Nemesia are summer-blooming annuals and perennials grown for their abundant, brightly colored flowers. Species and Nemesia cultivars can be colored cream, orange, pink, blue, purple, yellow, and white. There are about 50 species of Nemesia and many cultivars. The flowers are showy, spurred or pouched, two-lipped, and appear either singly or in small racemes. The […] More
Matthiola–commonly called stock–is a short-lived perennial or annual with dense pastel-shaded racemes of four-petaled flowers that are clove-scented from late spring into summer. Matthiola has gray-green lance or lobe-shaped leaves. It is a good choice for beds or cottage gardens. Matthiola grows in full sun to light shade in average to rich, well-drained soil. Matthiola […] More
Reseda–commonly called mignonette–is a sprawling annual usually grown for its spicy-sweet flower fragrance. Mignonette bears small greenish flowers often tinged with copper or yellow. The dense flower spikes become loose and open as they mature. Reseda odorata is a good choice for borders where it can be planted in a mass to get the full […] More
Tithonia–commonly called Mexican sunflower–produces large, long-stemmed, mostly solitary orange or orange-red flowerheads from late summer to autumn. Deeply veined dark green leaves with serrated edges are hairy on the underside. Tithonia can withstand hot weather and is well suited for hot summer regions and desert gardens. Tithonia can be planted adding height to a mixed […] More
Nigella–commonly called love-in-a-mist–is a ferny-leaved annual that produces light blue flowers surrounded by delicate, finely-divided leaflike bracts. Each flower becomes a balloon-like green seedpod that is striped with purple or bronze. Nigella is a member of the buttercup family. Flowers appear in warm weather. In mild-winter regions, Nigella blooms in late winter and spring. The […] More
Lisianthus, botanical name Eustoma, produces broad, bell-shaped, satin-textured flowers in shades of blue, rose, pink, purple, and white. Flowers appear in summer on long stalks either singly or in clusters above oblong gray-green leaves. Flowers appear singly or in clusters; they gradually open from slender, furled buds. Flowers appear gray-green foliage in summer and are […] More
Kochia–commonly called summer cypress or burning bush–is a summer annual grown for its feathery, soft, dense foliage. It is often grown as an accent in a bed or border or as a quick-growing summer hedge. Kochia is bright green when young and through the summer; it turns red as it matures and can be bright […] More
Thymophylla–commonly called Dahlberg daisy–is a branching annual with fern-like pungent leaves. From spring to summer, it produces small upturned, star-shaped, bright yellow flowerheads. Thymophylla is a good choice for summer bedding. It is also good in containers and hanging baskets. Thymophylla is a genus of 10 to 12 species of erect to spreading, bushy, strongly […] More
Sanvitalia–commonly called creeping zinnia–is grown as half-hardy annuals for its colorful flowers that resemble miniature black-eyed Susans. Creeping zinnia both mounds and trails. Mounds are covered with ¾ inch (18mm) wide flowers. Raised purple-brown centers are surrounded by a ring of golden-yellow petals. Plant Sanvitalia where it can trail over walls or cascade from hanging […] More
Moluccella–commonly called Bells of Ireland–bears small, tubular, 2-lipped hooded flowers from summer to autumn. The flowers are borne in whorls of 6 to 8 flowers each with a pale green calyx. Bells of Ireland is an annual with broadly, ovate, deeply scalloped, pale green leaves. Grow Moluccella in a mixed or annual border. The unusual […] More
Nemophila species are spreading or prostrate annuals with saucer- or bell-shaped five-petaled flowers in shades of blue or white. Their low-growing habit makes them a good choice for edges of borders, rock gardens, and containers. Nemophila flowers are distinctively marked with spots, blotches, or stripes in purple or black. Nemophila flowers from summer into autumn—most […] More
Ageratum–commonly called floss flower–is a colorful low-growing annual that forms compact mounds of dark green leaves. The mounds are covered with fuzzy, wide white purple, or blue flowers. Ageratum blooms from early summer to the first frost in autumn. Ageratum’s soft green leaves are roundish and often hear-shaped at the base. Flowers are tassel-like and […] More
Stephen Albert