It’s hard to beat fresh-cut flowers, but you don’t want to wait all spring and summer for them to bloom. Instead, you can grow a host of fast growing flowers that you start from seed during the spring. This will allow you to create a beautiful cutting flower garden, and they look wonderful in beds
When you start to design your garden or landscape, you should consider including hummingbird flowers. They’re bright, cheerful, and they can produce large flowers throughout the spring and summer months. They come in a large range of colors, shapes, and styles that can fill in your landscape and line up as excellent walkway edging plants.
Day lilies are a very popular perennial, mainly because they are easy to grow, low maintenance, and very tolerant of neglect. They come in a wide range of colors and sizes, which makes them a good fit for almost any garden. It’s not hard to find a good selection of day lilies at a local
Many people, myself included, will either give or receive at least one poinsettia plant during the festive period. Like the Christmas Cactus, this is one of the most popular and recognizable flowers of the festive period. But once the holiday is over and the decorations have been taken down, what do you do with your
No matter which lily variety you choose, they work well in cottage, containers, perennial, and cutting gardens. They can make a striking statement in woodland fringes and in naturalized meadows as well. They are flowering perennial bulbs that easily multiply once you establish them, and they create a garden or flower bed that is very
There are over 150 species of lantana plant, and this means that you have a huge amount of lantana varieties to choose from when you shop. This plant is part of the verbena family, and it can be almost impossible to tell the verbena plant and different lantana varieties apart. However, these plants have very
The attractive desert rose (Adenium obesum) is a pleasing ornamental plant. Also known as Mock Azalea or Dwarf Bottle Tree, these tropical succulents are pleasingly low maintenance. Prized for their showy, trumpet shaped blooms, desert rose is also easy to grow. When in flower these plants are an eye catching feature, standing out in any
Did you know that different types of roses work very well in cut flower bouquets? The sheer variety you get makes them extremely popular for home gardens, and you can even grow them indoors if you get miniature roses. They produce beautiful blooms in an array of beautiful colors, and they can last for several
When someone mentions the word daisies, you’ll most likely picture pure white flowers with bright and cheerful yellow centers. The common type of daisy has multiplied so rapidly that many places in the United States see it as an invasive weed. However, they come in thousands of different colors and varieties, ranging from the classic
The canna lily is known for its tropical beauty and intricate blooms, which can at first glance give an impression of being high maintenance and difficult to grow. But happily, the flowering species planted in potted form are delightfully easy-keepers, especially if you’re in USDA hardiness zones 7-11. They aren’t fans of colder weather but
Commonly seen growing wild along steep banks, the common periwinkle (Vinca minor) adds greenery and interest to otherwise bare spaces. While periwinkle may not be the largest plant in the garden, it more than makes up for it in its usefulness. This reliable ground cover plant is a prolific spreader. In its preferred partial shade
The eye catching Cockscomb plant is guaranteed to make your flower beds stand out. Producing upright, ruffled flowers in shades of red, purple, pink and yellow. Cockscomb is one of the most distinctive ornamental flowers you will see in a garden. In addition to being a popular ornamental flower, the blooms are also popular for
Purple is a very popular color for flowers, and it can easily add splashes of bold and bright coloring to your landscaping. Even better, purple flowers come in a huge range of styles, sizes, and hues that makes it easy to add color to your garden or yard all year-round. They come in annuals and
One of the most popular fall flowers, the Chrysanthemum is a reliable ornamental plant. The range of varieties on offer means that you will find flowers suitable for filling large spaces as well as smaller varieties that are ideal for pots or window boxes. They are also pleasingly easy to grow. Chrysanthemum plants are hardy
Perennials are flowers that come back every year, and this is nice for a lot of gardeners who don’t want to spend the time (or the money) to constantly add new plants in each spring. Perennial flowers that come back every year are generally low-maintenance once they establish themselves, and they allow you to create
Do you think that you can’t grow flowers? Maybe you’re not sure what the easy flowers to grow are, and this leads to frustration on your part because you get stuck with challenging species that refuse to bloom like they should. Whatever the reason, you’ll need to start out with easy flowers to grow to
Annual flowers are types of plants that only grow for a single season. They can grow from spring well into the fall, and they die off when the freezing weather comes along. They won’t grow back in the spring unless you plant them again. This is a direct difference from perennial flowers where a small
Siberian Iris (Iris sibirica) is a great way to bring early season color to your garden. The plant’s elegant, frilly flowers look particularly effective when planted in a mass in a floral spring border or pot. The narrow, long lasting foliage remains long after the flowers have faded, creating an effective background to showcase other
Did you know that a lot of landscape shrubs aren’t what deer like to eat? They will still eat them if they’re starving, but there are deer resistant shrubs available that they won’t touch. During colder weather, snow, or times when the deer’s natural food source is depleted, your flowers, plants, and shrubs are fair
Many gardeners get very excited about the springtime when they can get new plants or make big changes to their existing landscapes like creating an outdoor or indoor living wall, privacy screen, and more. During the summer months, there’s the excitement that comes with seeing your flowers in full bloom, but the garden tends to
Growing goldenrod as a garden plant is a somewhat controversial subject. Many people still view it as a weed, but gardeners with more insight recognize it as an important native plant with lots of potential. Goldenrod blooms in late summer and welcomes in fall with gorgeous golden-yellow flowers. It will light up your garden with
Despite the fact that it has the word “weed” in its name, Joe Pye weed is a great native flower to add to your garden. It’s not the best for small spaces, since it normally grows 5-8 feet tall, but it will add beauty and fragrance along with its impressive height. Joe Pye weed was
If you want to grow a cheerful and colorful flower that will bloom all the way through summer and to the first frost, cosmos are a great option to go with. Cosmos are annuals that are easy to grow and will reward you with bright colors and consistent blooms. They pair well with many other
Rose of Sharon is a pleasingly attractive summer flower. Its showy blooms, in shades of purple, pink, red and white last throughout the summer months, attracting butterflies, birds and pollinators to your garden. Also known as Althea, this popular ornamental flower originates in India and China. Despite its name this plant is not a rose.
Want to learn how to grow the bird of paradise? We’re going to cover how to grow and care for both the Caesalpinia and Strelitzia’s species of the plant. Both are surprisingly easy to maintain and they share many of the same requirements for planting and care. Before we do that, we’ll get familiar with
Crown of Thorns, or Euphorbia milii, is an ideal houseplant. Able to adapt to room temperature it also thrives in dry conditions and copes well if you occasionally forget to water or feed it. Originating in Madagascar, this is an attractive and reliable succulent. Its name refers to the belief that the crown of thorns
Fragrant and attractive, lily of the valley is a staple of the ornamental flower garden. A great ground cover option. In cooler climates this popular perennial continues to flower into winter. The small, white bell shaped flowers of the plant cover delicate stems which sit above bright green leaves. Once flowering has finished for the
Witch hazel is a very underrated shrub that is a fantastic addition to many gardens. It flowers during the winter, something very rare, and provides great fall color with yellow, red, or orange leaves. The bark of the witch hazel plant is also a staple in herbal medicine. It has a wide range of uses,
Hellebore is popular for its rose like sepals that emerge in early spring. Flowering usually coincides with the Christian festival of Lent. This has led to the plant also being known as the Lenten Rose. A pleasingly hardy plant, the foliage of the hellebore is evergreen in most regions. The sepals, which protect the true
Pruning roses is a key part of maintaining a healthy rose garden. Aromatic and attractive, taller varieties of rose plant, such as knockout roses are a great structural plant to build a flower filled bed around. Smaller, shrub varieties are equally attractive when grown in smaller gardens or containers. Whichever variety you choose to grow,
The calla lily is one of the most elegant ornamental plants. Despite its name, the calla lily is not actually a lily. Instead it is a member of the Araceae family. However, the plant does share many of the lily’s characteristics. A great way to add soft structure to the garden, when in flower these
Black Eyed Susan is one of the most cheerful summer flowers you can plant. This perennial plant is practically care-free once established and puts on a joyful display for weeks. Also called Rudbeckia, black-eyed Susans are very versatile plants. They come in a range of sizes including very compact varieties that are perfect for small
Verbena is known for its long lasting flowers which thrive during the hottest days of summer. A magnet for butterflies and pollinators, verbena is also a great way to add color and structure to your garden. The plants are also pleasingly easy to grow. In ancient times verbena was popular for its supposed healing properties.
Salvias are some of the most versatile and low-maintenance plants you can grow. With over 900 different species of salvia to choose from, there’s sure to be a favorite for your garden. Though they have a reputation for being tough and durable plants, salvias also look beautiful. Plants bloom with tubular flowers in shades of
Camellias are beautiful evergreen shrubs that bloom with large, exquisite flowers in many different shades and colors. Although originally from Asia, camellias are beloved plants in the southern U.S., even becoming the official state flower of Alabama. If you’ve ever seen their romantic and showy blooms, you might be wondering how to add these shrubs
The foxglove, or digitalis, is a quintessential English country cottage garden flower. Thriving in cottage garden and woodland planting schemes, foxgloves are also a great way to add height and structure to a mixed flower border. Flowering during the height of midsummer these stately plants, often called Fairy fingers and Goblins gloves, come in shades
Campanula is an attractive ornamental garden flower. Often coming in blue and purple shades, as well as occasional white varieties, the plant’s pleasing bell shaped flowers have inspired its informal name of bellflower. Campanula has an abundant flowering habit. The plants can happily flower all summer long. This longevity has helped to make the plant
Morning glories are beautiful, old-fashioned flowers. Their climbing vines can quickly fill in empty spaces in your gardens, and their huge blooms have a romantic air about them. Perfect for cottage gardens, you can plant morning glory as a ground cover, trailing plant, or to cover arbors and trellises. This plant is not, however, for
Dianthus are attractive cottage garden flowers belonging to the same family as carnations. Also known as Pinks or Sweet Williams the flowers are known for their colorful appearance and spicy cinnamon-like fragrance. Pinks grow in clumps or mounds that can reach up to 10 inches in height. From here attractive flowers emerge, happily reaching up
If you’re looking for an annual flower that’s easy to grow and will add a stunning burst of color to your garden, look no further than zinnias. Zinnias are a staple at garden centers and also incredibly easy to grow from seed. They make beautiful cut flowers and bloom prolifically. And there’s a huge range
Many people enjoy growing gardenia shrubs outdoors. Sadly, few people realise that it is also possible to grow gardenias indoors. This is a great option if you have little or no outdoor space. Growing gardenias indoors is a great way to enjoy the plants showy foliage and attractive, scented flowers. The gardenia is a member
Purple coneflower is a dream perennial to grow in your garden. It provides lovely color, needs little maintenance, and attracts lots of pollinators, hummingbirds, and songbirds. Drought tolerant and deer-resistant, not much bothers coneflower, and it will happily grow in a wide range of soils and conditions. It’s one of the best perennials for beginner
Miniature roses are a popular gift, especially around holidays such as Valentines Day. A more sustainable gift than the traditional bunch of cut red roses. With the right care and attention miniature roses can be kept indoors, or outside for an extended period. Coming in a rage of colors, shapes and aromas growing roses indoors
Butterfly weed is a bright and beautiful perennial that will add a lot to your garden. True to its name, this plant attracts butterflies, including the endangered monarch butterfly. It also fills your garden with warm color and once established will return to bloom year after year. Butterfly weed is a very easy plant to
If you want a fragrant, delicate plant to bring a touch of exotic interest to your home then the vining jasmine plant is for you. There is a misconception that growing jasmine indoors is difficult. This could not be further from the truth. With a little patience and extra care even an inexperienced gardener can
Want to learn how to press flowers? Pressing flowers is an easy way to preserve the beautiful blooms from your garden. You can use pressed flowers to add a floral handmade touch to cards and gifts or frame them in a design. Flower pressing is simple but you will need some supplies like newspaper, cardboard,
Guzmania is a fascinating plant. A tropical plant, guzmania is part of the Bromeliaceae family. Its colorful and distinctive flower bracts are a popular way to bring life and interest to homes and offices. Guzmania is also known as Scarlet Star. This name is a reference to how the foliage emerges from the center of
The world of orchid care can be intimidating for a newbie. Maybe you’ve heard of people complaining that they can never get their orchids to grow. Perhaps you want to grow orchids but you have no idea where to start or how hard it will be, yet rest assured that it’s not as tough as
Flamingo flower is a particularly attractive houseplant. Also known as Anthurium (Greek for tail flower) or ‘Painter’s Palette’, it is grown for its usually red flowers which sit above glossy green leaves. As the name ‘Painters Palette’ suggests the waxy red flower, really a leaf, can resemble the shape of an artist’s palette. For other
Red hot poker is a stately plant that adds drama to flower beds and borders. Belonging to the Kniphofia genus they are also known as torch lilies. Dwarf varieties of red hot poker can also be grown in container gardens. The bright, nectar filled flowers of red hot poker plants are popular with butterflies, bees