holes. The pot sizes below refer to width unless depth is also given. Choose a larger container when growing several plants together.
Fill pots with a suitable potting mix that holds moisture while allowing excess water to drain. If preparing your own mixture, combine garden soil with suitable potting materials and some well-rotted compost or vermicompost. Avoid using heavy soil that stays soaked after watering.
For flower beds, loosen the soil, remove weeds and mix compost into the planting area. Where water collects after rain, use raised beds or containers.
Sowing Seeds
- Prepare the container. Use the final pot for directly sown flowers, or fill a seedling tray with fine, lightly moist seed starter mix.
- Sow at the right depth. Petunia, antirrhinum and alyssum seeds can be pressed onto the surface without burying them. Cover other seeds according to their needs. Nasturtium seeds, for example, are sown about ½ inch deep.
- Water gently. Use a fine spray or gentle flow that does not wash seeds away. Keep the surface lightly moist while waiting for germination.
- Choose a sheltered position. Protect sowings from heavy rain and strong afternoon heat. As seedlings emerge, provide good light and gradually introduce gentle morning sun.
- Give seedlings room. If several plants emerge together, separate tray-grown seedlings when large enough to handle. For directly sown plants, snip unwanted seedlings at soil level so the remaining plants have room to grow.
Label each variety with its name and sowing date. This makes it easier to track slower seedlings and arrange plants later.
Moving Seedlings
Most tray-grown flowers can be moved once they have several true leaves and roots that hold the small plug of mix together. True leaves are the leaves that develop after the first seed leaves.
Gradually expose sheltered seedlings to more outdoor sunlight and airflow over about a week. Transplant during a mild afternoon, keeping the roots together and planting at the same depth as before. Water gently afterward and protect them from strong sun while they settle.
Flowers to Grow
The flowering times below are broad estimates counted from sowing. Variety, temperature and sunlight affect the result, and cold spells can extend the wait. Pot sizes are practical starting sizes for individual plants unless stated otherwise.
1. Petunia
Petunia, commonly called Gul-e-Atlas (گل اطلس), produces trumpet-shaped flowers in bright colours, soft shades and contrasting patterns. Compact varieties form rounded plants that look attractive in pots, window boxes and courtyard displays.
- Best for: Colourful pots, window boxes and sunny entrances.
- Sunlight: At least six hours of direct sun.
- Growing space: One compact plant in an 8–10-inch pot, or about 8–12 inches between plants in a bed.
- First flowers: Usually around 10–14 weeks after sowing.
Start the tiny seeds in a tray and press them onto moist mix without covering them. Keep the surface from drying out. For long stems spilling over a hanging basket, choose a trailing variety.
2. Pansy
Pansies have rounded flowers with colourful markings that are easiest to enjoy up close. Their short growth suits window boxes, pots beside a doorway and the front of flower beds.
- Best for: Small pots, window boxes and low borders.
- Sunlight: Around four to six hours of direct sun.
- Growing space: One plant in an 8-inch pot, or about 8–10 inches between plants.
- First flowers: Usually around 10–14 weeks after sowing, sometimes longer.
Start seeds in trays once autumn heat has eased. Cover them lightly and keep the mix evenly moist. Hot sowing conditions can make germination difficult, so avoid placing trays against sun-heated walls or on exposed rooftop floors.
3. Calendula
Calendula, also called Gul-e-Ashrafi (گل اشرفی), produces cheerful yellow and orange flowers. It is a useful first choice if you want to sow directly into a pot and avoid transplanting small seedlings.
- Best for: Beginner gardens, sunny pots and colourful beds.
- Sunlight: At least six hours of direct sun.
- Growing space: One plant in a 10–12-inch pot, or about 12 inches between plants.
- First flowers: Often around 6–10 weeks after sowing in suitable conditions.
Sow about ½ inch deep in the final pot or prepared bed. Thin crowded seedlings early so each plant can develop several flowering branches.
4. Sweet Alyssum
Sweet alyssum forms low clusters of tiny flowers with a gentle, honey-like fragrance. White varieties pair easily with brighter flowers and soften the edges of pots and pathways.
- Best for: Pot edges, low borders and small fragrant displays.
- Sunlight: Full sun or morning sun with some afternoon shade.
- Growing space: One plant in a 6–8-inch pot, or about 8–12 inches between plants.
- First flowers: Often around 6–10 weeks after sowing.
Press seeds onto moist mix without burying them. When arranging alyssum with larger flowers, leave it at the sunny edge so taller plants do not shade it completely.
5. Antirrhinum
Antirrhinum, or snapdragon, produces upright spikes of flowers that open gradually along the stem. Tall varieties add height to beds and can also provide stems for indoor arrangements.
- Best for: The back of flower beds and taller container displays.
- Sunlight: At least six hours of direct sun.
- Growing space: One tall plant in a stable 12-inch pot, or about 12–18 inches between plants.
- First flowers: Roughly 12–16 weeks after sowing.
Start the fine seeds in a tray without covering them. Tall mixes can reach around 24–36 inches, so add a slim stake while plants are young if your rooftop or garden is windy.
6. Dianthus
Dianthus chinensis has pink, red, white or bicoloured flowers, often with finely fringed petals. Its bushy growth makes it suitable for individual pots and rows beside a garden path.
- Best for: Patio pots, pathways and the front of beds.
- Sunlight: At least six hours of direct sun.
- Growing space: One plant in an 8–10-inch pot, or about 8–12 inches between plants.
- First flowers: Usually around 14–16 weeks after sowing.
Sow in trays with a light covering of fine mix. When transplanting, keep the leafy centre above the soil and avoid piling wet compost around the lower stems.
7. Stock
Stock, also called Gul Stock (گل سٹاک), produces upright clusters of fragrant flowers. Place it near an entrance or outdoor sitting area where you can enjoy the scent regularly.
- Best for: Fragrant pots, sunny borders and cut flowers.
- Sunlight: At least six hours of direct sun.
- Growing space: One plant in a 10–12-inch pot, or about 8–12 inches between plants.
- First flowers: Usually around 10–14 weeks after sowing, depending on the variety.
Start seeds in trays with a very light covering of mix. Transplant before the roots become crowded, and leave space between plants so their leaves can dry after fog or watering.
8. Cornflower
Cornflowers have slender stems and fringed blooms in blue, pink, purple and other shades. They look especially attractive among orange calendulas or behind a low border of white alyssum.
- Best for: Mixed flower beds and informal garden displays.
- Sunlight: At least six hours of direct sun.
- Growing space: One plant in a stable 10–12-inch pot, or about 8–12 inches between plants.
- First flowers: Often around 9–12 weeks after sowing.
Sow directly into the final container or bed with a light soil covering. Tall varieties may reach around 24–36 inches and need support in exposed locations.
9. Nasturtium
Nasturtiums have rounded leaves and bright flowers, with both compact and trailing varieties available. Peach Melba is a compact choice with creamy yellow to soft peach flowers marked with orange-red patches.
- Best for: Easy container growing and low, spreading displays.
- Sunlight: Around five to six hours of direct sun.
- Growing space: One Peach Melba plant in a 10–12-inch pot, or about 12 inches between plants.
- First flowers: Usually around 8–10 weeks after sowing.
Sow about ½ inch deep directly into the final pot or bed. Peach Melba needs no climbing support. Avoid heavy feeding, which can encourage plenty of leaves with fewer flowers.
Explore Nasturtium Peach Melba Seeds
10. Sweet Pea
Sweet pea, also called Gul-e-Matar (گل مٹر), produces fragrant flowers on climbing stems. Tall varieties suit trellises, climbing nets and sunny balcony grills.
- Best for: Fragrant climbing displays and flowers for small vases.
- Sunlight: At least six hours of direct sun.
- Growing space: Use a container at least 12–14 inches wide and 12 inches deep. Leave about 6–8 inches between plants.
- First flowers: Often around 12–16 weeks after sowing, though some varieties take longer and flower mainly in spring.
Sow directly beside a support or start in individual deep pots. Tall Mix can reach around 5–7 feet, so secure the trellis before the vines begin climbing and guide young stems towards it.
Ornamental sweet peas are not edible peas. Their seeds and pods must not be eaten.
Planting Ideas
Sunny Balcony
Start with three separate pots: one compact petunia in a 10-inch pot, one pansy in an 8-inch pot and one white alyssum in an 8-inch pot. Group them where all three receive direct sunlight, leaving enough room for their leaves to spread.
Separate containers let you move individual plants as sunlight changes and water each pot according to how quickly its soil dries.
Fragrant Entrance
Place one stock plant in a 10–12-inch pot beside an alyssum plant in an 8-inch pot. For extra height, add a sweet pea container beside a securely fixed trellis. Keep the arrangement clear of the doorway and walking space.
Small Flower Bed
For a bed viewed from the front, plant antirrhinum or cornflower at the back, calendula through the middle and pansies or alyssum along the front. Use the spacing given above and repeat small groups for a fuller display.
Position the taller plants so their shadows fall away from the shorter flowers. A combination of blue cornflowers, orange calendulas and white alyssum gives a clear colour contrast.
Winter Care
Watering
For established plants, check the soil about an inch below the surface. If it still feels moist, wait. When it begins to dry, water slowly around the roots until excess water drains from the pot.
New sowings and small seedlings need more frequent checks because their shallow roots dry out quickly. Keep their growing mix lightly moist without leaving it soaked.
Empty water-filled saucers. During foggy weather, water earlier in the day and avoid wetting flowers unnecessarily. Check rooftop pots and hanging baskets more often because wind can dry them even when the weather feels cool.
Feeding
If the potting mix already contains fertilizer, check how long that feed is intended to last before adding more.
Otherwise, begin light feeding once seedlings have several true leaves and are growing steadily. Allow newly transplanted plants to settle and resume growth first. Use a fertilizer suitable for flowering plants at its recommended strength and frequency.
Do not increase fertilizer to force faster growth during cold spells. Nasturtiums generally need less feeding than flowers such as petunias, particularly when planted in a fertile mixture.
More Flowers
Removing faded blooms before seed heads develop helps many seasonal flowers keep producing new buds.
- Petunia: Remove the faded flower together with the small green seed-forming base behind it.
- Pansy: Remove the old flower and its stalk.
- Calendula: Snip off the spent flower head before it dries into seeds.
- Sweet pea: Cut flowering stems regularly and remove developing pods.
Use clean scissors where stems do not pinch off easily. Leave unopened buds in place and clear away fallen petals or decaying leaves.
Frost Protection
Young seedlings, newly transplanted flowers and frost-sensitive plants such as nasturtium need protection when frost is forecast.
Move small pots to a sheltered position overnight. Cover plants that cannot be moved with frost cloth, supported where needed and secured against wind. Remove temporary covers during the day once conditions warm enough for plants to receive light and air.
Common Problems
Thin Seedlings
Long, weak seedlings leaning towards the light usually need a brighter growing position. Increase light gradually and separate crowded seedlings. Extra fertilizer will not correct a lack of light.
Few Flowers
First check the plant’s age against its expected flowering time. If it is mature but producing few buds, check direct sunlight and feeding. Too much shade or excessive nitrogen feeding can encourage leafy growth without a strong flower display.
Cold, foggy weeks can also slow bud development. Continue normal care while waiting for brighter weather.
Wilting Plants
Check the soil before watering. Dry soil may need a thorough drink, but wet soil with a wilting plant can indicate poor drainage or damaged roots. Clear blocked drainage holes and let excess moisture escape instead of adding more water.
Damaged Buds
Inspect tender shoots, flower buds and the undersides of leaves for insects. Aphids may gather in visible clusters, while smaller pests can hide inside buds.
Remove badly affected growth where practical and identify the pest before choosing a treatment. Follow the product directions and avoid spraying open flowers while bees are visiting.
Spring Heat
As spring becomes warmer, check pots more often and move suitable containers to a position with morning sun and afternoon shade. This can help flowers last longer during the change in season.
Cool-season plants eventually produce fewer buds as temperatures rise. This usually happens earlier in Karachi and southern Punjab than in cooler areas. Remove plants once they finish flowering and prepare the space for the next season.
Choose your favourites from Moji Mall’s Winter Flower Seeds and start with a few varieties suited to your sunlight, space and local planting window.
