The celosia was named the National Garden Bureau’s Annual Flower of the Year for 2023! Celosia is a family of garden flowers that are known as cockscombs or woolflowers due to their unique, and unusual, appearance. Celosia typically sports brightly colored, feathery plumes or crests that resemble the head of a rooster, hence the name […]

Years ago begonias were known as a shade plant. Better breeding has introduced varieties that can take both shade and sun. The succulent-like leaves and stems of wax begonias don’t need constant moisture and can withstand short periods of dry weather. A general rule for watering begonias is to give them about an inch of […]

Often grown as annuals, petunias are one of the most popular flowers because of their long flowering period. As with most annuals, they get leggy by midsummer, so you’ll want to prune the shoots back to about half their length. Pretty petunias are treated as annuals in most areas but also as tender perennials in Zones […]

Snapdragons are very popular short-lived garden perennials that are usually grown as annuals. They are a mainstay of classic flower gardens, with infinite uses, from mixed border gardens to flower boxes to patio containers. The common name derives from the shape of the individual flower heads, which resemble the snout of a dragon, and which […]

Although they are often called geraniums, the familiar annual flowers with red, pink, purple, or white blooms and thick, pleated leaves are not geraniums at all, but rather members of the Pelargonium genus. True members of the geranium genus are often known as cranesbill or hardy geraniums. Originally, both types of plants were part of the Geranium genus, before Pelargonium was designated in […]

African Cape daisies work equally well in the ground or in containers. Blooms peak in late spring to early summer and again in late summer to early fall. Because Cape daisies stop blooming during hot spells, they are best grown in combination with other plants that will have visual interest in the peak of summer. […]

This plant stands out in the geranium family, thanks to its striking color pallet and foliage. You can add color to any garden with this bold plant. While these geraniums are named after the wife of the first president of the United States, they are native to North Africa with the first hybrids originating in Europe. […]

Pansies are the colorful flowers with “faces.” A cool-weather favorite, pansies are great for both spring and fall gardens!  Good for containers, borders, and as ground cover, they are a go-to flower for reliable color almost year-round. Pansies look pretty on their own in a monochrome scheme or in mixed colors; they also look pretty […]