Flowers and gardening are lifelong indulgences. It’s always mesmerizing to ogle at pillowy soft petals and bask in the dreamy colors of a flower garden. Every bloom is a fragrant opportunity to commune with Mother Nature in all her glory. So why not make this experience a year-round affair?
“Just living is not enough... one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.”
With a bit of planning, you can keep your flower garden fresh throughout every season—and we have the right mix of flowers to pull this off. Whether your garden is small or big,formal or country, here are some stunning flowering plants to inspire your next gardening project:
Summer Flowers to Brighten Your Days
There’s everything to love about summer—the sun is out, the skies are blue, and events are in full swing. But if you want another reason to go out and experience the season, summer flowers are it.
“We should enjoy this summer, flower by flower, as if it were to be the last one we’ll see.”
The summer landscape is a riot of texture of color. It’s flowers galore out there. A reason to pick up your gardening tool and get dirty? If so, here are our summer favorites:
1. Daisy
You can’t go wrong with daisies this summer. There’s a reason the flowering part is popular enough to be regarded as the unofficial mascot of summer.
2. Delphinium
They’re blue. Or is it lavender? A dash of white? The stately petals of Delphiniums are a great way to accent your flower garden.
3. Sunflower
It is always a spectacle to look at this quintessential summer flowering plant. And what’s more poetic than having an avatar of the summer sun shining over your garden?
4. Lavender
Eye candy? Check! Enchanting scent? Check! You can’t hate lavender. It’s a perfect flowering plant in your summer garden, especially if you fancy trying your hand at an aroma-making side quest.
5. Begonia
Begonias don’t need an introduction. The iconic double-blooming flowers are a grower’s best friend. They have relatively long blooming periods, are low maintenance, easy to grow, and are just lively.
Fall Flowers to Liven Up Breezy Autumn Days
As the summer garden fades and fiery autumn leaves cover the land, it is easy to call it quits on gardening. But before temporarily retiring your tools, tap into fall flowers to extend your gardening season.
Here are fall flowers that are just as stunning as summer flowers. They’re just a little hardier and more resistant to the breezy fall weather.
1. Chrysanthemums (Mums)
A “best fall flowers list” is never complete without Chrysanthemums. Mums are a mainstay in any autumn bouquet or garden.
2. Amaranthus
Fancy some eye-catching tassel-like flowers adorning your flower garden? Pop an Amaranthus in the back of your flower bed for a picturesque backdrop.
3. Pansies
Something about pansies makes us feel mellow. Plant a bunch in summer and watch them pop out in fall.
4. Asters
Nature may be hibernating, but that does not mean you should be subtle with your gardening. Be bold with this flowering plant that shines brighter than the fall sun.
5. Dianthus
Dianthus is also known as the “flower of the gods” or “divine flower”—and that is all there is to say about this charming fall flower.
Winter Flowers to Bring a Pop of Color to Frosty Days
Let’s be honest: Winter can be tough. While most plants give in to the frost, some march on—bringing a much-needed touch of color to brighten the dark winter days.
Here are our picks for the best flowering plants to keep your garden alive even in the dead of winter:
1. Helleborus
Few things can lift your spirits when it’s gloomy outside better than the rich purple heads of a Helleborus lining your garden. The winter flowering plant is simply breathtaking.
2. Flowering Heather
Spring comes early with the Flowering Heather. Its bright pink flowers stand out like a beacon in the snow. Pop a couple in pots on your patio to set the mood.
3. Winter Jasmine
Add some warmth to the chilly festive season with sweet-smelling Winter Jasmine. Make them the star of your winter garden.
4. Snowdrops
Snowdrops are as descriptive as botanical naming can get. As you can guess, it resembles dropping bulbs of snow. Plant them in spring or autumn.
5. Cyclamen
The winter-flowering perennial bursts into fragrant,colorful blooms that blend and contrast with the winter landscape in equal measure. It’s a winter gem!
Spring Flowers to Usher in Renewal
Ah, spring! The time for mother nature to flaunt her colors. All gardening seasons are colorful in their own special way, but springtime takes things up a notch.As Sam Cooke put it, “A little flower that blooms in May. A lovely sunset at the end of a day. Someone helping a stranger along the way. That’s heaven to me.”
Here are some spring flowering plants to warm your winter-weary soul:
1. Primrose
Spring is a time for striking colors to celebrate the renewal of nature. And few flowers, send this message across better than the Primrose.
2. Daffodils
Plant Daffodils in fall before the frost kicks in and watch their bright yellow trumpet-shaped flowers bloom in time for spring.
3. Tulips
The springtime queen must surely earn a spot in your flower garden. Experiment with its many shapes and colors to spruce up your home.
4. Bearded Iris
If you’re feeling adventurous, the Bearded Iris might be what your spring flower garden needs. The striking flowers and sword-shaped leaves definitelymake a statement.
5. Lily of the Valley
Lily of the Valley is a must-have in our spring flower garden. Why, you ask? Well, it’s a favorite of royal brides, the flowering plant is linked to good luck, and it’s fragrant enough to be used as an ingredient in perfumes.
Ready to Bloom, Year-Round?
Life is special with flowers. So make every season one to look forward to.
But before you buy any flowering plant, you’ll want to confirm your USDA Hardiness Zone and whether the plant is a shade or sun lover.For residents of Charlottesville, you are in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The rest of the information can be found on your plant tag or from a quick Google search of whatever flower catches your eye.
Which flowering plant are you most excited to add to your garden?
