I used to think all flowers were fragile until I started growing them. Incredible how tough some are! There are hardy, semi-hardy, tender, and perennial annuals.
Bachelor's buttons are low-maintenance, pollinator-friendly, and beautiful garden borders. They shine in natural bouquets with disc-shaped blooms and pastel pink, violet, or dark burgundy grasses.
1. Cornflower
Annual scabiosa has smaller blooms and softer colors than perennials. These vibrant flowers enhance any garden or arrangement.
2. Scabiosa
Foxgloves attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees with their unique fragrance, making them lovely additions to pollinator or cottage gardens or borders.
3. Foxglove
This unusual-looking flower, whose name comes from the Greek word echinos, which means "hedgehog," is frequently employed as a potent immune system stimulant.
4. Echinacea
Larkspur astonished me by sprouting in early spring after a New Hampshire winter a few years ago. After that, I sowed more seeds each winter to grow my “tender perennial” patch.
5. Larkspur
Calendula is a simple way to brighten up your garden! Low to the ground, it fits any garden concept.
6. Calendula
Plant pansy seeds in a sunny, well-draining location. Possible in January or February. Seeds can be sown in a chilly basement or propagation building.
7. Viola
Snapdragons are popular for their beauty, carefree upkeep, and color possibilities. Avoid direct seeding in your garden, but winter sowing is ideal for snaps.
8. Snapdragons
Bupleurum is a distinctive annual flower garden plant and bouquet filler. Clusters suit rock gardens. Yellowish-lime green is appealing. Mix it with solid or staking-needed materials.
9. Bupleurum
I've tried ‘Double Click’ and ‘Afternoon White’, but the classic ‘Sensation Blend’ has been the most hardy, germination, and vigor. They blossom from early summer to the first harsh winter and persist.
10. Cosmos
Stock's clove-like scent, small florets, and moderate color palettes attract florists and weddings. Some cultivars are darker. January milk jars or critter-free outdoor seed-starting areas.
11. Stock
This daisy-like plant calls itself “star” in Greek and blooms in late summer and fall when most other hues have faded. Their colors include yellow, pink, purple, blue, and red.