Once used to hide outhouses, these majestic summer bloomers now add height and interest to gardens everywhere. Deer and rabbit-resistant varieties exist; their flowers can even be cut off for arrangements!
Choose from an extensive range of cultivars, such as single and double flowering varieties like Indian Spring and Happy Lights that are resistant to rust.
Hollyhock
Hollyhocks are staples of cottage gardens, making an impressionful statement when grown tall against walls or fences or interplanted with shorter perennials and other flowers in the garden. Hollyhocks are easy to cultivate and bloom from early summer until early autumn - their flowering typically occurs from seed or cuttings each year! Although generally biennials, these blooming beauties will often come back each year from seed and cuttings! In areas with hard freezes, seeds may need to be started indoors before overwintering in containers before being planted out once spring arrives!
Seeds should be soaked overnight before planting in a sunny location to promote germination. In warmer climates, seeds can be planted as early as fall or late summer for blooms to emerge the following summer; otherwise a transplant from a nursery or seedling bed would work better as initial source.
Planting hollyhocks together creates a striking and romantic statement. Hollyhocks are easy to care for, just needing protection from scorching sun rays on hot days. Hollyhocks thrive best in rich, well-draining soil with ample amendment of compost every spring as well as frequent deep watering to promote deep root penetration and pinch or trim away faded flowers to encourage energy into creating new buds instead. A regular deadheading schedule may also prove beneficial.
Feed hollyhocks every 7-14 days using bloom booster, available from home improvement stores. This type of fertilizer contains high concentrations of phosphorus to stimulate flower production.
Rudbeckia
Rudbeckia laciniata), or cutleaf coneflower, was often grown alongside outhouses in early American flower beds. Its flowers resemble yellow daisies but with prominent gray-green centers and come in various shades. One of the first plants to bloom each summer, this perennial is easy to care for with well drained soil and minimal fertilizer use; butterflies, bees and birds especially enjoy its brilliant blooms!
"Cherokee Sunset" is an extremely popular rudbeckia cultivar with large double and semi-double flowers that range in shades from gold, orange, bronze and red with dark mahogany eyes - it even blooms regardless of daylight length - often continuing blooming well into fall in warmer areas! In contrast, another popular cultivar called Autumn Colors boasts large flowers of yellow gold/orange/bronze red/golden yellow (5-7") to prolong species propagation within your garden! Both perennial varieties self seed easily over time to perpetuate species perpetuation within gardens!
If you want to avoid powdery mildew and bacterial leaf spots that afflict rudbeckias, R. hirta 'Irish Eyes' might be just what's needed instead. With its low maintenance needs and bright golden-yellow blossoms with greenish yellow eyes, this variety makes an excellent addition to mixed meadow or prairie gardens - not forgetting container plantings too!
Bellflowers
Campanula species, also known as bellflowers, range from low creepers to tall garden flowers and all share one feature in common: blue to purple cup- or saucer-shaped blooms. Some annual varieties exist while perennial ones thrive best in cooler climates (USDA zones 4 through 8 are ideal). If not kept under control they can spread rapidly; division should be conducted every two to five years in order to encourage rebloom.
Bellflowers can be easy to grow and have few pest issues, making them a good choice for novice gardeners. Their flowers often boast fragrant blooms that rebloom throughout summer. Furthermore, these striking blooms make stunning cut flower arrangements.
All kinds of flowers add an enchanting atmosphere to cottage gardens and other soft-toned garden beds, including bees and butterflies that love them for pollination purposes. Their blooms last throughout early summer into autumn - something other flowers simply cannot.
Platycoside compounds found in bellflower roots have been demonstrated to possess neuroprotective, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and sedative properties. Some studies also indicate they might help lower cholesterol and blood pressure; extracts or purified compounds of bellflower roots can be found as dietary supplements; however, more research needs to be completed prior to their use in medicine.
Forget-Me-Nots
Myosotis flowers add an attractive blue splash to woodland gardens and flower beds, and containers. Their seeds can easily be collected or purchased for cultivation. Plant the seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost date under lights; or outdoors between late spring and early summer in late spring/early summer for blooming the following year. Forest-dwelling plants prefer partial shade but will grow well if their soil is rich and moist enough. Deer grass can tolerate dry conditions. Its flowers feature delightful blue and yellow hues with five rounded petals surrounding a central eye of white or yellow colour, hairy stems borne on branching cymes, small size (less than 3/8 inch in diameter), hairy stems that branch off and various colors such as pink or white flowers cultivars.
As perennials, forget-me-nots produce new flowers each year and thrive best in soil that remains consistently moist while needing minimal care and maintenance. They are relatively resistant to pests like slugs and aphids; powdery mildew may appear; however it usually resolves itself over time through proper water management practices and reduced overhead watering.
Forget-me-nots have long been used as symbols of love and remembrance, and are frequently featured on memorials and gravestones as a poignant reminder that all living things come from the earth. Additionally, they make thoughtful presents for friends or loved ones on anniversary or Valentine's Day.