How to Plant Poppies and Snapdragons in a Seattle Winter (Without Losing Them to Frost)
By Stephanie - West Seattle Flower Farm
Updated September 2026: When I originally wrote this post, I recommended leaves and low row cover as cold protection. Having grown through more winters since then, I'm not convinced either one is actually necessary for poppies and snapdragons in Seattle's climate. Both snapdragons and poppies are very cold hardy and can easily withstand whatever Seattle winter throws their way.
I still sometimes use both, but that's because I run a flower business and I want them as insurance policies. . If I were just gardening at home instead of growing for profit, I probably wouldn't bother with either.
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“Wait, you’re planting those NOW?”
I get that question a lot when people on the ‘gram see me planting sweet little poppies and snapdragon seedlings in November and December.
Short answer: yes — and if you're gardening in the Seattle area (zone 8b/9a), you can too. Poppies and snapdragons are cool hardy annuals, meaning they actually want a stretch of cold weather before they bloom. Our mild, rarely-freezing winters are exactly the kind of weather a PNW winter garden needs to pull this off.
By mid-December every year, I have already planted hundreds of seedlings, corms and bulbs.
The cold period lets the plants focus on root development, then explode with growth as the days get longer and the weather warms up. Depending on the flower, it might even bloom earlier in the season if you get it in the ground earlier in the winter.
While growers in other parts of the country need to get their cool hardy annuals in the ground by September or October, we Pacific Northwesters can procrastinate — like me — and plant them whenever we finally get around to it.
Me, finally getting around to planting in December 2023.
So how cold is too cold?
Established snapdragons generally handle short dips into the low-to-mid 20s°F without any extra help. Iceland poppies are on another level entirely — they're arctic-native plants that can tolerate temperatures as low as -20°F once established. Which is a big part of why I've come around to thinking neither one really needs frost cloth in a Seattle winter.
Growing snapdragons in Seattle: what I've learned
I've grown a variety of different snapdragons over the last several years, and they all do great through our winters. When I plant them in late fall or early winter, they tend to bloom in late June and early July.
My two insurance policies: leaves and low row cover
Because seedlings — and other plants like anemones and ranunculus — can tolerate cold weather to a point, I lean on two things: leaves and low row cover. Neither one is required. They're just what I use.
The magic of leaves
I mulch with a lot of leaves to keep the soil ready for planting all winter. If I have a spot I intend to plant into but might not get to for a week or two, I'll cover it in leaves. Once I plant seedlings, I tuck leaves around them to help keep the soil a little warmer.
One thing I've learned: use shredded or torn-up leaves, not whole ones. Whole leaves can blow around and land right on top of your seedlings, and that can actually kill them. Torn-up leaves stay put and don't smother anything.
Leaves are free, they're everywhere, and they insulate the soil — so when we get a frost, the leaves freeze but the soil underneath stays soft. They're also basically a Golden Corral buffet for worms, and worm poop improves soil health. So more leaves equals more worms equals more worm poop equals better soil.
Bonus perk: leaf mulch also cuts down on weed pressure substantially. That means your baby seedlings get more room to grow, and you're dealing with a lot fewer weeds come spring.
Here's the one downfall: slugs. They stow away in the leaves and go straight for your baby plants' butts. So if you're using leaves, throw some Sluggo Plus down underneath and on top before you plant, and keep an eye out for those assholes.
Low row cover
This is frost cloth stretched over hoops that keep the soil and plants a few degrees warmer. It's not crucial, but it's nice to have on hand in case Seattle dips into the 20s.
I buy my row cover from Gardener’s Workshop, and I buy low hoops from Amazon. (Warning: these hoops are a bit flimsy, so I don’t exactly give them a glowing recommendation. I use them because they were easy to order and they get the job done.)
If I weren't growing flowers for profit, I don't think I'd bother with frost cloth for poppies or snapdragons at all. Our climate just doesn't require it. I keep it around as an insurance policy because I run a business, and every year I test that a little more — pushing closer to the ragged edge to see what I can get away with. But for most home gardeners, it's a nice-to-have, not a need-to-have.
Some other things to keep in mind:
- I always check the forecast before planting. If we have snow or below freezing weather coming up, I wait until the cold spell is over before I plant.
- You can plant cool hardy plants later in winter, like late January and early February. You will get a shorter cool period, but have less random cold spells to worry about with freezing your plant babies.
- I check on my seedlings about once a week to watch for slugs and make sure the leaves haven't blown off the baby plants.
This year, I'm keeping it simple: one variety of poppies and three kinds of snapdragons. I will plant most of them just before Thanksgiving and tuck them in with shredded leaves. I’ll probably put the hoops so I'm ready to throw frost cloth if a cold spell rolls in.
More Seattle Winter Growing Advice
If you're also nervous about growing ranunculus in Seattle winters, I've written about that too — including how I killed hundreds of ranunculus and also some ranunculus successes.
If you want more of this kind of regional, no-nonsense growing advice — plus first dibs when bulb and seedling sales go live — that's what my weekly emails are for.
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FAQ: Planting Poppies and Snapdragons in Seattle
When should I plant poppies and snapdragons in Seattle?
You can plant poppy and snapdragon seedlings anytime from fall through early February in the Seattle area. Planting earlier in the winter gives them a longer cold period, which tends to produce longer stems and healthier plants once spring arrives.
Do poppies and snapdragons need frost protection in Seattle?
Not really. Snapdragons handle short dips into the low-to-mid 20s°F just fine, and Iceland poppies can tolerate temperatures as low as -20°F once established. Frost cloth is a nice extra layer of insurance, but Seattle's climate doesn't require it for home gardeners.
What is a cool hardy annual?
A cool hardy annual is a plant grown from seed that tolerates cold weather and actually blooms better after a period of cold before spring. Poppies, snapdragons, anemones, and ranunculus all fall into this category.
Is it too late to plant seedlings in December in Seattle?
No. Seattle's mild winters mean you can plant cool hardy seedlings well into December, and even into January or early February if you're running behind.
Do I need low row cover to grow poppies and snapdragons in Seattle?
Not for most home gardeners. I use it because I grow flowers for profit and treat it as an insurance policy, but the cold-hardiness of both plants means it isn't necessary in Seattle's climate.