DECEMBER PLANTING GUIDE

There are a number of plants that can be added to the landscape this month. Don’t, however, plant in wet soil. Allow your yard to dry out for four to seven days after it rains. When planting, soil should be moist but never mushy. If the weather remains wet, plant in containers. Annuals often thrive when potted, and perennials will do fine until they can be transferred to the ground at a drier time.

FLOWERS from seed or starter plants

African daisy

alyssum

begonia

bromeliad

calendula

candytuft

carnation

Christmas cactus

chrysanthemum

cyclamen

delphinium

English primrose

foxglove

fuchsia

geranium

Iceland poppy

impatien

kalanchoe

larkspur

nasturtium

pansy

penstemon

poinsettia

salvia

snapdragon

schizanthus

society garlic

stock

sweet pea

viola

wildflowers

VEGETABLES

Artichoke

arugula

asparagus

beet

broccoli

Brussels sprout

cabbage

carrot

cauliflower

celery

collard

endive

garlic

kale

kohlrabi

leek

lettuce

mustard green

onion

parsley

parsnip

pea

potato

radish

rhubarb

rutabaga

salsify

spinach

strawberry

Swiss chard

turnip

BULBS

Anemones

amaryllis

Calla lily

crocus (pre-chilled eight weeks)

daffodil

Dutch iris

freesia

gladiolus

grape hyacinth

hyacinth (pre-chilled eight weeks)

lily

narcissus

ranunculus

tulip (pre-chilled eight weeks)

TREES and SHRUBS

Australian fuchsia

Australian tea tree

azalea

blue hibiscus

camellia ( C. sasanqua )

cape mallow

flowering maple

westringia

Researched by JULIE BAWDEN DAVIS / Los Angeles Times