• Annual and perennial flowers add variety and color to your landscaping; there are several options for gardeners in Southern Illinois.red and yellow tulips image by Jorge Moro from Fotolia.com
  
  Add color, fragrance and life to your garden with a variety of plants and flowers. Southern Illinois is located in USDA Hardiness Zone 6. According to Southern Illinois University, average annual minimum temperatures are between 0 and -10 degrees Fahrenheit. The climate is cool; however, there are numerous flowers that flourish despite the Illinois weather; some flowers even bloom during the winter months.
  
  

Common Snowdrops

• Common Snowdrops bloom in late February and bring the winter landscape to life.snowdrops image by Alison Bowden from Fotolia.com
  
  Spruce up your winter landscape with winter-blooming flowers such as Galanthus nivalis, or "Common Snowdrops." The flower is hardy --- even in the Southern Illinois winter climate --- and can withstand being covered in snow. Snowdrops bloom in late February. Flowers have six petals, three inner petals and three longer outer petals. Plants grow to approximately 4 inches in height and are a perennial flower.
  
  Plant bulbs in a location that receives full sun or partial shade. Bulbs should be planted approximately three times as deep as the height of the bulb and spaced 2 to 4 inches apart. Once you've planted common snowdrop bulbs, water regularly --- snowdrops prefer moist soil.
  
  

Tuberous Begonias

• Begonia tubers should be started indoors several months before you plant outside.Begonias 2 image by PeteG from Fotolia.com
  
  Begonias bloom in a variety of colors including salmon, white, pink, red, yellow and orange. Begonias come in single or double blooms with many different shapes.
  
  If you have purchased or stored begonia tubers, you must start them in February or March. Begonias started in February will begin blooming in June, while begonias started in March will begin blooming in July. To start a begonia, plant the tuber in a flat filled with vermiculite or peat moss. Plant the side with a slight depression facing upward, with the planting medium just covering the tuber. Water regularly; after one month, the stems should be approximately 1 inch tall. Once the tuber has two to six stems, transfer to a larger container and place the plant outdoors, in a shady location, during warm days, bringing the plants indoors in the evening. Once the risk of frost has passed, begonias can be transplanted to outdoor containers or landscape beds.
  
  

English Lavender

• English lavender is fragrant and colorful.lavender image by Alistair Dick from Fotolia.com
  
  According to the National Gardening Association, English lavender is hardy in Zone 6. English lavender is a perennial that blooms throughout the summer, beginning in early summer. Flowers are fragrant and pink, blue, purple or white depending on the variety. Leaves are a bluish-green color. Flowers attract butterflies, resist deer and rabbits and may be cut for use in fresh arrangements.
  
  Plant English lavender for a pop of color in borders, containers or landscape beds. Lavender prefers neutral to slightly alkaline soil that is well-drained and has average watering needs. Deadhead, or remove, dying flowers to encourage new growth.
  
  

Siberian Squill

• Siberian Squill grows wild in some locations; add a lovely blue hue to your spring landscaping by planting a few bulbs.park in Germany in spring with Siberian squill (Scilla siberica) image by Lars Lachmann from Fotolia.com
  
  According to the University of Illinois Extension, Scilla siberica, or "Siberian Squill," tolerates cold climates and will bloom in March in the Southern Illinois area. The blooming season lasts approximately two to three weeks. Siberian Squill adds soft blue hues to your early spring landscaping and features a star-shaped bloom with leaves that are reminiscent of ribbons. This perennial plant features purplish-green flowering stalks. Blooms are approximately 1 inch in diameter and a strong fragrance. Plant Siberian Squill in partial sun and in well-drained, fertile soil.