North Florida's mild winters let you enjoy holiday blooms and vibrant foliage throughout the season, especially when you lean into the festive palette of red, white, and silver. GardenistaJax has handpicked her favorite varieties that perform beautifully in Jacksonville's cool months. Here’s how to make your landscaping festivethis winter.

Gardenista's Favorite Reds: Bold and Beautiful

Ruby Red Snapdragons

Tall, stately, and cheerful, Ruby Red Snapdragons bring classic cottage garden charm to your winter landscape. Their velvety blooms shine in full sun and hold up beautifully in cooler weather. Perfect for garden beds, containers, or as an accent border, they’ll bloom steadily from late fall through early spring.

Jolt Cherry Dianthus

For a pop of saturated magenta-red, Jolt Cherry Dianthus delivers exceptional color and vigor. This variety thrives in North Florida’s cooler temperatures but can also handle our occasional warm spikes, making it a reliable winter-to-spring performer. It pairs beautifully with silvery foliage for a dramatic contrast.

Red Blotch Pansies

No winter yard is complete without pansies. The Red Blotch variety showcases velvety red petals with a darker “face,” adding warmth and personality to flower beds and planters. Pansies adore the crisp air of Jacksonville winters, and the cooler it gets, the happier they bloom.

Gardenista's Favorite Whites: Crisp and Classic

Rocket White Snapdragons

For vertical drama and winter brilliance, Rocket White Snapdragons are unbeatable. Their pure white spires shine against darker backdrops, adding freshness and elegance to mixed plantings. They’re also pollinator-friendly, even when many other blooms are scarce.

Pure White Dianthus

Compact and charming, Pure White Dianthus produces delicate, fringed flowers that look almost frosted. Their sweet fragrance is an added bonus, perfect for borders near paths where you can catch their scent on cool breezes.

Matrix White Pansies

Bright and cheerful, Matrix White Pansies are winter’s answer to landscaping simplicity. Their creamy white faces soften bold reds and silvery accents, making them a perfect neutral element in a holiday-themed container garden.

Gardenista's Favorite Silvers: Soft Texture and Subtle Sparkle

Dusty Miller

A winter staple, Dusty Miller adds frosty elegance wherever it’s planted. Its soft, silvery leaves provide a striking backdrop to red and white blooms. GardenistaJax loves using it as a border plant or container filler for a classic winter look.

Russian Sage

Though it’s more often seen blooming lavender-blue in late summer, Russian Sage retains its silvery foliage through the cooler months. Its airy texture complements bold winter flowers, creating a dynamic composition that feels light and natural.

Lamb’s Ears

Beloved for their fuzzy, silver-green leaves, Lamb’s Ears bring wonderful texture to your yard or planters. They’re drought-tolerant, resilient, and practically glow in low winter light. Use them as a soft edging to frame brighter blooms.

All of these colors evoke holiday cheer while remaining modern and timeless, perfect for brightening both landscapes, patios, and planters through Jacksonville Florida's cool season.