Annual Flowers
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How to Grow and Care for Bachelor’s Button — Centaurea cyanus
Centaurea cyanus–commonly called Bachelor’s button or cornflower–is a hardy annual and member of the Centaurea genus which includes dusty miller and mountain bluet. Bachelor’s-button is one of the most popular annuals with its bright blue tufted round blossoms. Centaurea cyanus is a bushy plant with grayish-green, lance-shaped leaves, and dense thistle-like flower heads. It grows […] More
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How to Grow English Daisy — Bellis perennis
English daisy — Bellis perennis—is an easy-to-grow, short-lived perennial commonly grown as a biennial or annual. It bears colorful small daisylike flowers atop rosettes of bright green leaves. English daisies are members of the Asteraceae family. Plants grow in tufts or with branching stems. The solitary daisy-like heads have yellow disks and white, pink, or […] More
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How to Grow Love-Lies-Bleeding — Amaranthus
Love-lies-bleeding, Amaranthus, is a heavy-looking plant with brilliant cascading flowers. The ropey, tassel-like flowers fall from the top of the plant. Blossoms last as long as 8 weeks. Love-lies-bleeding is easy to grow. The poorer the soil the more brilliant the foliage of amaranthus; soil too fertile will result in disappointing foliage. Amaranthus grows readily […] More
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How to Grow and Care for Dianthus — Pinks
Dianthus–commonly called garden pinks–are bushy upright plants with lance-shaped leaves and domed heads of sweet-scented flowers that bloom pink, red, burgundy, white, or bicolored in summer. Garden pinks are a mainstay of cottage garden beds. The term “pinks” is an archaic common name for the Dianthus species. There are many dianthus species. Three commonly grown […] More
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How to Grow Polyantha Primrose – Polyantha Primula
Polyanthus primrose is a tender semi-evergreen hybrid perennial that produces single blossoms or umbels of up to 20 flowers in spring. Polyanthus primroses are often called English primroses. Polyantha or English primroses are widely hybridized and cultivated. There are many cultivars and strains widely available at garden centers and nurseries. Polyantha primroses are often listed […] More
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How to Grow Geranium — Pelargonium
Pelargonium is a genus of tender perennials that includes the popular garden plant widely known as geranium. The best-known Pelargoniums go by the common names zonal geraniums, ivy-leaved geraniums, and regal or Martha Washington geraniums. Pelargoniums also include scented-leaved geraniums. Pelargoniums are often grown as annuals. They are native to South Africa and cannot tolerate […] More
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How to Grow Larkspur – Consolida
Consolida–commonly called larkspur looks very much like delphinium; they are members of the same genus. Larkspur has spurred, delphinium-like flower stalks in pink, blue, or white rising above feathery, softly downy, mid-to-dark green leaves. Larkspur is a favorite choice for cottage gardens and annual borders. Larkspur is the name commonly applied to the annual species […] More
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How to Grow Sweet Alyssum – Lobularia
Lobularia–commonly called sweet alyssum–has fragrant white blooms from late spring to early fall. Sweet alyssum is a ground-hugging perennial, grown as an annual. It has narrow mid-green leaves and is considered invasive in some areas. Lobularia maritima is a perennial but is generally grown as an annual. The plants grow 4 to 10 inches tall. […] More
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How to Grow and Care for Snapdragons -Antirrhinum
Snapdragons, Antirrhinum, are known for their colorful, upright spikes of fragrant flowers in a wide range of bright and pastel colors. Snapdragon cultivars include some that grow just a half foot tall and others that grow to 6 feet (182cm) tall. Tall and intermediate-sized Antirrhnum provide vertical color and accents in the garden. Dwarf forms […] More
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How to Grow Pot Marigolds — Calendula
Calendulas are the cool-season cousins of summer marigolds. These easy-to-grow annuals are nicknamed “pot marigolds” because they resemble marigolds and the leaves were once cooked in pots as a vegetable. Calendulas can be readily grown from seed. The large seeds are easy to handle and plant and they germinate quickly. Use calendulas in beds and […] More
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How to Grow Swan River Daisy — Brachycome
Swan River daisy, Brachycome, adds a decorative flair to pots and baskets. Swan River daisy has feathery green leaves and blue, pink, purple, or white daisy-like flowers from summer to early fall. There are 60 to 70 species in this genus but only Brachycome iberidifolia is grown in gardens. B. iberidifolia can be planted in […] More
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How to Grow Annual Blue Salvia — Salvia
Annual blue salvia, Salvia farinacea, produces spikes of small purple-blue flowers from midsummer to fall. Annual blue salvia is sometimes called mealycup sage. The plant is an upright perennial often grown as an annual. Leaves are lance-shaped. Annual blue salvia has the best effect when planted in drifts in beds and borders. More than one […] More
Stephen Albert
