Kale has healthy nutrients, a delicious taste, striking beauty, and is easy to grow – making it a beloved staple in the vegetable garden. Why not increase your enjoyment of this super-veggie with plants grown from your own seed collection? Smart, organic, and economical, here’s how to harvest and store kale seeds.
When summer ends, gardeners in the south can still grow pretty annuals for fall color. Discover the best choices for borders, cutting gardens, or containers with this list of 11 of the best autumn annuals for southern growers. Our top picks include cheery sunflowers, zinnias, and marigolds. Read more now.
In gardening, understanding the difference between annuals and perennials is one of the most important things you can know. Most of us use a combination of both to make our gardens stand out, but do you know what the benefits are? Or why plants have different lifespans? Is one better for your garden than the other?
Caladiums are perfect for lush tropical gardening. These showy foliage plants come in a wide array of variegated colors like pink and chartreuse, red and green. They grow as perennials in USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 11, and can also be cultivated as annuals or houseplants. Read on for how to grow your own caladiums now.
Did you know there are two different types of chamomile with different growth habits and uses? German chamomile has cheerful flowers just waiting to be turned into tea, while English chamomile is ideal for growing as a low-maintenance ground cover. Learn about the differences between English and German chamomile now.
Are you growing sunflowers and wondering when and how you should harvest them to enjoy your own fresh sunflower seeds? In this guide, you’ll learn all the top tips on when and how to harvest delicious, nutritious, homegrown sunflower seeds. Plus, we include instructions for roasting and recipe ideas. Read more now.
Not just a beauty, the hyacinth bean produces glorious blooms as well as showy purple pods and edible shoots. It grows fast as an arbor or living privacy fence, and avoiding its potentially toxic tendencies is simple. This guide will tell you how to tap all that purple power, and there’s nothing tough about growing it!
Torenia, aka wishbone flower, blooms in fun colors including purple, magenta, and yellow, and has flowers shaped like little clown faces. Thriving in partial sun to full shade, they make an easy-care addition to woodland gardens, borders, and walkway edges. Learn to care for this happy-face flower in this guide. Read more.
Looking for a durable plant that isn’t very thirsty or hungry and thrives in almost any soil? Try growing salvia. With many different varieties available, whether tall, short, annual, or perennial, you’ll get a tough plant softened by beautiful and profuse blooms in white, pink, red, coral, purple, blue, or yellow.
With vivid colorful blooms and a trailing or upright growth habit, lobelia provides outstanding ornamental value to beds, containers, rockeries, and window boxes. And it loves a cool afternoon so it’s perfect for brightening up shady spots in the garden. Learn how to plant and grow lobelia in this guide. Read more now.
With colorful flowers and a spreading habit, the Swan River daisy hails from Australia and is a natural choice for annual ground cover and brightening borders. The most distinct variety has blue petals, but all the color options are cheery in containers and mass plantings. Follow our tips for the healthiest blooms.
Evening primrose flowers bloom later than many other plants, are tolerant of many environmental stressors, and are just flat-out gorgeous. In our guide to growing Oenothera, you’ll learn how to propagate, cultivate, and maintain these wonderful plants, as well as how to keep them safe from pests and disease. Read more.
Cape marigold is a daisy-like annual native to South Africa and Namibia, suited to USDA Hardiness Zones 2 to 11. Its showy blooms offer summer-to-frost color in apricot, orange, salmon, white, and yellow hues, sometimes accented by purple. Give your garden an explosion of color and learn how to grow it in this guide.
Ready to plant marigolds from seed for bright summer blooms? Planting marigolds from seed is easy, but you’ll want to know when you should start these annual flower seeds indoors – and when you can sow the seeds right into your garden soil. Learn more about how and when to plant marigolds from seed. Read more now.
Splashy, vibrant ornamental peppers can add dazzling bursts of color and texture to the landscape. While they are technically edible, most people find them lacking in flavor or too spicy to enjoy – so why not add them to the garden just for show? Learn how to grow these brilliant beauties now.
The flavor of homegrown tomatoes is an experience no one should miss. Even if you don’t have the real estate for a vegetable patch, you can still enjoy their rich taste with fast growing and prolific container plants on your deck or patio. Learn how to grow tomatoes in containers and pots with this guide. Read more now.
The wax begonia has it all: a delightful habit, an extended blooming period, striking flowers, and beautifully glossy leaves. Able to grow in a variety of light exposures, Begonia x semperflorens-cultorum is easy to cultivate. And it’ll be even easier after reading our guide, which covers everything you need to know!
Four o’clocks bloom in the late afternoon, which is just part of their appeal. They also thrive in poor soil, resist drought, and sprout easily from seed. Our guide explains how to tend this old-fashioned cottage garden flower, from selecting cultivars to overwintering to saving seeds. It’s time to grow four o’clocks.
Pot marigold, also known as calendula, is an annual herb that blooms with spectacular yellow, orange, and gold flowers. With a history of medicinal use, the edible flowers can be made into a variety of herbal remedies, used in cooking, or brewed in a soothing tea. Learn how to plant and grow calendula in this guide.
Cardinal climber is a tender annual vine with red trumpet-like blossoms and palm-like leaves. Give it room to sprawl across a fence or up a trellis for pops of intense color from summer to frost. Discover how this hybrid was created and learn all you need to know to grow it in your landscape, here on Gardener’s Path.
Easy to grow and vigorous, with striking blooms, the morning glory is a go-to option when you need a lot of space covered fast. Plenty of colorful options are available to coordinate with your existing plantings. Check out 15 of the best morning glory varieties and find your favorites now.
Borage is an easy to grow annual herb with tasty leaves long prized by chefs and herbalists. Its edible, star-shaped blossoms are beloved by bees and other beneficial insects and pollinators. This versatile herb can also be used as a cover crop. Learn how to plant and grow borage now in your landscape. Read more now.
Borage is an easy to grow herb with tasty leaves and pretty, edible blossoms that attract a variety of pollinators. It can also be used as a cover crop in the garden. It’s easy to start from seed, if you keep a few points in mind. Learn how and when to plant borage seeds to enjoy this herb in your landscape.
A denizen of hot and well-drained gardens, celosia offers a kaleidoscopic array of colors and flower styles. From fan-shaped flowers to colorful plumes straight out of a Dr. Seuss story, you’re sure to find one just for you. Read on to learn how to care for this colorful flower for all-season color.
Strawflower is a cutting garden annual that’s perfect for both fresh and dry arrangements. It’s daisy-like, with crisp, petal-like bracts in shades of orange, pink, purple, red, and white. For garden color from spring to frost, learn to grow strawflower now on Gardener’s Path.
Bachelor’s button is a wildflower that has naturalized throughout the United States. From classic blue to shades of pink, purple, and white, it’s an invasive grower that likes space to roam. Learn about this country classic and see if it’s right for your backyard landscape. Read more now.
Coreopsis is a native perennial with cheerful flowers that keep blooming from spring to fall. These low maintenance, pollinator-friendly beauties are ideal for a planting in a wildflower meadow or to add color to beds and borders. Learn how to plant and grow coreopsis flowers in this guide. Read more now.
Bright and vibrant, nasturtiums are easy to grow and low maintenance. Nimble and fast growing, they’re fantastic climbers, fillers, spillers, and ground covers. They’re also edible and make an excellent companion plant in the vegetable plot. Learn how to plant and grow nasturtiums in this guide. Read more now.
Is there anything more cheerful than the sight of a sunflower nodding in the gentle breeze? Not only are sunflowers beautiful, but they’re also edible. And if you think seeds are just for snacking, think again. Discover everything you need to know to grow sunflowers in your garden with this growing guide. Read more now.
With eye-popping colors and an extra-long blooming season, petunias are popular annuals. The blooms can be blue, purple, yellow, or even striped. Plant petunia seeds or starts to grow in hanging baskets, borders, and containers. Our guide provides the best step-by-step instructions to care for these flowering beauties.
Of all the plants in my garden, chamomile offers the most return on my investment. It is a vigorous and problem-free plant that produces a spray of beautiful flowers that can immediately be harvested to make a tasty tea. Gardener’s Path has all of the information you need to know about growing this fine addition in your own garden. Read on to learn more!
The bold marigold has gracefully taken a step back as the market for new and exotic flowers expands at a wild rate. That’s a shame. This tough, colorful, and pest-resistant flower readily produces nonstop blooms, and it brings with it a host of benefits for your garden. Think twice before you pass up these darlings the next time you’re stocking up for the season. Our closer look at the marigold that will leave you ready and waiting to plant your own – read more now on Gardener’s Path.
Carnations, sweet williams, and pinks are long-lasting in the garden and cut arrangements. With a spicy fragrance, Dianthus flowers sport attractive shades of pink, red, white, and purple that bloom all summer long. A stand-out in borders, rockeries, and window boxes, get all the growing details now on Gardener’s Path.
What better way is there to add color to the veggie garden or jazz up a boring salad than with beautiful nasturtiums? Edible, elegant, and easy to grow, this is the ideal companion plant to brighten up your backyard, with many striking varieties to choose from. Check out our handy roundup of top picks now!
Freshly picked cherry tomatoes are the perfect healthy snack, and they’re great in salads or roasted on the grill. Easily cultivated, the vigorous plants produce abundant clusters of fruit in containers on the patio or out in the garden. Don’t miss our guide to 17 of the best cherry tomatoes to plant in your garden.
Whether you plant Amaranthus caudatus for its striking 2-foot-long red flower heads, for its medicinal properties, or to eat it for breakfast, you won’t be disappointed with this large tropical native that’s made itself at home in North America. Learn how to grow and care for love lies bleeding in this guide. Read more.
Cosmos flowers are gorgeous ornamentals that add beauty to the landscape while also attracting pollinators. With colorful blooms and graceful foliage, these summer annuals brighten up both flower beds and veggie gardens, and will thrive in less than ideal conditions. Keep reading to learn more about growing cosmos.
Are you looking for a vibrant new plant for the house or garden that’s a cut above the rest? Consider Persian shield, a unique tropical variety with amazing, iridescent purple leaves. Learn all about this exceptional tropical plant in this guide. Read more now.
Are you planning your next garden project? Summer snapdragon is a perennial flower for beds, borders, and containers that you need to know about. Angelonia angustifolia is a must-have where summers are hot and humid. Discover what makes this plant unique, where to buy it, and how to grow it in this guide. Read more now.
Virginia stock (Malcolmia maritima) is a summer flower that blooms in a profusion of pink, purple, and white blossoms, for a carpet of pastel color. Tolerant of salt, low moisture, and dry soil, it’s perfect for those hard-to-plant locations. Learn all about this easy-to-grow annual in this guide. Read more now.
Satin flower is an annual native wildflower that blooms in early summer with poppy-like blossoms in a variety of colors ranging from pink and purple to orange and red. Ideal for growing in beds, borders, and containers, they attract a variety of pollinators. Learn how to plant and grow satin flower in this guide.
Widely considered by herbalists to be a natural remedy for headaches, feverfew also happens to be an attractive landscaping plant. With white and yellow daisy-like flowers atop green feathery stems, this colorful herb is a fantastic addition to the garden. Learn how to plant and grow feverfew in this guide. Read more now.
Are you looking for a flower that evokes images of Victorian ladies with parasols in their cottage gardens? One that adds rich color and fragrance to beds and borders? Matthiola incana, commonly called stock, is the perfect choice. Learn all about this timeless classic and how to grow it in this guide.
With hundreds of unique cultivars and hybrids available, how should you choose which zinnia flowers to plant in your garden? Learn how to navigate the multitude of species and bloom types to select the perfect zinnias for your space. Read our guide for information about the different types of zinnias.
Snapdragon is the perfect addition to cutting gardens. Spiky heads loaded with blossoms add height and structure to flower beds and floral arrangements. Did you know it blooms from the bottom up, for long vase life? Learn all about this old-time favorite and its modern color palette in this guide. Read more now.
Ready to grow your own zinnias but you’re not sure which ones to pick? A huge variety of cultivars are available today, heirlooms as well as hybrids of several different species. You’ll find single and double blooms, bicolors, patterned petals, and solid colors. We’ll help you choose – read our roundup now.
A garden full of bachelor’s buttons is a dazzling sight, but not if those bold blossom heads are falling over. Why does this happen? And are you doomed to deal with droopy blossoms or can something be done to make your flowers stand proud? Learn why your cornflowers are falling over and how you can fix the problem.
Want eye-popping color all season long? Grow zinnias. These impressive annuals feature large colorful flowers that continue blooming throughout the summer, attracting hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies to the garden. Continue reading for information on how to grow and care for zinnia flowers.
Looking for a good investment for your summer garden? Plant globe amaranth. Its clover-like flowers come in a range of attractive colors and bloom all summer long. And, they dry beautifully for floral arranging projects. Learn about this pretty and practical annual right here on Gardener’s Path.
Birdhouse gourds (Lagenaria siceraria) are fun plants for the whole family. Learn how to start them from seed and train the twisting vines on arbors and trellises for a homegrown hideaway, then watch blossoms give way to hard-shelled hanging fruit that’s perfect for making decorative homes for the birds. Read more now.
Bring the New Year’s good luck tradition into your garden when you grow black-eyed peas. These tasty legumes condition the soil, and thrive in average dirt, high temperatures, and even drought, making them low labor additions to the summer garden. Learn how to grow your own black-eyed peas in this guide. Read more now.
If you’re growing vibrant geraniums, like cranesbill, garden, and ivy, learn how to propagate new plants from stem cuttings. Whether you just need more plants or want to keep your favorite annuals from year to year, taking cuttings is an easy and cost-effective propagation method. Get started now with easy how-to instructions.
Garden, or zonal geraniums are popular herbaceous perennials in Zones 10 and 11 that grow as annuals in colder regions. Instead of letting them die at season’s end, you can overwinter your plants indoors for planting out the following spring. Learn all you need to know to winter over garden geraniums in this guide.
Garden geraniums are easy to grow and come in an array of colors, bi-color combinations, and double-petal varieties. If you have a sunny spot, slightly alkaline, moderately rich soil that drains well, you can grow your own. Learn how to plant and grow this classic summer flower in your garden. Read more now.
Did you know that in mild climates calendula can thrive in the garden all winter long and may even survive a light frost? The spectacular orange and yellow flowers can bring warmth and light to the winter garden, even on the chilliest of days. Learn how to keep calendula plants blooming well into the winter months.
Are you looking to spice up your Halloween display this year? Why not grow your own? Try decorating your home and yard with a collection of mysterious and scary plants just spooky enough to make your skin crawl. Read on to learn about 13 of our favorite creepy and bizarre plants to grow in your garden this October.
Living in a cold climate doesn’t have to mean you can’t enjoy vivid colors in your garden. Learn how to select the best flowering annuals suitable for colder growing zones, and with minimal effort you can dazzle your neighbors with vibrant displays of color throughout the growing season. Read more now.
Sunflowers that don’t produce pollen were bred for pro florists and are now available to home gardeners. Here’s a fresh-picked roundup of popular pollenless varieties with unique blooms, available in a rainbow of colors and sizes. Some are suited for containers too. Ready to grow your own? Read more on Gardener’s Path.
Looking to learn a new gardening skill? Collecting and replanting flower seeds is a fun and economical way to enjoy your favorite flowers year after year. Though collecting seeds for saving only takes a few minutes, it can also become something of a hobby all on its own. Learn how and when to harvest flower seeds.
For huge, double-petalled blooms on shorter plants, sweet, sunny ‘Teddy Bear’ sunflowers are a colorful addition to the summer garden. This easy-to-grow dwarf cultivar adds texture to borders and beds, and is a cutting garden favorite. Find top tips for growing ‘Teddy Bear’ sunflowers in your landscape. Read more now.
Are wildlife pests trying to make a meal from your sunflowers? Try these kind and effective tricks to protect sunflower blooms from squirrels and birds. Nets (for the flowers!) and scary Mylar are two of the best ways to preserve your flowers for yourself, and seeds for the songbird feeder. Read more now.
You can save money and spread even more joy when you save your bachelor’s button seeds to grow again next year. Follow a few simple steps and you’ll have so many cornflower seeds to plant and share. Start planning when the cheerful blooms appear, follow up with the perfect storage spot, and you’ll be set next spring.
Do you fancy the idea of picking tasty, tangy cherry tomatoes fresh from the vine? Easy to grow and vigorous, they produce an abundance of bite-sized fruit in an array of beautiful colors. Among the earliest to ripen, they deliver a long season as well. Get all the best tips for growing cherry tomatoes right here.
Have you always wanted your own pumpkin patch, filled with winter squash that are perfect for cooking and decorating throughout the fall? It’s not as hard as you might think. From small cultivars to large homegrown varieties that are ready to be carved into jack-o’-lanterns, we’ve got you covered. Read more now.
China aster is a late summer flowering annual with colors ranging from vibrant, vivid tones to subtle pastels. Tall varieties make the perfect anchor for beds and borders. They brighten the landscape and make attractive and sturdy cut flowers. Discover 13 of our favorite varieties of China aster for your garden.
If you are looking for an easy to grow flower with vibrant colors to bring cheer to your garden, try violets. Violas, violets, and pansies are available all sorts of shapes, sizes, colors, and even scents. Learn about the different types and discover 39 of the best violet varieties to add to your garden. Read more now.
China aster is a flowering annual for late summer to fall color. Many cultivars are available in vibrant, colorful tones. Sow seeds in spring and enjoy lush foliage all summer long. Then, just when other flowers are winding down, China aster bursts into bloom. Learn all you need to grow this beauty. Read more now.
Nasturtiums’ bright blooms and rounded leaves bring cheer to the summer garden. However, these edible annuals don’t do well in the winter chill. In order for your plants to survive the colder months, you’ll need to give them some extra care and protection. Get our top tips on how to care for nasturtiums during winter.
If you think the end of summer means the end of vibrant color in the garden, we have a surprise for you. Here are 15 eye-catching annual plants that are sure to liven up your autumn landscape. Read on to discover an array of robust options and get ready to grow them in your outdoor space, right here on Gardener’s Path.
Of all the flowering vines in all the gardens of the world, morning glory is among the most easily recognized and well-loved flowers out there. Easy to grow without much care or attention required, you can ensure the best blooms possible by reading our guide to growing morning glories now on Gardener’s Path.
Long-lasting and mid-height color is always special. Verbena promises to perform all season long, and besides a few necessities it only needs a watchful eye. Our expert advice sheds light on the mysteries of the beautiful flower. Learn about what to watch for and how to grow this lovely and colorful annual here on Gardener’s Path
Are you itching to get into the garden, but it’s still too cold outside? Satisfy your craving to play in the dirt by starting seeds indoors. With an egg carton and potting medium, you can grow flowers, herbs, and vegetables to transplant outside when the weather warms. Learn how on Gardener’s Path.
Beautiful colors and an enticing scent put sweet alyssum in the spotlight for gardeners of every skill level. Adding this aromatic annual to your garden will promise bountiful blooms and delectable whiffs for almost the entire growing season. Read on to learn about our latest featured plant here at Gardener’s Path!
Whether you want to weave your own linen fabric, boost your intake of healthful omega acids and other nutrients, preserve your butcher block countertops, or just enjoy attractive flowers, consider adding multipurpose flax — either the annual or perennial type — to your landscape. Learn more at Gardener’s Path.
With their bright green foliage, juicy colors, and tumbling habit, ivy geraniums are an essential plant for any area that needs trailers – containers, hanging baskets, window boxes – and can even be used as ground cover. Join us for a detailed look at the best care and cultivation practices for this pretty pelargonium.
Mums, aster, and heather are flowering staples in your late fall or early spring garden, but winter pansies provide brilliant color straight on through the cooler seasons. They’re not even shy about popping up from under the snow and ice during warm spells in the winter months. Gardener’s Path has compiled this informative guide for you to read about about pansies and their care– read on to learn more!