Growing Flowers

Flower gardening is an absolutely wonderful and satisfying hobby for millions of people. While we commonly think of a few dozen types of flowers that we typically grow, there are actually hundreds, if not thousands, of different varieties...and each species may have dozens of varieties.

Local climatic conditions, development of new cultivars, and new uses for specific garden flowers have blurred the distinctions among annuals, biennials, and perennials.

Annuals have traditionally been referred to as plants that complete their life cycle in one growing season. Some perennials that bloom quickly (verbena, Jerusalem cherry) are grown as annuals and discarded at the end of one season. Some of our so-called annuals (begonias, impatiens, snapdragons) are actually perennials in warmer climates or mild winters.

New cultivars of plants traditionally referred to as biennials are being developed that produce flowers the first season. Foxy is a cultivar of foxglove that will bloom the first year. Annual cultivars of sweet williams and hollyhock have been developed.

The distinction between perennials, flowering bulbs, and wildflowers is also blurred. Some garden books and magazines list flowering bulbs as perennials. Many of our wildflowers are commonly grown in perennial gardens, some are grown from bulbs.

Most annuals are planted in the spring, flower through the summer and fall, and then die with the first killing frost. Winter-flowering annuals, such as pansies, violas, and flowering cabbage, are planted in the fall, flower in the winter and early spring and die during the summer.

We have brought you detailed instructions on how to grow all of these differrent types of flowers. Just click on the type of flower you are interested in and then on the particular variety you want to grow. Enjoy your time in the garden and reap the benefits of your labor with bright and beautiful flowers you can share with family and friends.