Today gardening is one of the most popular hobbies in North America. People love to get their hands into the soil and enjoy the great outdoors. You too can have a rainbow of color in your garden. It’s easy and its fun and you don’t have to have a green thumb to grow beautiful plants. All you need is plant a few easy to grow plants that will bloom year after year. A little water and fertilizer once in a while is all it takes.

Self-Seeders

Traditionally annuals are plants that bloom for only one year. The following year you have to purchase them again. Many people don’t realize that there are annuals that are self-seeders. This means you don’t dead-head the plants in the fall. Instead you allow them to go to seed. The seeds will then be released into the soil and come up the following year. Let’s take a closer look at some of the top self-seeders.

Cosmos

These flowers come in a variety of colors and have fern-like leaves. They grow up to three feet high, are drought tolerant and prefer full sun. Plant the seeds in the spring following the last frost of the year. Allow cosmos to bloom and go to seed to have beautiful blooms the following year.

Bachelor Buttons

Bachelor buttons, also known as cornflowers, come in a wide variety of colors and bloom from early spring to fall. They like alkaline PH soil, enjoy full sun and self-seed if they are not dead-headed. Bachelor buttons grow at least a foot wide and need space to spread. They reach heights of three feet, depending on the variety you choose. Read the seed package carefully when buying bachelor buttons to ensure you purchase a species that will fit comfortably into your garden space.

Portulacca

Also known as moss rose, portulacca blooms from early spring to fall. It grows to a height of six inches and continues to flourish for the entire season. Portulacca prefer full sun and comes in hues of orange, rust, red and yellow. When left to propagate, seeds fall into the soil and the following year your garden will be filled with beautiful blooms.

Forget-Me-Nots

Traditionally, forget-me-nots were blue. Today they come in both blue and white varieties. They bloom only once per year, which makes them an annual, but then go to seed. These beautiful tiny flowers will last for generations and can be thinned and passed on to family and friends. Once forget-me-nots have gone to seed, do not disturb the soil if you wish them to come up the following year.

Phlox

These beautiful flowers come in a wide variety of hues and colors. They should not be confused with the invasive dame’s rocket, which has only four petals while phlox has five. Phlox blooms profusely from the beginning of June to September. It’s a hearty plant that is completely free from disease. Seeds drop into the soil in fall and produce beautiful, healthy blooms year after year. Phlox has to be thinned annually if you don’t want it to run rampant.

Nicotiana

This is a beautiful plant to include in any garden. It has unique blooms of lime green, red, white or yellow. It grows between one and two feet in height and makes a beautiful backdrop for shorter flowers, blooming from early summer to fall. Nicotiana has a low tolerance to drought and needs to be watered frequently. Allow the flowers to go to seed in the fall for a marvelous showing the following year.

Dame’s Rocket

Dame’s rocket is a beautiful plant for any garden. It provides a splash of color in shades of pink, purple, white or violet. At night it releases a delicious fragrance that will drift across the yard on a cool summer breeze. It grows well in all types of soil. Dead-head blooms from mid spring to early summer, leaving the last blooms to go to seed for a fabulous showing the following year. Both plants and blooms are edible if pesticide isn’t applied. Dame’s rocket makes a beautiful, fragrant bouquet and is delightful to give to seniors or shut-ins.

Besides self-seeders there are many wonderful flowers that will bring a rainbow of color into your garden. The flowers mentioned here are traditional gardens that have been planted in flower gardens for decades. They each bring a touch of personality into your garden. Some are edible, some are not. Others are great to use in teas and for medicinal purposes.

Safflower

Also known as American saffron, safflower is an annual native to the Mediterranean. Today it is grown commercially for its oil. However, the bright yellow blooms add color, life and texture to any garden. The plants grow one to three feet high and the flower heads can vary from one to ten inches across, depending on the species of seed planted. Check on seed packages to determine height and bloom width. Safflower is used for diuretic teas and those used in the treatment of colds and related ailments, such a pneumonia. It is also used in the treatment of stress, anxiety and hysteria.

Black-Eyed-Susan

Black-eyed-Susan has been a well loved garden flower for generations. It is a member of the aster family and very easy to grow. They come in a variety of colors ranging from yellow with a brown “eye” to red/yellow with a brown “eye.” They require no special care but should be planted in well-drained soil. They seed freely and can be divided in the fall. They reach a height between 12 and 24 inches and are closely related to Echinacea. The root of black-eyed-Susan is believed to have medicinal properties. The seeds are poisonous but the root and leaves are safe to use internally in teas or topically. Black-eye-Susan attracts bees, butterflies and hummingbirds to the garden. They are drought tolerant and do well in hot, dry climates.

Evening Primrose

Evening primrose is a welcome addition to any garden. The entire plant is edible from flower to root and it is delicious. Technically, evening primrose is an herb that is filled with medicinal properties. The seeds, leaves and roots all contain medicinal qualities that are not found in other herbs. Evening primrose oil is extracted from the seeds and is specifically beneficial for women suffering symptoms of menopause. The flowers of evening primrose are most often yellow and give off a lemony fragrance. Bees and butterflies are attracted to it and it is truly valuable as a habitat species. It is easy to grow and thrives in soil that is well-drained. It prefers full sun, blooms from June to October and self-propagates freely. Be sure to thin evening primrose in the spring to control wide spreading. Plants grow to a height of between six and eight feet and the fragrant yellow blooms make a perfect backdrop for plants of any color. Evening primrose has proved beneficial in the treatment of depression, PMS, bloating, menstrual cramps, headache, arthritis and complications of diabetes.

Floxglove

Foxglove is a beautiful plant that grows up to six feet and produces trumpet-shaped flowers that attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Blooms can be hues of lavender, pink, purple, red, white, yellow and variegated. If you have a partial sun/shade area that needs a splash of color, it is the perfect spot to plant foxglove. Though the plants can thrive in full sun, they flourish in a sun/partial shade environment.

If planting foxglove from seed, do not cover with soil as the seed requires sunlight to germinate. Press gently into the soil being certain that seeds are not covered. Foxglove blooms in spring or early summer the year after you plant the seeds, making them a biennial. The first year they grow strong stalks and prepare to give a large showing of blooms the following year. If you desire a few more flower stalks late in the year, cut the main stalk once it has finished blooming. To collect seeds, leave the flower head intact. When the seed pod splits, gently glean the seeds into a clean container or envelope. Keep until spring and plant for blooms the following year.

Every part of the foxglove is poisonous; flower, leaves, roots and stalk. If you have young children, avoid foxglove, or plant it in an area that is inaccessible to little ones.

Sweet William

Sweet William belongs to the carnation family. It grows in low mounds, six to eight inches in height and produces flowers of bright pink, purple, red and violet, which are most often variegated. It has a mild fragrance that resembles cloves and is an excellent choice for cut or dried flower arrangements. The flowers are edible and the taste, like the fragrance, resembles cloves. Sweet William is hearty and grows well in almost any soil that is well-drained. It prefers full sun but will also grow in partial shades in hot climates. Sweet William should be fertilized three times each season with a balanced fertilizer, such as 10-10-10. It is an excellent species to plant in butterfly gardens and is a good choice for habitat gardening. It can be propagated using seeds or stem cuttings. Seed should be started indoors two months before the last frost for best results. Stem cuttings should be taken and planted in spring or early summer, but plants will not produce flowers until the following year.

If Sweet William plants seem to be dying back after two or three years, dig them completely out of the ground, separate the roots and replant. Keep plants well watered until the plants become re-established. Sweet William does not like to be root-bound.

Salvia

Though salvia is a member of the sage family, it is a great choice for ornamental flower gardens. Plant salvia in groups of five to add beauty and color to container gardens on a deck or patio. It gives off a lovely fragrance when touched by a gentle breeze and is a perfect choice to include in a fragrant garden. The plants attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds to the garden and are considered a great plant for habitat gardens. Use in potpourri or in cut or dried flower arrangements.

Salvia is easy to grow and is disease free. These plants prefer full sun and thrive in well-drained soil of any type. Flower colors include blue, purple, red, rose, white and violet. Root divisions should be done in early spring. Harvest seeds or take cuttings before salvia blooms for best results.

Oriental Poppies

Oriental poppies are an annual that grows large, showy blooms in colors of orange, red and white. They have large ferny leaves and the seed pods propagate a great showing the following year. Bloom size varies from four to six inches across with a large, black center. The plant reaches heights of four feet. The flowers are bold on a large, graceful stem. Up to thirty blooms can appear on one plant. Oriental poppies thrive in full sun and well-drained soil. Plant Oriental poppy sees in early spring or late fall; frost is needed for germination. They do not transplant well and if extra plants are desired it is best they are planted as seed.

Oriental poppies attract bees, birds, butterflies, ladybugs and other beneficial insects. Poppy seed can be used in baking and cooking and continues to be harvested for its healing and medicinal properties.

There are hundreds of flower and plant species that will bring a rainbow of color into your garden. Plant the ones suggested in this article to have a traditional garden. These plants are easy to grow and they will add life to your garden by attracting birds, beneficial insects and other creatures of nature.