Sunflowers: How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Helianthus

This grew from a seed a squirrel buried for later. Jeff Childrey Where to buy sunflowers: Burpee Gardening Sunflowers say summer like no other plant. American natives, grown for beauty and harvested for seed. Annual pla

Shasta Daisies: How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Classic Perennials

The cheerful Shasta daisy is a classic perennial. It resembles the familiar roadside daisy but has larger, more robust blooms. Shasta daisies bloom in clumps 2–3 feet tall and 1–2 feet wide. All-white petals surround ye

Sedum (Stonecrop): Planting, Growing, and Care for Succulent Perennials

Sedum is a perennial with thick, succulent leaves, fleshy stems, and clusters of star-shaped flowers. Many types exist with different uses: low-growing for ground covers and rock gardens; tall for back borders. Sedums a

Roses: Complete Guide to Planting, Growing, and Caring for Rose Shrubs

Pink rose from my garden in 07. Suzie Rose (Though roses are shrubs, we categorize them with flowers since most people look for them here!) Rose shrubs come in forms from miniature to climbing, grown for attractive, oft

Phlox: Planting, Growing, and Caring for Fragrant Perennials

Catherine Boeckmann Phlox are perennials and a favorite among wildflowers. These plants sport many star-shaped, colorful flowers when in bloom. With so many varieties, theres a phlox for almost any garden. They make gre

Petunias: How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Popular Annuals

Petunias are among the most popular flowers, often grown as annuals. Theyre tender perennials in Zones 9–11. Two main groups: Grandiflora petunias — very large flowers, best in containers/hanging baskets (more suscepti

Peonies: How to Plant, Grow, and Care for These Long-Lived Perennials

Taken in my garden, late spring 2007. Michele Rose Peonies are outrageously beautiful in spring bloom, with lush foliage all summer. Peony plants require little maintenance if planted properly and allowed to establish;

Pansies: Planting, Growing, and Care for Cool-Season Color

Majestic purple pansy taken in Spring 2005 Judy Conner Pansies are the colorful flowers with faces. They offer one of the widest color ranges and excel in containers, borders, and ground covers. Treated as annuals due t

Nasturtiums: How to Plant, Grow, and Enjoy These Edible Flowers

Nasturtium is an easy-to-grow annual whose leaves and flowers are edible. Bright greenery and vibrant flowers suit containers or ground covers. Their pretty fragrance makes them good cut flowers. Nasturtiums are perfect

Morning Glories: Planting and Care for Romantic Climbing Vines

Where to buy morning glory seeds: Burpee Gardening Morning glories are annual climbers with slender stems, heart-shaped leaves, and trumpet-shaped flowers in pink, purple-blue, magenta, or white. Their beautiful folded

Marigolds: Complete Guide to Growing These Cheerful Annuals

Close-up of an orange marigold. Angela Altomare Where to buy marigold seeds and plants: Burpee Gardening No annual is more cheerful or easier to grow than marigolds. These flowers are the spendthrifts of summer, lavishi

Lilies: How to Plant, Grow, and Care for True Lilies (Lilium)

My garden of lilies Diane Peck Lily flowers are prized for their large, showy, often fragrant blooms. Six plain or strikingly marked tepals (petals) are often trumpet-shaped atop tall, erect stems. Note: This guide cove

Irises: Planting, Growing, and Care for Rainbow Goddesses

BA Elliott The tall, beautiful iris, named for the Greek goddess who rode rainbows, comes in many magical colors. Every gardener wants this perennial. Despite divine origins, its hardy, reliable, and easy to grow. Irise

Impatiens: How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Busy Lizzies

White and orange impatiens Angela Altomare Impatiens is a beautiful annual that excels as a houseplant or summer bedding plant. Also known as Busy Lizzie, its name derives from the Latin for the way ripe seed pods burst

Hyacinths: Planting, Forcing, and Care for Fragrant Spring Blooms

Hyacinth bulbs are planted in fall for spring bloom. The Victorians revered hyacinths for their sweet, lingering fragrance, massing them in low beds in single-color rows. Loose to dense racemes of strongly fragrant flow

Gladiolus: How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Sword Lilies

Gladiolus is a perennial favored for its beautiful, showy flowers. Blooms grow on tall spikes, making them stars of cutting gardens and back borders. Gladioli come in many colors and reach 2–6 feet tall. Excellent for c

Delphiniums: Planting, Growing, and Care for Majestic Spikes

Delphiniums are perennials prized for their showy spikes of colorful summer flowers in gorgeous shades of blue, pink, white, and purple. They shine in cottage gardens and cutting gardens alike. Delphiniums are a gardene

Dahlias: How to Plant, Grow, and Care for These Summer Showstoppers

Nancy Parker Where to buy dahlia seeds and bulbs: Burpee Gardening In cold North American climates, dahlias are grown as tuberous-rooted tender perennials from small brown biennial tubers planted in spring. These colorf

Daffodils: Complete Guide to Planting, Growing, and Caring for Narcissus

A closer look at a daffodil. Annette McCarthy Where to buy daffodil bulbs: Burpee Gardening Sunny, yellow daffodils are a joyous sign that spring has arrived! Plant bulbs in fall for late winter to early spring blooms.

Crocuses: Planting and Care Guide for Early Spring Blooms

A good sign of spring: a crocus. Annette McCarthy When winter seems endless, the dainty goblet-shaped crocus pushes through snow to herald colorful revival. If youre not planting these perennial bulbs, youre missing an