Flowering plants that bloom profusely and continuously most of the year? List Them...
So far I've been able to amaze anyone who enters my yard with the combination of:
1. Petunias
2. African Daisies
Just by using those 2 flowers, I was able to transform a fruit-only garden which lacked beauty, into something amazing to look at. Even looking at my garden now, I can't believe how beautiful and colorful it has become.
I'm looking for more plants that I can use that will bloom profusely for most of the year. I don't want something that blooms for 10 weeks and then gone. I want at least 6 months or more. But if there is a absolutely stunning flowering plant, I'll let it go with less bloom time.
Any suggestions on what else to plant?
The following thread was started by Jonathan in San Francisco on May 05, 2008 at 11:09 pm PST
I will to create an effect that looks as if you're completely surrounded by a million flowers in full bloom.
I know I can do that with Petunias and African Daisies,
but I want more variety...
The above followup was added by Jonathan in San Francisco on May 05, 2008 at 11:11 pm PST.
They come in many many colors, and some plants stay small, some taller, and they tolerate varying degrees of partial shade to some sun.
I have two I got last year, they never stop blooming, not even in the dead of winter. My are under a polycarbonate roof, 50 % light, and love it.
David
The above followup was added by DavidLJ48, Waterford CA, zone14 on May 05, 2008 at 11:44 pm PST.
The humble heliotrope, especially the pale lavender varieties, nearly never stop blooming in my yard. There is an added bonus of a delicious almond/cherry scent and lovely velvety leaves.
I have one salvia that has not stopped blooming for three years.
The above followup was added by Merbert on May 05, 2008 at 11:51 pm PST.
Impatiens are my favorite for being continuously covered in flowers from early spring until cut down by frost. Plant them once in early spring and forget about them. Unlike most flowers, they never need dead-heading and always look spectacular, and actually get better as the season progresses because the plants get bigger and completely fill their beds. They don't like full sun, though, except maybe in the bay area. I also like the creeping purple lantana. It will also stay covered in flowers from early spring until frost. It makes a great ground cover and will also climb, if given some support. In mild winter areas (like the bay area), it will bloom all year long. The creeping yellow lantana is also good.
The above followup was added by Kurt on May 06, 2008 at 7:09 am PST.
Tibouchina urvilleana will stay in bloom from mid-summer through fall and winter until into the new year. Brugmansia sanguinea also.
The above followup was added by Steve in Brookings on May 06, 2008 at 7:51 am PST.
A staple for S.F., and also Fuschias.Roses-close. Brugmansia's many types and species.
So many i have to add later..
The above followup was added by Stan on May 06, 2008 at 7:56 am PST.
I am planting flowers and herbs below the fruit trees.
Now one of the things that makes something really beautiful is that it's only around for a short time. So I like a lot of flowers that only show up for a specific time. It makes them so much more beautiful. I find that the ones around all year get to be a bit boring. It's good to have both, but there is so much pleasure in the seasonal flowers, they are totally worth it.
I've started to plant lots of exotic poppies in addition to the plethora of wild California poppies that are all over the garden.
Dhalias are also really nice, and the show in early Spring you get from tulips and daffodils is amazing. The bulbs hide under the ground until they do their show.
The above followup was added by Axel on May 06, 2008 at 8:43 am PST.
In addition to doing organic garden and fruit tree care for others for a living, I do alot of color pots and bedding plantings- some color under trees too. These are important for not only beauty for us, but some are edible/garnish and most are pest predator habitat too.
In addition to the flowers you all have already mentioned, here are some 'proven winners' (I think that phrase is trademarked) commonly having more flowers than leaves visible. These are perennial or reseed freely (may become 'weedy') -no particular order within category:
Flower year 'round (nearly):
Erigeron karvinskianus- Santa Barbara daisy- perennial- small white flwr -perennial and seedy/weedy
Tagates lemmonii- perennial low marigold- yellow
Pelargonium peltatum- perennial ivy geranium-pink white purple maroon
Calabrachoa -million bells -a tender perennial petunia relative -wide range of color
Alyssum classic white, purple, pastel pinks and yellows- edible, fragrant -nice weed
Lobelia erinus -blues, white, pink
Gaillardia- yellow and red
Flower late Fall to early summer:
Salvia elegans- pineapple sage- perennial bright red, favorite winter humming bird forage- edible
Nasturtiums yellow, orange, red, maroon- edible
Calendulas yellow and orange- edible
violas- wide range of multi-colors (not red)-edible
for really shady areas we plant various Begonias (just starting to re-sprout now) and impatients for summer; with Cyclamen and primrose species for winter (just finnishing up now).All have amazing species and varieties, dwarf to large, Begonias(edible) pink to orange red yellow, Cyclamens (some fragrant) pink white purple red, primrose and impatients come in a rainbow of colors and shades
I agree with Axel, you can get bored of these 'everbloomers' but once you get them going, you can move them around to change things up.
I also agree that the fleeting seasonal blooms are more 'special', and help mark the seasons- of those, there are too many great ones to list. . .
The above followup was added by John Valenzuela Novato, CA Sunset z16-17 on May 06, 2008 at 10:40 am PST.
There are seed mixes available of the native California wildflowers that are pretty impressive, and chosen for color and display. Theodorepayne.org sells an assortment of different blends and in different weights (from packet size to a pound or more). The nice thing about the flowers is that when they die, they don't create a lot of dead matter that needs to be cleaned up (although California Poppies leave behind a lot of detritus, but they're way more succulent than most of the annuals anyway).
The above followup was added by Barry on May 06, 2008 at 12:46 am PST.
Here are some which I grow and which are almost constantly in bloom:
thyme
chives (very tasty and pretty in bloom)
lavenders
salvias
sweet pea shrub
lotus maculatus
passifloras (tacsonia group)
fuchsia boliviana
brugmansia sanguinea
streptosolen jamesonii
gazanias
androsace
leptospermum
grevillea
nicotiana (very sweet smell in the evenings)
lychnis coronaria
globe mallow
I strongly agree with Axel and also find plants more exciting when they burst into bloom for a short period of time. With the right mixture of plants I have color all year round but see some change. But I also think that even without flowering plants just by combining different size plants, having various shapes and colours of leaves, a beautiful and dramatic effect can be achieved.
The above followup was added by Michael, Pacifica, sz17 on May 06, 2008 at 4:55 pm PST.
I agree that flushes of color are more stimulating and give a real meaning to the changing seasons. I do this with nicotiana, recurrant bearded irises, roses, lavender, catnip and catmint, bulbs of all sorts, and even humble plants like sweet alyssum. Looking out my office window is a riot of color from the roses and the irises. Later will come the nicotianas and the Papaver somniferum, later the oddballs will show up like "kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate".
Ain't nature wonderful?
The above followup was added by Merbert on May 06, 2008 at 7:58 pm PST.
I'd agree with a lot of the listed plants so far, especially the Calibrochoa. I also like the Fibrous Begonias, Limonium perezii, Lobularia maritima, Calandrinia grandiflora, Arctotis hybrids, Alstroemeria hybrids, Scaevola 'New Wonder', Lavandula spicata, Verbenas such as V. tenuisecta, V. ridida var. polaris, V. bonariensis, Euphorbia characias var. wulfenii, Tecomaria capensis, Metrosideros collina, Anigozanthus flavidus hybrids, Plectranthus neochilus and P. zuluensis, Oxalis spiralis var volcanicola, Abutilons, Justicia carnea and J. brandegeana, Calamintha nepeta, Tulbaghia violacea, Rusellia, Tecoma x smithii, Phygelius capensis and hybrids, Echeveria subrigida, Kalanchoe species such as K. pumila, Portea petropoliteana, Oenothera berlandieri, Salvias such as S. leucantha, S. chiapensis, S. involucrata, S. splendens 'Van Houttei', S. 'Indigo Spires', Fuchsias such as F. boliviana, F. arborescens, F. paniculata, Erythrina x bidwillii, are just some of the 6 months to all year long blooming things that I like to use in landscapes.
The above followup was added by bahia on May 06, 2008 at 8:48 pm PST.
I prefer continuous bloom over temporary bloom. Being surrounded by vibrant color seems to make my wife and I feel very happy when I'm in the yard. I really don't want my blooms to disappear. I want them to flood my entire yard. It's like being in a nicely decorated newly remodeled house. You don't get tired of the nicely decorated remodeled house do you? Just as long as it is comforting, and makes you feel pleasant all day long being in the environment. Basically continuous bloom to me feels like a luxury.
One exception are Stargazer Lillies. I think they are so striking and fragrant that I am willing to ignore the fact that they don't bloom very long. Other than that, it is rare for me to make an exception for just any flowering plant.
Thanks everyone for your list. I am going to try everything suggested, and weed out anything that doesn't flower well in my climate.
The above followup was added by Jonathan in San Francisco on May 06, 2008 at 9:39 pm PST.
Now I just got to start locating these plants one at a time.
Any good places to find these?
Recommendations?
The above followup was added by Jonathan in San Francisco on May 06, 2008 at 9:43 pm PST.
Brunsfelia(something like that) loves the bay area climate.
The above followup was added by STAn on May 07, 2008 at 1:47 pm PST.
Mine puts on a lovely show but dies back in winter. It's only been leafing out for about a month now.
The above followup was added by Merbert on May 07, 2008 at 2:38 pm PST.
They do nicely here in the hot Central Valley too. The like shade, so they don't even get a chance to get hot direct sun.
My is getting ready to bloom, they do bloom for some time, but not all year long, at least not here. They blooms are so large and have such rich purple blue blooms.
David
The above followup was added by DavidLJ48, Waterford CA, zone14 on May 07, 2008 at 2:44 pm PST.
Jon,
I suggest visiting your local nurseries or SF Botanical Garden (Strybing Arboretum) and identify the plants that are suggested in person. You will be attracted to some in particular, which you will start recognizing in landscapes in your area. You can figure out thier mature growth habit, and what sun/shade moist/dry situations they may like- but take note: often color annuals are placed in a poor area for thier long term growth, but are changed out regularly (someitmes at great cost) to always look good.
Take some home from the nursery (or take divisions, cuttings and seeds from your neighbor with thier permission and advice) and think about thier preferences/tolerances (sun, moisture, etc.) and place the pots around in your yard, before actually planting them later.
My personal gardens are the result of being a collector- one or two plants of many different species, quite a hodge podge- sometimes resembling a 'country garden', sometimes looking like a crazy pile of different plants.
You may want to create a more thematic look that has several main species, with variation, and some mixed pockets of others. This is usually more peaceful looking.
Another favorite, nearly ever blooming early spring to late fall:
Mimulus - Monkey flower , local native: M. aurantiacus-Sticky Monkey Flower, hill side shrub, no water needed once established; M. guttatus- Common Monkey Flower- for wet areas
The above followup was added by John Valenzuela Novato CA, Sunset z16-17 on May 08, 2008 at 10:02 am PST.
Tahitian bridal veil for shade..both are covered in white flowers and are groundcovers.
The TB,i'm not sure of the latin name..eastbay nursery and Longs in Oakland carry's it. "My Discovery" as a very good shade groundcover that blooms almost all year. If your really determined you can keep it variegated ,plucking out the green stems..but not really a practical thing once its set free from the pot.
There are at least three species of Justicia that look and do great.Shrimp plant is one and J.carnea 'Huntington" is another. The third is harder to find although the BBG has it. The desert version.
The above followup was added by s on May 08, 2008 at 3:35 pm PST.
hey man,you picked a great topic!
Cannas like Tropica or Lucefer always are eye catchy and flower 8-9 months of the year.
The above followup was added by Stan on May 09, 2008 at 2:33 pm PST.
They will bloom 11-12 months of the year depending on variety. An interesting story? mine seemed to bloom all year-- i had posted that before.Before the 07 freeze. Funny thing is -they survived but now seem to only bloom in the warm months(June+). I have to wonder if they got natural selected by the freeze?..everblooming stems(for years) replaced by seasonal stems. Just an observation.
The above followup was added by Stan on May 09, 2008 at 2:38 pm PST.