21 EASY FLOWERS FOR BEGINNERS TO GROW

Discover some of the best easy-to-grow plants for your first flower garden
By Linda Hagen; updated 11/20/20

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Think you have a brown thumb? These easy-to-grow flowers will help you gain confidence in the garden. Easy annuals such as sunflowers and zinnias
are simple to start from seed, perennials require little care and return year after year, and bulbs are practically foolproof when planted properly. Start
with just one easy plant, or select a few and get growing!

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Sunflowers

Zones: Annual

Colors: Yellows, browns, and mixed

Height: 3-16 feet

Blooms during summer

Most varieties are drought and heat tolerant
Attracts bees, birds, and butterflies
Thrives in full sun
Tolerates most soil types (except water-logged)
May require support to prevent breakage

Coneflowers

Zones: 3-9

Colors: Yellow, orange, white, purple, pink, bicolor and more

Height: Up to 6 feet tall

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 Blooms for months
Makes great cut flowers
Attracts pollinators and birds
Sow seeds in spring or fall
Likes rich, well-drained soil
Tolerates drought
Plant in full sun
Try Lakota™ Fire coneflower for a colorful mix of shades of red and purple all in the same plant.

Zinnias
Zinnias

Zones: Annual

Colors: Shades of red, orange, yellow, pink, and white

Height: 20-24 inches tall

Blooms during summer

Varies in shape (daisies, dahlias, spiders, poms)
Attracts butterflies
Likes rich, well-drained soil
Has moderate water requirements
Grows best in full sun

Dianthus
Dianthus

Zones: 3-9

Colors: Shades of red, purple, pink, and white

Height: Most 10-20 inches, varieties up to 3 feet tall

Showy, fragrant flowers (clove-scented)

Blooms from May to August
Deer resistant
Attractive evergreen green foliage
Plant in well-drained soil
Grow in full sun to light shade
Try the Fruit Punch® series for colorful additions to planters, beds, and borders.

Marigolds
Marigolds

Zones: Annual

Colors: Shades of yellow, red, gold, and mixed

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Height: 6 inches to 3 feet tall

Blooms spring, summer and fall

Grows quickly from seed
Helps repel mosquitoes (See 12 Mosquito Repellent Plants)
Prefers well-drained soil, grows well in dry or sandy gardens
Water well, allow to dry between waterings
Should be grown in full sun

Impatiens
Impatiens

Zones: Grown as annuals (can be perennial in Zones 10-11)

Colors: Variety

Height: 6-24 inches tall

Blooms non-stop from June until frost

Attracts birds
Prefers loamy soil
Keep soil moist, but not waterlogged
Best in part or full shade
Try Rockapulco® double impatiens for miniature rose-like blooms

Cosmos
Cosmos

Zones: Annual

Colors: Orange, pink, white

Height: Varieties 18-60 inches tall

Blooms spring, summer and fall

Grows quickly from seed
Helps repel mosquitoes
Prefers well-drained soil, grows well in dry or sandy gardens
Water well, allow to dry between waterings
Should be grown in full sun

Morning Glories
Morning Glories

Zones: Annual

Colors: White, purple, pink, red, blue varieties

Height: 6 to 15 feet tall

Blooms in late summer or early fall

Readily self-sowing — be careful where you plant
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 Attracts birds and butterflies
Seeds are highly toxic if ingested
Prefers moderately fertile, well-drained soil
Water weekly during dry periods
Plant in full sun

Sweet Peas
Sweet Peas

Zones: Annual

Colors: Blue, pink, purple, red, white

Height: 3 to 8 feet tall

Highly fragrant flowers

Blooms spring through early summer in hot climates, into fall in cooler areas
Seeds resemble edible sweet peas but are toxic if eaten
Prefers loamy, well-drained soil
Keep moist, water at the base
Grow in full sun
Needs supportive fence or trellis

Nasturtium
Nasturtium

Zones: Annual

Colors: Shades of orange, red, yellow, cream

Height: Trails up to 10 feet, depending on variety

Quick growing and colorful

Blooms May until September
Edible leaves and flowers (recipe: Pan-Seared Halibut with Nasturtium Butter)
Needs well-drained soil
Water regularly, but don’t over-water
Plant in full sun

Pansies
Pansies

Zones: Grown as annuals (can be perennial/biennial in Zones 6-10)

Colors: Variety of colors

Height: 6-9 inches tall

In warmer climates pansies will bloom throughout winter and early spring
Attracts butterflies
Likes rich, well-drained soil
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 Needs regular watering
Blooms in sun or partial shade
Grows best in temperatures 45-75 degrees F

Snapdragons
Snapdragons

Zones: Grown as annuals (can be perennial in Zones 5-10)

Colors: White, yellow, pink, red, orange, peach, purple, and violet

Height: 6-15 inches tall

Blooms from spring through fall in cool summer growing conditions

Attracts butterflies
Prefers well-drained soil
Water regularly at the base of the plant
Best in full sun

Wax Begonias
Wax Begonias

Zones: Grown as annuals (can be perennial in Zones 10-11)

Colors: Orange, pink, white, yellow

Height: 6-12 inches tall

Blooms summer and fall

Varieties produce single or double blooms with ruffled or smooth petals
Requires fertile, amended soil
Water consistently, but don’t overdo it
Best in partial sun to shade

Lupines
Lupines

Zones: 4-8 (often grown as an annual)

Colors: Blue, white, yellow, pink, and purple

Height: Up to 4 feet tall

Produces seeds that will self-sow

Attracts butterflies
Likes average, well-drained soil — best without fertilizer
Water deeply and allow to dry in between
Loosen soil deeply when planting for its long tap roots
Plant in full sun in cool climates, filtered light in hot ones

Fuchsias
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 Fuchsias

Zones: 10-11 (grown as an annual elsewhere)

Colors: Shades of purple, magenta, pink, red, and white

Height: Varieties 1-8 feet tall

Can be overwintered indoors

Attracts hummingbirds
Best in shade (does not like heat, humidity, or drought)
Prefers moist, but well-drained soil
Prune back to encourage new growth

Geraniums (Pelargonium)
Geraniums (Pelargonium)

Zones: 10-11 (grown as an annual elsewhere)

Colors: White, pink, red, lavender, purple, magenta, and rose

Height: 3-24 inches tall

Low-maintenance color from spring until frost

Good for use in window boxes, hanging baskets, containers, or beds
Attracts birds
Thrives in rich, well-drained soil
Watered regularly, but don’t over-water
Prefers full sun/afternoon shade in hot climates

Lavender
Lavender

Zones: 4-9

Colors: Shades of purple and lavender, some white and pink

Height: 20-24 inches tall

Blooms late June through August

Attracts bees and butterflies
Lavandin variety helps keep mosquitoes away
Requires well-drained soil
Water deeply, but infrequently (drought tolerant)
Best in full sun

Dahlias
Dahlias
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Zones: 7-10

Colors: Pink, purple, red, orange, yellow, and white

Height: 1 to 6 feet tall

Thrives in most climates, although not too well in hot and humid
Wide variety of shapes (spiky, single, double, pompon, anemone)
Grows in well-drained, sandy soil
Plant in full sun
Plant tubers in the spring
Provide 2 or 3 deep waterings a week after growth emerges above ground

Daffodils
Daffodils

Zones: 3-9

Colors: Yellow, orange, white

Height: 6-30 inches tall

Blooms late winter or early spring

Plant in beds or containers
Plant daffodil bulbs in fall to bloom in spring
Provide well-drained soil
Likes regular watering in spring and fall
Tolerates full sun or part shade

Daylilies
Daylilies

Zones: 3-10

Colors: Shades of Yellow, red, pink, purple, and melon

Height: 12-48 inches tall

Flowers continuously over a long period of time

Excellent for massing in large areas
Tolerant of heat and humidity
Plant in spring
Grow in rich, well-drained soil
Provide deep watering in summer
Flowers best in full sun

Ornamental Onions (Allium)

Ornamental Onions (Alliums)

Zones: 4-8

Colors: Lavender, purple, pink, and white

Height: 6-36 inches tall

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 Great for rock gardens, cottage gardens or meadows
Relatively resistant to deer, voles, chipmunks, and rabbits
Blooms as seasons change from spring to summer
Plant bulbs in the fall
Provide well-drained soil
Grows in full sun
Likes dry to medium moisture

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