Vibrant, colorful blooms bring joy to any garden. Caring for a floral garden can be intimidating, especially if you are a novice gardener. These easy-to-grow blooms offer great beauty and color, without all the pruning, coddling and pest control you don’t want to take on.
1. Cosmos (Cosmos spp.)
A graceful annual with slender stems, cosmos withstands heat, drought and poor soil conditions. Gardeners don’t need much attention to cosmos after planting the seeds. As long as you deadhead the blooms, avoid overwatering, and stake them if necessary, they will last until frost hits the ground in the fall. What’s more, cosmos, which typically have pink, white or orange petals, experience relatively few problems with insects and self-seed.
Hardiness zone: 2-11
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2. Daffodils (Narcissus)
Characterized by their dramatic corona surrounded by six petals, bright yellow or white Daffodils are surprisingly easy to grow. Gardeners plant daffodil bulbs in the fall and then neglect them until they bloom in late winter or early spring. Once they bloom, they still call for some maintenance. Just provide full sun, slightly acidic, well-draining soil and plenty of water. With the right conditions, long-lived daffodils will return year after year.
Hardiness zone: 4-8
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3. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
For a garden plot in a sunny yard, few plants are as low-maintenance as yarrow. The perennial is drought tolerant, grows in almost any type of soil, and requires little in the way of fertilizer. Yarrow, which comes in more than 80 varieties and colors from classic white or yellow to red, pink, orange or pastels, blooms repeatedly throughout the season, and all you need to do is deadhead spent flowers.
Hardiness zone: 3-9
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4. Zinnia (Xenia spp.)
Fast growing zinnia This is a good choice for any gardener who is too late to plant annuals from seed. Zinnias attract pollinators to the garden from the moment they bloom until they disappear with the first frost. Although they are susceptible to fungal diseases when overwatered, they will likely survive Eaten by deer. Animals will not go near fragrant flowers.
Hardiness zone: 2-11
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5. Aster (Symphyotrichum spp.)
This self-sufficient perennial needs no gardener to keep it looking happy. Its starry, petal-filled flowers reappear year after year with a slight spurt. Be prepared for purple and pink blooms from late summer/early fall until the first frost: Asters not only brighten up the landscape after most neighboring flowers have faded, but they also invite golden-winged monarch butterflies into your garden to feed.
Hardiness zone: 3–8 (depending on species)
buy now: A packet of 850 seeds for $8.49 at Eden Bros
6. Red-leaf begonia (Begonia spp.)
While most begonias thrive in shade, the red leaf variety can tolerate sunlight as well. Its waxy, beet-colored leaves and pink- or white-colored buds appear all summer long in both moist and dry conditions, making it a perfect choice for the average yard. Just putting down roots for your garden? Plant begonias In a bed or box under a large tree or covered patio on the north or east side of your home, as this location will provide a pleasant patch of filtered sunlight. Feed red leaf begonias every other week for nonstop summer blooms.
Hardiness zone: 9-11 (perennial, depending on species)
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7. Marigold (tags spp.)
Simple MarigoldBlooming in deep orange and yellow, it is a bright addition to the garden. Perhaps the best part about marigolds is their carefree nature. Flowers thrive in full sun, but they don’t mind mid-afternoon shade either. Marigolds are also not picky about soil types. what’s more, Marigolds are beneficial to your garden: They release thiophenes into the soil from their root systems, killing nematodes that cause root-knots.
Hardiness zone: 2-11
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8. Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)
It goes without saying that sunflowers love the sun. Every day, the golden flowers turn their large heads to face the sunlight. Abundant sunflowers are also surprisingly easy to grow. It is not particular about soil type, and while it thrives in plenty of water, it can tolerate periods of heat and drought. Sunflower Has thick, tall stems that often reach several feet in height when exposed to at least 6 or 8 hours of full sun each day. Expect sunflowers to bloom from mid-summer to fall.
Hardiness zone: 2-11
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9. Echinacea (Echinacea spp.)
You may know echinacea or coneflower as an immune-boosting herbal supplement, but for seasoned gardeners, it’s a tough yet beautiful perennial that demands little in return for its attractive, daisy-like blooms. Native to the prairies and open forests of the Midwest, echinacea stands up well not only to cold snaps and destructive garden pests, but also to periods of extended drought. So if you forget to water for a few weeks during a dry summer, the cone-shaped, pink-petalled blooms continue to be as showstopping as ever. In fact, Echinacea blooms for most of the year – from early summer to the first frost of winter – yet remains a lovely border plant once its flowers have faded.
Hardiness zone: 3-8
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10. Lavender (Wash her spp.)
Beloved for its vibrant purple flowers and fresh, calming scent, lavender favors hot, dry conditions like the Mediterranean, LavenderNative region of This being the case, for gardeners in the state, there are two simple keys to success: One, be sure to plant Perennial herb In a place that receives at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. Two, don’t overwater it. Give lavender a long, thorough soak, but only when the soil feels almost dry to the touch (once a week or twice a month, depending on the weather). Experts also recommend pruning in the spring, soon after the first blooms, to encourage new growth and help the plant maintain its trademark shape.
Hardiness zone: 5-9
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All you need to do is take care of your lawn and garden
