13 Frost-Tolerant Cut Flowers for Your Thanksgiving Tablescape

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to gather with friends and family around a beautiful meal. If you’re anything like me, the tablescape is among the most exciting parts of hosting this event in my home.

If you are a cut flower gardener, no doubt you try to work your flowers in wherever possible. After all, what is the point of growing flowers for cutting except to share them with those you love? Well, maybe to make a bit of extra income, but undoubtedly for your own enjoyment, too.

The problem with Thanksgiving is that in most parts of the U.S., the first frost hits near or not long before. This knocks out much of what is still in bloom, with a few exceptions. Let’s talk about those exceptions. Here are some gorgeous frost-resistant flowers that will look beautiful on your Thanksgiving table.

Beaujolais Sweet Pea

Beaujolais Sweet Pea Seeds

Orange Wonder Snapdragon

Orange Wonder Snapdragon Seeds

Resina Calendula

Resina Calendula (Pot Marigold) Seeds

Calendula ‘Resina’

Bright orange and yellow daisy-like flowers with smooth, rounded petals sit atop light green, lance-shaped leaves, in a white ceramic pot placed near a softly lit window, surrounded by more vibrant blooms. — These tough little flowers are bright and cheerful, and they have a pleasant green scent rather than floral.

I love to grow calendula because it’s just so easy! These tough little flowers are bright and cheerful, and they have a pleasant, green scent rather than floral. Calendula is fresh and clean and a wonderful complement to other, more fragrant blooms.

Calendula will grow outdoors in winter in Zones 9-11. Here in Zone 9, I do grow these in my greenhouse, but they are surprisingly frost-tolerant. Seedlings are fine in a frost, and established plants can even withstand the first hard freeze. They are also fast bloomers, so as long as you plant them by the End of September, you should have flowers by Thanksgiving.

Snapdragon ‘Orange Wonder’

A lively bed of tall, upright spikes bursting with rich orange and pink blossoms, surrounded by slender green leaves and set against a blurred background of more brightly colored flowers. — ‘Orange Wonder’ is a stunning variety that works perfectly with an autumn color palette.

Snapdragons are my favorite cool-weather cutting flowers. Their tall and flamboyant flower spikes look amazing in floral arrangements and last a long time in a vase. I prefer to plant these from nursery starts, as they tend to be stronger. They are also perfect for growing in the fall in the South.

‘Orange Wonder’ is a stunning variety that works perfectly with an autumn color palette. Snapdragons are shockingly cold-tolerant and will survive down to the 20s (~-9°C) as long as you keep them hydrated. You might even have these around for Christmas in warmer climates, and they will bloom again in Spring.

Sweet Pea ‘Beaujolias’

Delicate, deep maroon blooms with softly ruffled petals gracefully climb a lattice trellis, with pale green stems and thin leaves, growing in a densely planted area alongside a wooden fence. — The rich, burgundy blooms mix well with other fall tones.

Sweetly scented sweet peas are an often overlooked flower for the cutting garden. These attractive vining plants are great for fall planting and are quick to bloom. In warm climates, fall planting is a must, as they will have a very short growing season otherwise. They prefer cool weather.

‘Beaujolais’ is a departure from the typical pastel sweet peas. The rich, burgundy blooms mix well with other fall tones. Sweet peas are very cold-tolerant. They can survive down to the low 20s with no issues. The vines will survive down to -5°F (-21°C), so in many climates, they will stick around and start blooming again in early spring.

Dianthus ‘Velvet and Lace’

Close-up of a striking bloom with velvety dark red petals edged in white, sitting atop a thin green stem with narrow, pointed leaves, surrounded by more dark, bold flowers in a lush garden bed. — ‘Velvet and Lace’ is stunning, with burgundy petals and a lacy white margin.

Also known as pinks or sweet William, dianthus are nice for floral arrangements, and they don’t mind the cold. Their spicy clove scent is warm and welcoming and pairs wonderfully with pecan pie. They are happiest in temperatures between 50°-65°F (10-18°C) but can tolerate colder.

‘Velvet and Lace’ is stunning, with burgundy petals and a lacy white margin. Its attractive, finely-cut foliage doesn’t interfere with other flowers. These tolerate a light frost, but that’s about it, so be careful in cooler climates. They may not make it to Thanksgiving.

Bachelor’s Button ‘Black Magic’

A scattering of deep purple-black, tufted blossoms with spiky petals rise on tall, thin stems above dense, green, lance-shaped leaves, creating a sharp contrast with the reddish-brown soil beneath. — These deep maroon to purple flowers are striking and make a statement among the other fall shades.

Bachelor’s button is an agreeable plant that you can plant in spring or fall. Its delicate flowers come in a range of colors, with the most common being a true blue, which is a rarity in the plant world. Long, graceful stems and fine foliage make it great for cutting.

‘Black Magic’ is not your average bachelor’s button. These deep maroon to purple flowers are striking and make a statement among the other fall shades. The flowers tolerate a light freeze, and the plants live through temperatures as low as 20°F (-7°C). They will be one of the first to bloom again in the spring in warm climates.

African Daisy Zion™ ‘Purple Sun’

Three bright African daisies with deep orange centers, transitioning to vibrant yellow and purple tips, stretch on long, slender green stems above glossy, green, elongated leaves against a soft brown backdrop. — Purple toward the center, the petals turn red, then orange, and finally yellow at the ends.

African daisies are bright, colorful, and sturdy. In Zones 10-11 they are perennial, but you can grow them as annuals elsewhere. They aren’t picky about soil, but they need consistent moisture, so loamy soil makes it easier to care for them.

Zion™ ‘Purple Sun’ is a fascinating and wildly colorful variety. Purple toward the center, the petals turn red, then orange, and finally yellow at the ends. They are frost tolerant to about 20°F (-7°C), but will die back in a prolonged hard freeze.

Hellebore ‘Potter’s Wheel’

Soft white petals surround a bright yellow center, resting on dark green, leathery leaves with prominent veins, emerging from a lush cluster of plants with pale green stems. — ‘Potter’s Wheel’ is a delicate white flowering variety.

You might be accustomed to hellebore blooming in winter, but there is species that blooms early, often in time for the fall holidays. H. niger is an early-blooming hellebore. They are easy to grow, preferring those partially shaded areas of the garden.

‘Potter’s Wheel’ is a delicate white flowering variety. They need little care once established, and they are drought-tolerant. They are also extremely frost tolerant. Most will thrive and bloom throughout the coldest months.

Cyclamen ‘Fantasia®’

A group of vibrant pink blooms with curled, ruffled petals rises above thick, heart-shaped green leaves adorned with silvery veins, set against a soft green background. — It has magenta petals with white margins.

Cyclamen are wonderful because you can grow them outside or inside. They bloom in fall and winter, maintaining their flowers for a long period. Their stems are not as long as many of the other’s on the list, but they rival pansies, and they look great in a container. You won’t even need to cut them to use them in your table scape.

Cyclamen foliage is exceptionally cold-tolerant. The flowers will tolerate a light frost, and with some protection should be fine in colder weather. ‘Fantasia®’ is a bi-colored variety. It has magenta petals with white margins. The foliage is beautiful, as well. They are heart-shaped, and dark green with silvery accents.

Column Stock ‘White Goddess’

Tall, creamy-white flower spikes emerge from a dense base of smooth, oblong green leaves, set against a muted background of light beige, creating a soft, elegant scene. — The tall flower spikes are flashy, bearing a resemblance to snapdragons in their size and form.

Columnar stock is wonderful for the cutting garden. The tall flower spikes are flashy, bearing a resemblance to snapdragons in their size and form. Start these indoors in the summer and put them in the ground as soon as it cools off. They take about 20 weeks to bloom.

Stock is a hardy half-annual or biennial. They will bloom best in their second year. ‘White Goddess’ is a pure white variety with a spicy scent that is similar to dianthus. They make a nice vertical element in holiday floral arrangements.

Aster ‘Bonita Top Blue’

A close-up of a large, radiant blue-purple aster with a pale yellow center, surrounded by fine, spiky petals and nestled among thin, green stems and narrow leaves, with other aster blooms in the background. — ‘Bonita Top Blue’ is a lovely blue violet variety with a white and yellow eye.

Asters are tough and adaptable. They don’t require much care, and in return for just a bit of attention, they bloom for a long time. They are perennial, so you will only need to plant these one time to enjoy them every year. Their tall stems and long vase life make them wonderful for cutting.

‘Bonita Top Blue’ is a lovely blue violet variety with a white and yellow eye. They really pop in an arrangement. These are frost tolerant, but if you’re worried about them, go ahead and cover them in the evening to give them some protection.

Giant Goldenrod

Tall, feathery spikes of bright yellow flowers tower over slender green leaves and stems, with a background of various green foliage and a few trees, creating a vibrant, golden focal point. — The plumes of golden flowers add texture and interest to your arrangements.

Some goldenrods are cone blooming by November, but giant goldenrod, also called late goldenrod, holds off. This one blooms near the end of the season and has good frost tolerance.

I adore goldenrod in a centerpiece. The plumes of golden flowers add texture and interest to your arrangements. It gets a bad reputation for being an allergen, but few people are actually allergic. Ragweed blooms at the same time and is often the culprit of allergic reactions.

Fountain Grass ‘Desert Plains’

Soft, arching plumes of silvery-purple grass sway gracefully atop long, slender green blades, forming a thick, rounded clump in a lush landscape, with scattered shrubs and plants in the distance. — ‘Desert Plains’ is a tall variety with an abundance of pale purple bottlebrush plumes.

Grasses look beautiful in floral tablescapes, and lend an autumnal vibe to arrangements. Fountain grass is a favorite of mine for its ease of care and beautiful, fuzzy plumes that last through most of the fall.

‘Desert Plains’ is a tall variety with and abundance of pale purple bottlebrush plumes. It’s hardy to 20°F (-7°C), so don’t worry about it dying back before Thanksgiving. Mulch around the base to insulate the roots and keep it looking fresh.

Catmint ‘Purrsian Blue’

A wide patch of densely packed purple-blue blooms with tiny tubular petals rises above small, rounded green leaves, creating a flowing sea of color alongside a bright green lawn with trees in the background. — The blue-violet blooms will keep the bees happy all season.

Catmint is a wonderful, perennial addition to the cutting garden. It’s beautiful to look at, attracts tons of pollinators, and the tall flower spikes are long-lasting. Their tall, sturdy stems make them a lovely addition to wildflower arrangements.

‘Purrsian Blue’ is a mid-sized variety that blooms from summer through fall. The blue-violet blooms will keep the bees happy all season. It is drought tolerant and frost resistant. It’s also in the mint family, and has aromatic foliage.