Pansies are perennials that thrive in cooler weather. They grow 4 to 10 inches tall by creating mounds of deep green foliage. Pansies produce 1 to 4 inch blossoms with a face. This perennial flower performs well in bright light to partial shade. They enjoy moisture and cold temperatures. Heat will actually reduce flowering. Flowers that complement pansies need to be able to provide color when other plants are not as active. They must also be able to perform well in cooler weather.
Carnations or dianthus produce 2 to 3 inch blossoms on the ends of flower stalks. The strongly fragrant blossoms are shades of red, pink and white. Narrow bluish-green foliage resembles thick grass. Carnations grow different heights depending on the variety. Some types produce 5 to 6 flower stalks at a time. This popular cut flower requires cool temperatures to produce blooms.
Garden mums or chrysanthemum hybrids have dark green, deeply lobed leaves with gray undersides. This perennial is low growing to upright growth about 5 feet tall. Garden mums produce flowers that are marigold-like in shape and bloom colors like burgundy, bronze, orange, lavender, pink and white. These blooms appear in late summer or fall. Some types of mum flower in the spring. Allowing the soil to dry out will severely reduce the amount of blooms produced.
Snapdragons grow 4 to 36 inches tall. These upright stems produce clusters of two-lipped tubular flowers in white, yellow, orange, red, purple and almost black. True blue is the only color not available in snapdragons. These flowers need organic material mixed into the soil and pinching to encourage branching. Remove old flowers to help extend the blooming season. Snapdragons perform best in cool weather, and do not do well in summer heat. They are commonly planted as bedding annuals and the taller varieties are used as background plants.
Gerbera daisies are perennial flowers producing 2 1/2 to 4 inch blossoms in yellow, pink, peach and red on top of 12 to 18 inch stems. The foliage mounds into clumps 12 inches wide. Flowers are produced in early summer until frost. Gerbera grows as perennials in warmer climates, but in colder climates they grow as annuals. These daisies are commonly used as bedding plants and cut flowers.