A pop of color is the ultimate goal for a lot of home gardeners. But landscaping doesn’t have to be a tricky art just for the pros. Here are seven fast blooming florals for landscaping that won’t break the bank.
Lantana Camara
Lantana Camara is a favorite of gardeners and butterflies. Butterflies love them for their nectar and gardeners find them easy to grow. The yellow and red flower is the most popular perennial in Florida since it’s easy to maintain and it blooms continuously.
Grows in: U.S.D.A. hardiness zones 8 through 11.
Nasturtiums
These gorgeous blooms come in brilliant yellow, red, pink and orange. Set against cool green round leaves, they grow in no time at all. Whether you buy and plant your own seeds or starters from the nursery, nasturtiums are certain to give your landscaping a boost of color. These plants are also edible and are sure to impress your foodie and organic friends. Just throw a few peppery-tasting flowers or young leaves in a salad or stir-fry.
Grows in: U.S.D.A. hardiness zones 4 through 8.
Petunias
There’s a reason petunias are so popular! These blooms flower easily and are sturdy enough to withstand a few ups and downs in temperature. They’re also great at repelling common garden pests like aphids and tomato hornworms. Petunias come in all different colors and patterns. Originally from South America, most garden-store varieties of petunias today are hybrids. They produce mounds of flowers in solid, striped or variegated colors. Because they’re so plentiful, they won’t bust your gardening budget either. You can find pots of seedlings at nurseries for well under $10 apiece.
Grows in: U.S.D.A. hardiness zones 10 and 11.
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California poppies
The California poppy is the fastest growing poppy and the fluttering, round flowers will be sure to dress up your landscaping. This variety typically has orange, red and yellow blooms and grows up to 18 inches high. This is another edible floral that blooms all summer. The leaves and stems are sometimes harvested as a pain relief and sleep aid.
Grows in: U.S.D.A. hardiness zones 3 through 9.
Marigolds
Here’s another edible flower that will dress up your landscaping. A bonus in the summer? Marigolds also repel mosquitoes and other pests. These flowering plants produce lots of cheerful blooms and belong to the daisy family. You’ll love these bright orange and yellow flowers, and they grow like wildflowers. Your local garden store should offer a variety of marigold seeds and plants for sale.
Grows in: U.S.D.A. hardiness zones 2 through 11, in the warmer months.
Cosmos
The cosmos can get as high as six feet tall — or, if kept cut back, as short as two feet. The most popular cosmos flowers in American gardens are the pink, lavender and purple blossoms. This fast-growing flower also comes in white and yellow and will bloom for months at a time.
Grows in: All U.S.D.A. hardiness zones, but is a perennial in zones 9 and 10.
Snapdragons
These spikes of flowers come in a lot of different colors — yellows and whites, reds and pinks. You name it, and you can probably find a shade of snapdragon in that color — except for blue. Typically springtime bloomers, snapdragons are sturdy flowers that put on quite a show, with spikes of up to three feet high. These also are very easy to grow from seed, or to transplant from starter plants. Snapdragons are extremely popular flowers to cut for bouquets and flower arrangements.
Your choices are endless when you are deciding what you want to plant in your yard. But these seven fast blooming florals for your landscaping offer lots of color without a lot of maintenance. Even better, they’re not expensive or difficult to find.
Grows in: U.S.D.A. hardiness zones 8 and 9.
John Williams is an outdoor living expert and explorer. When he’s not traveling to nature’s most well-known beauty spots, he tends to the greenery surrounding his home.
