If you like tulips then there are a number of other spring flowering bulbs that you will love! This list showcases flower bulbs that are super early bloomers, have stop-you-in-your-tracks fragrance, or produce unique flowers that give tulips a run for their money. Why not plant some of these bulbs this fall and create a stunning spring garden?
Tulips are wonderful plants. Frilly parrot tulips, deep-dark-almost-black purple tulips, cheery giant tulips, and many more can be found in my garden beds.
But tulips aren’t the only spring flowering bulbs I give space to in my garden. I get just as much (maybe even more) enjoyment out of these outstanding spring bloomers. And fall is the time to get them in the ground!
If you really want to make your spring a magical one, try planting some of these more unique and beautiful bulbs in your lawn…in addition to the tulips!
This post will cover…
Bulbs already sprouted? That’s quite alright. Still pop it in the ground.
Sponsored Content: I’m proudly partnering with FlowerBulbs.com to share this list of extraordinary spring flowering bulbs to plant in the fall. FlowerBulbs.com’s goal is to help spread information and love for gardening through bulbs. While I was creating this list of the bulbs I grow in my garden, I used the site as a resource for the growing information and some gorgeous photos. While this list is a compilation of my 12 favourite bulbs, corms, and tubers to plant in fall, there are many more to search through in FlowerBulbs.com’s spring database.
Bulbs, Corms, and Tubers
If you are scanning this list, you might feel compelled to shout, “Hey, that’s not a bulb!” I get it; words are important, especially when writing about plants.
Botanically, tulips grow from bulbs, but other plants that could be considered “flower bulbs” actually grow from corms (like crocuses) or tubers (like dahlias). Read more about this differentiation in this post on How to Plant Fall Bulbs.
Snowdrop (Galanthus spp.)
Snowdrops are close to my heart because they are the very first flower that shows its head in late winter, letting us know that spring is close at hand.
These delicate white and green bell-shaped flowers may seem unassuming, but in the winter, when everything else is gray and brown and dreary, their sweet stalks and blooms are like a breath of fresh air.
Snowdrop bulbs can be hard to find in the fall, but if you’re lucky enough to stumble upon some at your local garden center, buy them and get them in the ground as soon as possible because they can dry out easily.
Landscape uses: borders, rock gardens, under trees and shrubs, and in lawn
Early to bloom, snowdrops are January’s birthflower.
Snowflake (Leucojum vernum)
Snowflakes are similar to snowdrops in how early they bloom, although they have six equal-length petals and are a much rarer bulb to come by. They love moist soil and are perfect planted beside a pond or water garden. These are well-suited for the rainy winter conditions of my Vancouver garden.
USDA zone: 3-8
Type of bulb: true bulb
Flower colour: white
Flowering period: February – March
Average plant height: 8 inches
Planting depth to base of bulb: 4 inches
Spacing between bulbs: 5 inches
Light requirements: partial shade
Landscape uses: borders, rock gardens, under shrubs and trees, and as cut flowers
Photo courtesy of flowerbulbs.com. Snowflakes naturalize easily in the garden.
Dutch Hyacinth (Hyacinthus spp.)
Dutch hyacinths are not only gorgeous with their tightly clustered bell-shaped flowers in many colours options, but they also have the most heavenly perfume!
In the Victorian era, hyacinths were revered for their scent. It was common to devote an entire garden to these fragrant flowers alone. Plant in full sun or partial shade and they will bloom in early spring.
USDA zone: 4-8
Type of bulb: true bulb
Flower colour: red, pink, orange, salmon, yellow, purple, white and blue
Flowering period: March – April
Average plant height: 10 inches
Planting depth to base of bulb: 8 inches
Spacing between bulbs: 6 inches
Light requirements: full sun to partial shade
Landscape uses: beds and borders
Photo courtesy of flowerbulbs.com. In the right conditions, hyacinths can be perennial bulbs.
Grape Hyacinth (Muscari armeniacum)
Grape hyacinths are not at all related to Dutch hyacinths; they are the Muscari genus, which has about 30 different species. While they are all prolific bulbs that naturalize easily, the colours can range from white to deep blue and, of course, grape-purple.
Muscari look beautiful when planted in rivers through gardens, and they do extremely well in containers. The individual blooms may be diminutive, but grown together they are absolutely stunning. They’re part of my flower bulb lawn!
Grape hyacinths bloom longer than most other spring flowering bulbs too. They make a great cut flower, they provide an early nectar source for pollinators (except for the double ones) and they are deer and rabbit resistant.
USDA zone: 4-8
Type of bulb: true bulb
Flower colour: blue, purple or white
Flowering period: March-May, depending on the species
Average plant height: 4 – 10 inches
Planting depth to base of bulb: 5 inches
Spacing between bulbs: 8 cm
Light requirements: full sun to partial shade
Landscape uses: borders, rock gardens, and under shrubs and trees
Grape hyacinth may not be tall, but they naturalize and last a long time in the garden compared to other bulbs.
Checkered Lily (Fritillaria meleagris)
Fritillariameleagris is sometimes called Checkered Lily or Snake Lily. It looks exotic with its downward-facing, bell-shaped flowers in purple and white checkers.
It does well in the shade and thrives in moist soil. I visited a woodland garden where it naturalized easily, and the masses of checkers beneath the mossy trees were picture-perfect. Fritillaria blooms in mid-spring.
USDA zones: 3-8
Type of bulb: true bulb
Flower colour: purple or white
Flowering period: April – May
Average plant height: 10 inches
Planting depth to base of bulb: 4 inches
Spacing between bulbs: 2 inches
Light requirements: full sun to partial shade
Landscape uses: borders, rock gardens, lawns, under trees and shrubs, and perennial beds
Photo courtesy of flowerbulbs.com. These bulbs are usually sold in mixed colours.
Imperial Fritillaria (Fritillaria imperialis)
Imperial Fritillaria is every bit as weird to plant as it is to enjoy in the garden. The bulbs are large, and they do not smell good, so you will want to get them planted as soon as they arrive.
This also keeps them from getting damaged if the roots begin to sprout. They have a distinctive musky smell when blooming, which isn’t for everyone but that scent deters moles, deer, and squirrels. I personally enjoy planting them because they look like they are wearing crowns.
USDA zones: 4-8
Type of bulb: true bulb
Flower colour: yellow, orange-red and red
Flowering period: April – May
Average plant height: 40 inches
Planting depth to base of bulb: 8 inches
Spacing between bulbs: 12 inches
Light requirements: full sun to partial shade (some shade is particularly important in warmer climatic zones)
Landscape uses: perennial beds and borders
This is one of the earliest plants to be cultivated.
Oxalis (Oxalis adenophylla)
Oxalis are lovely plants for both foliage and flowers. Known as Silver Shamrocks, they have pretty clover-like leaves and pink blooms. In the right conditions they are trouble-free plants that naturalize easily, resist pests and disease, and are even deer and rabbit proof. They are happy in sun or part shade, as long as there is excellent drainage. Rock gardens and pots are perfect for oxalis.
USDA zones: 4-9
Type of bulb: tuber
Flower colour: pink
Flowering period: June – July
Average plant height: 3 inches
Planting depth to base of bulb: 4 inches
Spacing between bulbs: 4 inches
Light requirements: full sun to partial shade
Landscape uses: borders and rock gardens
Photo courtesy of flowerbulbs.com. Oxalis originally comes from Chili and Argentina.
Dutch Iris (Iris × hollandica)
Dutch Iris produces elegant, deep blue or purple flower heads atop long, slender stalks, creating a stunning display that’s not to be missed. In Greek mythology, the goddess Iris represented the link between heaven and earth, and it’s no wonder these heavenly flowers bear her name now. Plant in a sunny area in early fall. Irises attract pollinators and make beautiful cut flowers.
USDA zones: 6-9
Type of bulb: true bulb
Flowering colour: deep and light blue, purple, yellow and white
Flowering period: June – July
Average plant height: 24 inches
Planting depth to base of bulb: 6 inches
Spacing between bulbs: 10
Light requirement: full sun
Landscape uses: beds, borders, and as cut flowers
They also do well when grown in containers.
Crocus (Iridaceae spp.)
Crocuses are a member of the iris family and one of the first flowers to bloom in the spring. They are beautiful and can be planted in the garden bed or directly in the lawn for a meadowy look (they’ll start to die back by the time the lawn comes in enough to need mowing).
They are also wonderful for layering in beds or pots above other bulbs or perennials, as they provide early blooms and die back just as the later flowers begin to sprout. In addition to providing colourful early spring blooms in purple, white, and yellow, crocus is a beneficial source of pollen for our bee friends.
USDA zones: 3-9
Type of bulb: corm
Flower colour: yellow, white, purple, striped and bronze
Flowering period: February – March
Average plant height: 3 – 8 inches
Planting depth to base of bulb: 8 inches
Spacing between bulbs: 1 inch
Light requirements: full sun to partial shade
Landscape uses: borders, rock gardens, in lawns, under shrubs and trees, and for indoor forcing
Scatter crocus and plant where they fall for a naturalized look.
Ornamental Onion (Alliums spp.)
Ok, I’ll admit, I’m addicted to alliums! These powerhouses are gorgeous and unique ornamentals and tasty edibles, and some varieties have sculptural seed heads that can be dried and used as striking home décor. For more information, see this Essential Guide to Alliums.
USDA zones: 3-9
Type of bulb: true bulb
Flower colour: white, purple, pink, burgundy
Flowering period: April – June
Average plant height: 10 – 68 inches
Planting depth to base of bulb: varies, follow species instructions
Spacing between bulbs: varies, follow species instructions
Light requirements: full sun
Landscape uses: perennial gardens, borders, fresh-cut and dried
Even once done blooming, the unique seed heads provide some garden beauty.
Anemone (Anemone coronaria)
During the nineteenth century in Europe, people believed that anemone flowers would ward off bad luck, so planting these might just bring you luck and will certainly yield a ton of beauty in the garden.
Anemones are hardworking plants with flowers in striking, deep jewel tones. They produce many blooms from each tuber so they are a great cutting flower that just keeps going from spring to summer. Tip: soak the tubers for a couple of hours before planting.
USDA zones: 7-10
Type of bulb: tuber
Flower colour: blue, red, white, pink
Flowering period: May-August
Average plant height: 12 – 16 inches
Planting depth to base of bulbs: 2 inches
Spacing between bulbs: 4 inches
Light requirements: sun or light shade in a sheltered spot (afternoon sun)
Landscape uses: border, beds, pots
Photo courtesy of flowerbulbs.com. Anemones are also sometimes called windflowers.
Daffodil (Narcissus spp.)
The sunny yellow trumpets of daffodils are a symbol of spring season change and look striking when planted en masse.
Before you pass by this beauty as too common, it’s worth having a look at some of the gorgeous varieties that show why the Narcissus species was aptly named after the Greek god known for his beauty. Check out the ruffled blooms of double daffodils as well as unique colours like “Westward,” “Pink Wonder,” “Tahiti,” and “Sorbet.” See my full daffodil guide here.
USDA zones: 3-8
Type of bulb: true bulb
Flower colour: white, yellow, orange, red and pink
Flowering period: February – May
Planting depth to base of bulb: large bulbs: 8 inches; small bulbs: 5 inches
Spacing between bulbs: 3 inches for large bulbs; 1 inch for small bulbs
Light requirements: full sun to full shade
Landscape uses: Daffodils are suitable for almost every possible application: fields, beds, containers, borders, rock gardens, as cut flowers, and for forcing.
Daffodils come in many hues and combinations of yellow, cream, and orange.
Spring Flowering Bulb FAQ
Can I plant bulbs that have sprouted already?
Bulbs that have already sprouted can still be planted. They’ve likely been left out a little longer and are reacting to the warm conditions. They will pop up just fine in the spring. Plant as indicated, roughly three times the size of the bulb deep.
When should I plant spring flowering bulbs?
Spring flowering bulbs should be planted in the fall, beginning in mid-September to mid-December, depending on where you live. You want to ensure they’re in the ground before it freezes. Typically once you buy them, you should plant them shortly after.
Should I water the bulbs after I plant them?
You should immediately water spring flowering bulbs after planting them. This will encourage the plant to grow roots and get them established before the cold temperatures arrive. Bulbs planted in pots should also be watered afterward, and continued to be watered until the soil dries out in the pots quickly.
Welcome to an exploration of flowers that start with the letter “C”. This list covers a fabulous range of blooms, from the classic Carnation to the striking Calla Lily.
List of flowers that start with C
A list of flowers that begin with C is fantastic inspiration for baby names, plant studies, and floral designs – and of course you can simply enjoy the gorgeous flower images too!
Each of the 55 flowers beginning with C on this list has an image, common names, key facts, and associated symbolism. If you’d like more flower symbolism you can also check out our birth month flowers guide.
Join us as we explore the diverse and captivating world of flower names starting with C, and find inspiration for your next floral project.
Cactus
Flowering cacti are known for their striking flowers that can come in a wide range of colours, including red, yellow, pink, white, and orange. Native to the Americas, particularly arid regions like the southwestern United States, Mexico, and parts of South America, cacti have adapted to harsh desert environments.
Cactus plants are often symbols of endurance, strength, and resilience due to their ability to thrive in difficult conditions. In some cultures, their flowers also represent warmth and protection, with the rare bloom being a sign of beauty emerging from adversity.
Calendula Officinalis
Calendula officinalis, known as pot marigold or English marigold, is a bright, cheerful plant with flowers ranging in shades of yellow, orange, and gold. Native to southern Europe and the Mediterranean region, calendula has long been cultivated for its medicinal and ornamental uses.
Calendula is often associated with healing, protection, and renewal, and its flowers are used in traditional herbal remedies for their anti-inflammatory properties. Symbolically, calendula represents warmth and gratitude, and in some cultures, it’s linked to the sun and vitality due to its radiant blooms.
Calibrachoa
Calibrachoa, or million bells, is a small flowering plant that produces an abundance of bell-shaped blooms in shades of purple, pink, red, yellow, blue, and white. Native to South America, Calibrachoa is a popular choice for hanging baskets and containers due to its trailing habit and long-lasting flowers.
Calibrachoa is associated with joy and abundance, as its prolific blooms create a sense of overflowing beauty and vitality. It’s also a symbol of celebration and cheerfulness.
California Poppy
The California poppy (Eschscholzia californica), also known as the golden poppy or cup of gold, is a beautiful wildflower with delicate, cup-shaped blooms in shades of orange, yellow, and occasionally red or cream. Native to the western United States, it thrives in dry, sunny environments.
The California poppy is the state flower of California and is often associated with themes of peace, rest, and remembrance. Its bright, cheerful blossoms also symbolise resilience and prosperity, representing the beauty of nature flourishing even in tough conditions.
Calla Lily
The Calla lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica), or arum lily, is a graceful plant with trumpet-shaped flowers in white, pink, yellow, purple, and orange. Native to southern Africa, calla lilies are often grown in gardens and used in floral arrangements.
The Calla lily is associated with purity, beauty, and faithfulness, especially in its white form, which is commonly used in weddings and funerals. It can also represent rebirth and resurrection, making it a popular choice for religious and ceremonial events.
Camellia
The camellia (Camellia japonica), also known as rose of winter, is a striking evergreen shrub known for its large, glossy leaves and beautiful flowers, which are available in shades of white, pink, red, and occasionally yellow. Native to East Asia, particularly Japan, China, and Korea, camellias are highly valued for their ornamental beauty.
Camellias are associated with love, admiration, and perfection, with different colours conveying different meanings. White is for purity, pink for longing, and red for deep love. In Japan, camellias are known as “Tsubaki” and are often used in traditional tea ceremonies, representing grace and refinement.
Campanula latifolia
Campanula latifolia, or giant bellflower, is a striking plant with tall spikes of bell-shaped flowers that are typically violet-blue, though they can also appear in white or pale lavender. Native to Europe and parts of Western Asia, this hardy perennial thrives in woodlands and meadows.
Bellflowers like Campanula are associated with gratitude, humility, and constancy. Their blooms are often seen as symbols of communication or messages from the divine, and they are sometimes used in floral arrangements to represent hope and enduring love.
Canaigre Dock
Canaigre dock (Rumex hymenosepalus), also known as wild rhubarb or desert rhubarb, is a perennial herb with small, greenish-yellow to reddish flowers that grow in clusters. Native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, it thrives in arid desert regions. The plant is traditionally valued for its tannin-rich roots, which were used by Native Americans for dyeing leather and textiles.
Symbolically, Canaigre dock represents resilience and adaptability, as it flourishes in harsh environments. It also carries connotations of resourcefulness, owing to its historical significance in both food and material use in indigenous cultures.
Candytuft
Candytuft (Iberis sempervirens) is a charming evergreen plant known for its clusters of small, delicate flowers, typically white, though pink and purple varieties also exist. Native to southern Europe and the Mediterranean region, it’s often used in rock gardens or as ground cover. Candytuft blooms in spring, creating a carpet of bright, cheerful flowers.
Candytuft represents sweetness and innocence, with its pure white blossoms evoking feelings of peace and serenity. It is also associated with purity and is sometimes used to symbolise new beginnings.
Canna Lily
Canna lily (Canna indica), often simply referred to as canna, is a striking plant known for its vibrant, tropical flowers that come in shades of red, orange, yellow, and pink. Native to the tropical regions of the Americas, canna lilies thrive in warm climates and are popular in garden landscapes for their bold, eye-catching blooms and lush foliage.
Canna lilies represent strength, beauty, and passion. These flamboyant flowers that start with C are often associated with the energy and vitality of the sun, embodying enthusiasm and the celebration of life.
Canterbury Bells
Canterbury bells (Campanula medium), also named bellflower or Campanula, features large, bell-shaped flowers that bloom in blue, purple, pink, and white. Native to southern Europe, this biennial plant is cherished for its tall, elegant spikes of flowers that add a touch of charm to gardens.
Canterbury bells represent gratitude, humility, and constancy. Their bell-like blooms are often associated with the concept of communication and messages, reflecting the plant’s role in folklore and tradition as a symbol of clear and honest expression.
Cape Primrose
Cape primrose (Streptocarpus) is a stunning flowering plant. Also known as Streptocarpus or African violet, it offers a range of flower colours including purple, blue, pink, and white. Native to South Africa, this plant is celebrated for its delicate, trumpet-shaped blooms and attractive, often fuzzy foliage.
Symbolically, Cape primroses represents perseverance and the ability to thrive in challenging conditions, reflecting its adaptability and resilience in both its native habitat and as a beloved houseplant. These cheerful flowers that start with C also symbolise beauty and grace.
Cardinal
Cardinal flowers (Lobelia cardinalis) are known for their vivid red blooms that resemble the robes of a cardinal, hence their name. Native to North America, these perennial flowering plants are cherished for their bold colour and ability to attract hummingbirds.
Cardinal flowers represent passion and the vitality of life. Their vibrant red petals also embody courage and strength, often serving as a symbol of resilience and the enduring power of nature in the face of adversity.
Carex
Carex (common name sedge) is a diverse genus of grass-like plants that produces inconspicuous flowers, typically in shades of green, brown, or yellow. Native to a number of regions across the globe, including wetlands, meadows, and woodlands, Carex species are valued for their ecological importance in stabilising soil and supporting wildlife.
Sedge plants represent adaptability and resilience due to their ability to thrive in varied and sometimes challenging environments. Their subtle, understated flowers and grass-like foliage also evoke a sense of calm and stability.
Carnation
Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus) is a popular flowering plant known for its ruffled, fragrant blooms in shades of pink, red, white, yellow, and purple. Often referred to as pinks due to the fringed edges of its petals, carnations are native to the Mediterranean region.
Carnations are associated with a number of meanings depending on their colour. Pink carnations represent a mother’s love, red carnations symbolise deep love and admiration, while white carnations convey purity, love, and remembrance. Their versatile beauty and rich symbolism make them a timeless choice for both joyous and solemn occasions.
Carthamus
Carthamus (safflower or false saffron) has spiky flowers that can be red, orange, yellow, or even purple. Native to regions of Africa and the Middle East, this plant can be cultivated for its seeds, which are used in cooking and traditional medicine, as well as for its colourful blooms.
Carthamus flowers represent resilience and transformation. The vivid hues of safflower blossoms also symbolise beauty and vitality, making them a striking addition to gardens and floral arrangements.
Caspia
Caspia, or sea lavender, has delicate clusters of tiny, star-shaped flowers in shades of purple, pink, or white. Native to coastal regions of Europe and the Mediterranean, as well as parts of the Middle East, Caspia is valued for its ornamental qualities and its ability to thrive in salty, sandy soils.
Sea lavender represents enduring love and timeless beauty, reflecting its resilience in challenging environments. Its ethereal, airy blossoms evoke a sense of calm and tranquility.
Castor Bean
Castor bean (Ricinus communis) is a striking plant known for its unique, spiky flowers that are typically greenish-yellow or reddish and often clustered together. Commonly referred to as castor oil plant, it is native to the tropical regions of Africa and the Mediterranean, though it is now widely cultivated in warm climates around the world.
Symbolically, these flowers that start with C can represent protection and resilience due to the plant’s robust nature and its historical use in traditional medicine and as a source of castor oil. However, it is important to note that the plant is also highly toxic if ingested, adding a layer of caution to its symbolism of strength and vitality.
Catmint (Nepeta cataria)
Catmint, often known as catnip, is a hardy perennial valued for its aromatic, green foliage and charming spikes of tubular flowers that can range in colour from pale blue to lavender and white. Native to Europe and Asia, catmint thrives in a variety of garden settings and is particularly noted for attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies.
Catmint represents relaxation and tranquility, partly due to its calming effect on cats and its historical use in herbal medicine for its soothing properties. Its delicate, fragrant blooms and pleasant scent evoke a sense of peace and well-being, making it a delightful addition to any garden.
Celandine
Celandine (Chelidonium majus), also called greater celandine or swallowwort, features bright yellow flowers that bloom in clusters and are complemented by its deeply lobed, green leaves. Native to Europe and parts of Asia, celandine is often found in woodlands and shaded areas.
Celandine is associated with healing and renewal, reflecting its historical use in traditional medicine for treating various ailments. Its cheerful yellow flowers also represent optimism and new beginnings.
Celosia
Celosia is a flowering plant known for its striking, flame-like blooms in a range of colours, including red, orange, pink, yellow, and purple. Commonly referred to as cockscomb, it is native to tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
Celosia’s dramatic, feathery flowers are often used in both fresh and dried floral arrangements, symbolising boldness and resilience. Their vivid, fiery appearance evokes feelings of warmth and enthusiasm, and can add a burst of colour and energy to gardens and floral displays.
Centaurea cyanus
Centaurea cyanus, also known as cornflower or bachelor’s button, is renowned for its vivid blue blooms, though it can also appear in shades of pink, white, and purple. Native to Europe and parts of Asia, this annual wildflower traditionally grows in cereal fields and meadows.
The cornflower represents hope and endurance, and it is often associated with the idea of the unfulfilled lover, given its historical use in romantic folklore. Its bright, captivating flowers are also seen as a symbol of joy and simplicity.
Chamomile
Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) features small, daisy-like flowers with white petals and a central yellow disc. Native to Europe and western Asia, this herbaceous plant is widely cultivated for its soothing properties. Chamomile is renowned for its use in herbal tea, which is valued for its calming effects and digestive benefits.
Chamomile represents tranquility, relaxation, and peace. Its cheerful blooms also embody simplicity and healing, making it a beloved plant in both gardens and wellness practices.
China Aster (Callistephus chinensis)
China aster is a striking flowering plant known for its large, daisy-like blooms in a wide array of colours, including pink, purple, blue, red, and white. Commonly referred to as annual aster, it is native to China and has been widely cultivated around the world for its showy, long-lasting flowers.
China asters represent elegance and patience, as their intricate petals and enduring blooms evoke a sense of grace and persistence. They are often used in floral arrangements to convey admiration and to celebrate the beauty of nature’s diversity.
Chinese Lantern
Chinese lantern (Physalis alkekengi), also called winter cherry or bladder cherry, is notable for its unique, lantern-shaped calyx that enclose small, edible fruit. Native to Asia and southeastern Europe, this plant is often grown for its ornamental appeal, particularly in dried floral arrangements.
Chinese lantern plants represent prosperity and protection. Its paper-like husks also signify the transition from one season to another, making it a symbol of change and endurance.
Chives
Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) are a versatile herb known for their slender, green leaves and spherical clusters of small, delicate purple or pink flowers. They are native to regions of Europe and Asia. Chives are widely used in culinary dishes for their mild onion flavor and are also valued for their health benefits.
Symbolically, chives represent protection and vitality, reflecting their traditional use in folklore to ward off negative influences and promote well-being. Their charming flowers also embody renewal and the simple joys of nature.
Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemum is a popular flowering plant celebrated for its diverse blooms, which come in a broad range of colours including white, yellow, pink, red, and purple. Often referred to as mums or chrysanths, they are native to Asia and northeastern Europe.
Chrysanthemums represent longevity, fidelity, and happiness. In many cultures, especially in Japan and China, they are associated with celebration. The flower’s bold colours and intricate forms also convey a sense of joy and renewal.
Cineraria
Cineraria (Pericallis x hybrida) is admired for its bright, daisy-like flowers that are available in blue, purple, pink, red, and white. Native to the Canary Islands, this plant is commonly grown as an ornamental in cooler climates.
Cineraria represents enduring love and friendship. The plant’s cheerful colours and long-lasting flowers also convey a sense of joy and appreciation, making it a favourite for gift-giving and decorative arrangements.
Cinquefoil
Cinquefoil (Potentilla) is a charming plant known for its five-petaled flowers, which can be found in yellow, white, red, and pink. Commonly referred to as five-fingered grass or five-finger, it is native to various regions including Europe, Asia, and North America.
Cinquefoil represents resilience and enduring love. Its delicate flowers also signify grace and the beauty of simplicity.
Clarkia
Clarkia, also called farewell-to-spring or godetia, is admired for its cup-shaped blossoms that can be pink, purple, red, white, or even bi-colour. Native to western North America, Clarkia is often grown as an annual or biennial in gardens for its attractive, long-lasting blooms.
Clarkia represents beauty and fleeting moments, reflecting its role as a spring and early summer flower that brings a burst of colour and charm before the hotter months. Its delicate petals and diverse hues also evoke a sense of joy and renewal.
Clary Sage
Clary sage (Salvia sclarea), often simply called clary, is a distinctive herb known for its tall spikes of pale purple, pink, or white flowers and its aromatic, sage-like leaves. Native to the Mediterranean region, clary sage has been cultivated for centuries for its medicinal purposes and aromatic properties.
Clary sage represents clarity and insight, reflecting its historical use in herbal medicine for enhancing mental clarity and relieving stress. The plant’s elegant flowers and soothing fragrance also symbolise peace and tranquility.
Clematis
Clematis is a versatile climbing plant known for its stunning, large flowers that come in a wide array of colours. It is native to various regions around the world, including Europe, Asia, and North America. Clematis is prized for its ability to cover trellises and arbors with lush, colourful blooms.
Clematis represents beauty, ingenuity, and exploration, reflecting its association with growth and reaching new heights.
Clianthus
Clianthus, also known as kaka beak or parrot’s beak, is renowned for its striking, red or orange, beak-shaped flowers that resemble the curved bill of a parrot. Native to New Zealand, this unique plant is admired for its vivid, unusual blooms and its ability to attract native birds.
Symbolically, Clianthus represents vibrancy and uniqueness, reflecting its rare and eye-catching appearance. The plant’s bold flowers are also associated with exotic beauty and the wild, untamed aspects of nature.
Clover
Clover (Trifolium) is known for its distinct, three-lobed leaves and clusters of small, rounded flowers that can be white, pink, red, or purple. Commonly referred to as trefoil or shamrock (especially in the case of Trifolium repens, the white clover), it is native to Europe, Asia, and North America.
Clover is often associated with good luck and prosperity, particularly the four-leaf variety, which is believed to bring fortune and protection. The plant’s widespread use as a cover crop and its role in supporting pollinators further highlight its significance in agriculture and natural ecosystems, symbolizing abundance and harmony with nature.
Cockscomb
Cockscomb (Celosia argentea), also called celosia or woolflower, is celebrated for its distinctive, flame-like clusters of blooms.
Cockscomb represents boldness and confidence, reflecting its striking and unique floral structure. Its eye-catching flowers also convey a sense of energy and exuberance, making it a favourite choice for adding a burst of colour and liveliness to the garden.
Coltsfoot
Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara) is a distinctive perennial plant known for its bright yellow, dandelion-like flowers that appear before its large, heart-shaped leaves. Commonly referred to as tussilago or horsetail (due to the shape of its leaves), it is native to Europe and Asia and has also become widespread in North America.
Coltsfoot represents healing and resilience, reflecting its historical use in traditional medicine for respiratory ailments and coughs. The plant’s early-blooming flowers and robust growth in challenging conditions embody themes of renewal and strength, making it a symbol of perseverance and recovery.
Columbine
Columbine (Aquilegia) is a graceful perennial known for its distinctive, spurred flowers in shades of blue, red, pink, white, and purple. Commonly referred to as granny’s bonnet or eagle’s claw, it is native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, including North America, Europe, and Asia.
Columbine represents grace and the beauty of nature. The plant is also associated with love and fidelity, often appearing in gardens as a symbol of enduring affection and the gentle, transformative power of nature.
Comfrey
Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) is a robust herb known for its clusters of bell-shaped flowers, which typically range in colour from blue to purple, though white and pink varieties also exist. Also referred to as knitbone, it is native to Europe and parts of Asia and has been widely cultivated for its medicinal properties and use as a garden mulch.
Symbolically, comfrey represents healing and restoration, reflecting its historical use in traditional medicine for treating wounds, bruises, and joint pain. Its resilience and ability to thrive in diverse conditions also symbolise endurance and the restorative power of nature.
Coneflower
Coneflower (Echinacea) is a popular garden plant known for its large, daisy-like flowers with prominent, spiky centres and petals that typically range in colour from pink and purple to white and orange. Echinacea is native to North America, where it thrives in prairies and open woodlands.
Coneflowers represent strength and resilience, reflecting their historical use in herbal medicine for boosting the immune system and treating various ailments.
Convallaria
Convallaria (Convallaria majalis), or lily of the valley, is a delicate perennial famous for its small, fragrant, bell-shaped white flowers that hang in clusters from arching stems. Native to Europe and parts of Asia, it thrives in shaded woodlands and moist, well-drained soil.
Lily of the valley represents purity, humility, and the return of happiness, with its sweet fragrance and graceful blooms evoking a sense of innocence and renewal. The plant is often used in bouquets and floral arrangements to convey a message of affection and joy, making it a popular choice for weddings and other celebratory occasions.
Coral Bells
Coral bells (Heuchera), also known as alum root, is a perennial plants that is usually admired for its striking foliage, but it also produces delicate, flowers that can range in colour from coral and pink to red and white. Native to North America, coral bells are valued for their ornamental appeal and adaptability to various garden conditions.
Coral bells represent charm and elegance. The plant’s ability to add colour and texture to garden beds and containers also signifies beauty and resilience, making it a favourite choice for both decorative and functional landscaping.
Coreopsis
Coreopsis, commonly known as tickseed, is celebrated for its cheerful, daisy-like flowers that come in a number of colours including yellow, orange, red, and pink. Native to North America, coreopsis is widely appreciated for its long-lasting blooms and ability to attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies.
Coreopsis represents joy and endurance. These flowers that start with C also embody positivity and the beauty of summer.
Cosmos
Cosmos is known for its daisy-like blooms in shades of pink, red, white, and orange. Commonly referred to as Mexican aster, it is native to Mexico and has become a beloved addition to gardens worldwide.
Cosmos represent harmony and peace, reflecting their delicate, airy flowers that evoke a sense of tranquility and balance. Their easy-to-grow nature and long-lasting blooms also symbolise joy and optimism.
Cotoneaster
Cotoneaster is a versatile shrub known for its small, star-shaped flowers that typically appear in shades of white or pink, followed by red or orange berries in the fall. It is native to regions of Europe, Asia, and the Himalayas.
Symbolically, cotoneaster represents resilience and abundance, reflecting its ability to thrive in various conditions and its prolific fruiting. The plant’s attractive foliage and bright berries also symbolise prosperity and the changing seasons.
Cowberry
Cowberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea), or lingonberry, is a hardy evergreen shrub renowned for its small, bell-shaped white or pink flowers that give way to bright red, tart berries. Native to the boreal forests and Arctic regions of Europe, Asia, and North America, cowberry is valued for its nutritious fruit and its role in traditional dishes and preserves.
Cowberry represents resilience and endurance, reflecting its ability to thrive in harsh climates and its importance in sustaining both people and wildlife. The plant’s bright berries and evergreen foliage also signify prosperity and the enduring cycles of nature.
Cranesbill Geranium
Cranesbill geranium, often simply known as cranesbill, is a charming perennial valued for its delicate, five-petaled flowers that can be found in shades of pink, blue, purple, and white. Native to regions of Europe, Asia, and North America, cranesbill geraniums are appreciated for their versatility and long-lasting blooms.
Cranesbill represents steadfastness and resilience. The graceful flowers and attractive foliage also convey a sense of tranquility and endurance.
Creeping Jenny
Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia) is a popular ground cover plant known for its trailing stems and bright, cup-shaped yellow flowers that bloom in late spring to early summer. Also referred to as moneywort, it is native to Europe and western Asia.
Creeping jenny represents abundance and prosperity, reflecting its name “moneywort,”. The plant’s lush, green foliage that turns golden-yellow in autumn also signifies renewal and the cycles of life.
Creeping Lettuce
Creeping lettuce (Lactuca serriola), also known as wild lettuce or prickly lettuce, is an intriguing plant recognised for its rosette of toothed, spiny leaves and tall, slender stems topped with clusters of small, yellow flowers. Native to the Mediterranean region and parts of Asia, creeping lettuce has spread widely as a hardy weed in many areas.
Creeping lettuce represents adaptability and resilience, reflecting its ability to thrive in a variety of conditions. The plant’s distinctive, prickly foliage and delicate yellow blooms also embody a sense of natural persistence and the beauty of wild, untamed growth.
Crocosmia
Crocosmia, often known as montbretia or falling stars, has lance-shaped foliage and vivid, tubular flowers that typically bloom in shades of red, orange, and yellow. Native to South Africa, crocosmia can add a burst of colour to gardens and floral arrangements, especially in late summer and early autumn.
Crocosmia represents transformation and vitality, reflecting its dynamic appearance and ability to brighten garden landscapes. Its fiery hues and graceful flower spikes also convey a sense of passion and energy.
Crocus
Crocus is an early spring flower known for its delicate, cup-shaped flowers that come in a spectrum of colours, including purple, yellow, white, and striped varieties. This plant grows from bulbs and is native to Europe, the Mediterranean region, and parts of Asia.
Crocuses represent renewal and hope, as they are among the first flowers to emerge after winter, signalling the arrival of spring. Their early appearance embodies themes of rebirth and new beginnings, making them a cherished symbol of the changing seasons and the promise of warmer days ahead.
Crown Imperial
Crown imperial (Fritillaria imperialis) is a striking perennial known for its regal, crown-like clusters of large, bell-shaped flowers in shades of orange, red, and yellow. Commonly referred to as imperial fritillary or Kaiser’s crown, it is native to parts of the Middle East, including Iran and Turkey.
Crown imperial represents dignity and grandeur, reflecting its majestic appearance and towering presence in the garden. The plant is also associated with royalty and celebration.
Cuckoo Flower
Cuckoo flower (Cardamine pratensis), also called lady’s smock or milkmaid, is a charming perennial with delicate, four-petaled flowers that typically range in colour from pale pink to white. Native to Europe and parts of Asia, cuckoo flower thrives in meadows, damp grasslands, and along riverbanks.
Cuckoo flowers represent new beginnings and the arrival of spring, as its blooms often appear around the same time as the first cuckoo birds return. The plant’s soft, elegant flowers and its association with the changing seasons also evoke a sense of renewal and the gentle beauty of nature’s cycles.
Cyclamen
Cyclamen is a captivating perennial known for its distinctive, heart-shaped leaves and elegantly curved flowers in pink, white, red, and purple. Commonly referred to as sowbread, it is native to the Mediterranean region, including parts of Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.
Symbolically, cyclamen represents love and resignation, reflecting its delicate, fleeting blooms.
Cymbidium
Cymbidium (Boat orchid) is an elegant orchid renowned for its large, showy flowers that come in a variety of colours including white, yellow, pink, green, and red. Commonly called cymbidium orchids, they are native to the cooler regions of Asia, including China, India, and Southeast Asia.
Symbolically, cymbidiums represent luxury and strength, reflecting their sophisticated appearance and enduring beauty. The flowers also convey messages of love and refined elegance.
From the timeless Camellia to the popular Chrysanthemum, each bloom on our list of fabulous flowers starting with C adds its own unique touch of charm and colour. Are any of these flowers that start with C making it onto your garden wish list?
Frances Palmer is an art historian who, over the past few decades, has come to make enduring art herself: handmade ceramics that straddle the line between delicate and functional, refined and rustic. Her instant classics are coveted and collected by those in the know (including tastemakers like Martha Stewart and the late Nora Ephron), and they’ve been shown and sold internationally at galleries and exhibitions. But if you take a look at her Instagram page, you’ll find that she has another obsession that may just rival her love for the potter’s wheel: flowers. When she’s not crafting vases, plates, and bowls in her studio (next to her 1860 federal-style house in Weston, Connecticut), she’s likely puttering around her tennis court-turned-flower garden. In fact, her second book, out May 2025, is “dedicated to the subject of flowers in my work,” she tells us.
Below, Frances shares the natural bug spray recipe she uses on her roses and citrus plants, the garden books she treasures, and more. (And if you’re in London, be sure to check out her latest exhibition, Pedestal Considerations, at the Garden Museum from October 8 through December 20).
Sitting in a dogwood tree at the edge of our yard where I grew up in Morristown, New Jersey. My neighbor grew many roses, but I wasn’t allowed into her garden to see them, so I would sit in the tree and gaze at them from above. I always felt like Rapunzel yearning to get in and smell the buds. In our garden, my mother grew peonies, tomatoes and zinnias, very practical but not as alluring as the forbidden roses.
Above: Voluptuous blooms in what she calls “The Round Garden” on her property.
Exuberant. Functional. Somewhat chaotic.
Plant that makes you swoon:
So many—fritillaria, tulips, bearded iris, roses, peonies, dahlias.
Plant that makes you want to run the other way:
I can’t think of one. All flowers have something redeeming about them and one must be open to learning what that is. Maybe more commercially produced flowers don’t have as much soul as home- or farm-grown ones?
Favorite go-to plant:
Above: Dahlias from Frances’ garden, in bud vases from her kiln.
I love bearded iris, roses, tulips, rudbeckias, amaranth, zinnias and dahlias.
Gardening or design trend that needs to go:
I think that people are finally learning to garden without pesticides and how to strive for healthy soil.
Old wives’ tale gardening trick that actually works:
My friend Connie taught me a natural spray for roses and citrus: juice of 2 lemons, 2 tablespoons of potassium, 2 tablespoons of cayenne or cinnamon, 1 liter of water—and spray over the leaves. Good for fungus and bugs.
Every gardening year is different and things can be out of your control. It is most important to be kind to yourself and the flowers and try again the next season.
Favorite gardening hack:
I love to fill in bare spots in the garden with coleus. They spread out quickly and add lots of late season color.
We’ve been following Midwesterner by birth, Californian in spirit Louesa Roebuck for more than a decade, describing her as a “fearless forager” in one story, “renegade florist” in another, and “rebel against convention” in a third. During that time, the floral iconoclast relocated from the Bay Area to Ojai, CA, and wrote two books—Foraged Flora and Punk Ikebana—that make the case for floral designs that are more art than arrangement, and more feral than formal. She is currently at work on a third book.
If you’re not familiar with Louesa, this is great place to get acquainted with her eccentric perspective and strong opinions (of which, she concedes, many are unpopular).
Photography by Ian Hughes for Punk Ikebana, courtesy of Louesa Roebuck, unless otherwise noted.
Above: Before she became a floral designer, Louesa worked in the food world (Chez Panisse) and fashion industry (with Erica Tanov), both of which fed her love for California living. Photograph by Sean Jerd.
Your first garden memory:
My most vivid childhood garden memories are of a Victorian gothic yet sweet, very small garden plot behind my ancestral home in Medina, Ohio. My mother’s people built the Victorian house in 1856 or 18765, depending on who’s telling the tale. White wood with dark, almost black, green shutters and trim. There was a generous gray-floored porch that wrapped around three sides, meant for living and even sleeping in muggy Ohio summers. My grandmother ( my momma’s momma); my great grandmother, Lena; and my mother, Maggie, all spent time together in the very old-fashioned English garden behind the house. My family was old-school: NO color in front of house—that was considered very tacky and low-brow. Color and culinary were reserved for the lesser-seen, more hidden bites of the “yard.” Every year, my momma’s momma battled the birds eating her blueberries. Even as a child, it felt too combative and high maintenance to me—I was rooting for those birds to snatch the berries and escape the evil netting.
She grew Monarda, a fabulous pollinator botanical, black-eyed Susans, herbs for the kitchen, and more. The memories have a fairytale quality, complete with dappled summer sunlight, dragonflies, clover in the grass. I would often get lost in the realms of clover. And then, being my gothic family, there was a lot of shadow.
Garden-related book you return to time and again:
Above: Hieronymous Bosch, published by Taschen, collects all of the 15th century painter’s fantastical works into one volume; $200.
Humans behind critters. Or…semi feral verdant. Or…human hands secondary. Or…chill on pruning. Or…herbs herbs herbs.
Plant that makes you swoon:
Above: Heirloom roses from friend Cindy Daniels’ garden and Queen Anne’s lace in a kenzan sitting in vintage ceramic ikebana trays.
It changes with every micro season and with every place. Scented geraniums, jasmine, magnolias, heirloom roses, any herb gone to seed, passion vine and fruit, persimmon (especially in late autumn on the branch), Datura, Solandra, Cobaea, nasturtiums, stone fruit blossoms, wild trillium, Usnea lichen, Queen Anne’s lace, begonia, wisteria, fennel, fennel, fennel!
Plant that makes you want to run the other way:
Anything from the flower mart, covered in poisons, transported, grown under monoculture agribusiness conditions, wrapped in plastic, cut the same length, uniform, painful, and full of toxins. Tropicals flown in and waxed really get me grossed out and worked up.
BISMARCK, N.D. — On a remote tallgrass prairie in North Dakota, a secretive orchid pokes up from the ground. You’ll only find it if you know where to look.
The striking, bright white blooms of the western prairie fringed orchid are elusive to fans who try to catch a glimpse — and as a threatened species protected by the federal Endangered Species Act, it is also a puzzle for researchers trying to learn more about the orchid’s reproduction and role in its ecosystem.
Loss of its native prairie habitat has threatened the orchid. About 60% of native orchids in the U.S. and Canada are rapidly disappearing due to climate change, habitat loss and pollinator declines, said Julianne McGuinness, program development coordinator for the North American Orchid Conservation Center. Those showy, flowering plants beloved for their beauty can be an early indicator of decline occurring unnoticed in its environment.
“They’re sort of like the canary in the coal mine for the rest of our ecosystems,” McGuinness said.
Graduate students from North Dakota State University in Fargo are hoping to learn more about the pollinators and reproduction of the western prairie fringed orchid. Their work includes logging the GPS coordinates of orchids at 20 various sites in Minnesota, North Dakota and Manitoba, Canada, swabbing orchids for tiny amounts of genetic material from insects, and attracting pollinating insects at night with blacklights and sheets.
Years ago, Steve Travers, an associate professor at the university’s Department of Biological Sciences, was fascinated to learn about the orchid — “these big, beautiful, 2-foot tall, ginormous, gorgeous things that were pollinated at night.”
“I have a hell of a hard time finding it sometimes,” he said. “And when people see it the first time, there’s like almost this rapid intake of breath. I mean, it’s so big and it’s just spectacular.”
The orchid is a unique insight into its nearly vanished ecosystem — the tallgrass prairie — as well as for understanding connectedness with pollinators and other plants, and is a good model system for studying rarity, Travers said.
The orchid’s only known pollinators are hawkmoths, big moths that are just the right fit and size to reach the orchid’s nectar, in a long spur, while also pollinating the plant.
The western prairie fringed orchid is mostly found in reserves, such as the Sheyenne National Grassland in North Dakota and the Manitoba Tall Grass Prairie Preserve. The peak of the orchid’s bloom was roughly mid-July.
Populations can be as small as one plant or as large as 500 to 1,000, Travers said. Once located, the researchers log the individual orchids’ GPS coordinates to within 10 centimeters (4 inches) accuracy so they can return later. Finding the orchid when it isn’t flowering is like looking for a brown stick in a big, green field, Travers said.
Graduate student Josie Pickar’s work is focused on what affects the orchid’s reproductive success, including soil nutrients and pollinator service. She’s been traveling to about 20 sites, looking at subsets of orchids, to gather soil samples and moisture content, count flowers, and record plant heights and conditions, as well as monitoring the orchids via trail cameras for what might be eating them. In September, she’ll go back and count the orchids’ seed capsules, which are extremely hard to find.
To find the orchids, the researchers used rough coordinates from land-management agencies. They’ve dealt with ticks galore, crossed a beaver dam while wearing waders and seen bear tracks in the process.
“It’s been pretty wild,” Pickar said.
She’s put in days of more than 12 hours, visiting about two orchid sites per day that could be up to three hours away — her team donning gear such as long pants, long-sleeve shirts, hats and sometimes mosquito-thwarting head nets. She called the orchid “almost alienlike when you see it out on the prairie.”
Graduate student Trinity Atkins, who was out from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m., is looking at the orchid’s pollination networks: the pollinators that visit the orchid and what other plants they visit, too.
She swabs the orchids at all her sites, collects moths to see where they are going and uses a molecular technique called eDNA metabarcoding to see which pollinators visited the orchid, she said. Environmental DNA is genetic material left behind from, for instance, a butterfly visiting a flower. Some studies indicate daytime pollinators might be at work, she said.
Studying the orchid’s pollinators requires work at all hours of the day.
In the morning, Atkins would swab orchids for eDNA before it degrades. In the afternoon, she would survey for other nearby plants that could be attracting pollinators. And at night, she would be blacklighting at prairie sites, collecting moths and taking measurements.
Travers said the research is important in terms of biodiversity, of which rare species are an integral component for their contributions to their ecosystem.
While orchids are found all over the world, the western prairie fringed orchid is specifically adapted to the tallgrass prairie, he said.
“I kind of find that really interesting that you get all this variety in the genus and then, boom, it comes here and it turns into this huge, nocturnally pollinated thing, and I’d love to know why. Why did that happen? But that’s a whole other question,” Travers said.
While I try to live in the moment as much as possible, it’s harder to be mindful when it c0mes to garden design. After all, planning ahead for the next season is often the key to a beautiful four-season garden. As summer chugs along, I’m already thinking about what flowers will be blooming in the months ahead and what will be supportive to our pollinator friends.
Here are some favorite late bloomers I’m considering for my and my clients’ gardens this fall:
I know what you’re thinking: those supermarket flowers? But take a closer look at the more unique varieties that have hit the market. I totally swoon over the spider, quilled, and pom pom ones, and you might, too. These long-lasting cut flowers boasts autumnal colors and are superbly sturdy, making them a great addition to a cut flower garden. Also, because they contain pyrethrum, a natural insect repellent, consider planting some on the edges of a vegetable bed to ward off nibbly invaders. Hardy in USDA Zones 3-9. Best planted in full sun and soil that drains well. (See Gardening 101: Chrysanthemums.)
Come late summer, when many flowers start fading, asters are here for the bees, butterflies, and other pollinator pals. Depending on the variety, some asters grow to around a foot tall, while others tower to 6-plus feet; they can range in color from purple to blue and white. Plant in a partly sunny to full sun spot with soil that drains well. Potentially deer-resistant as well. I’m fond of Aster chilensis as it is a vigorous California native perennial with pale lilac flowers and is a great butterfly nectar plant. Hardy in USDA Zones 3-8.
A fall favorite, Rudbeckia hirta is also beloved by pollinators and looks fantastic when planted with ornamental grasses for a meadow effect. Growing from 1 to 3 feet, they make great cut flowers and thrive in a sunny spot. Make sure to deadhead the flowers to promote blooming, and then at the end of the season leave the seed heads for the birds to snack on. Favorite hybrids include ‘Prairie Sun’, ‘Sonora’ and ‘Autumn Colors’. Hardy in USDA Zones 3-9. See also Gardening 101: Black-Eyed Susans.)
Anise Hyssop
Above: Photograph by Britt Willoughby Dyer for Jinny Blom’s What Makes a Garden. (See our review of the book here.)
Contrary to what might be assumed, anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) plant is not anise but is instead in the mint family and the leaves exude a spicy scent similar to licorice. Adored by pollinators and detested by deer, this perennial produces long lasting purplish blooms that can be used in flower arrangements. The vertical habit pairs well with cascading ornamental grasses and other fall-blooming favorites. A sunny spot is best. USDA Zones 4-8.(See also Gardening 101: Hyssop.)
Taking a deep whiff of flowers from my garden gives me an instant rush of joy. So much so, that I found a way to carry it with me wherever I go. Filled with flowering quince, rose, calendula, and peony, I took the best flowers my garden had to offer and made a gentle, floral lotion. Perfect for head to toe, this lotion locks in moisture and leaves behind a divine floral scent.
When it comes to lotion, I get quite picky with consistency. I don’t want anything feeling too greasy on the skin and I also don’t want it to feel so watery that it barely moisturizes the skin. Instead, I want to feel fluffy, rich, and ultra-smooth to the touch.
This DIY flower lotion is everything I want in a cream. Not only is the texture perfect, but it has such a gentle aroma that comes from flowers directly from my garden. Unlike lotions with essential oils, the scent is not overpowering.
And don’t even get me started on synthetic fragrances! Nothing smells like a flower except for a flower. You don’t need to be a chemist to smell like your flowers.
While making floral lotion does take some practice and patience to perfect, anyone at home can make some high-quality, fluffy, garden-inspired lotion.
This post will cover…
I chose flowers solely for their scent for this recipe.
What Flowers Work the Best in Lotion?
For this recipe, I made herbal oil using flowering quince, rose, calendula, and peony. The result is a delightfully floral fragrance that doesn’t overwhelm the senses. I chose these flowers mostly for their scent, but also for some of their wonderful skincare qualities.
Both rose and calendula have long been hailed as skin care wonders and grown for their medicinal properties.Calendula acts as a wound healer, helping to reduce inflammation. Rose cleanses the skin as a natural astringent and prevents and reduces skin discolouration.
When it comes to making your own floral lotion, you can customize your herbal oil using whatever flowers you like best or what’s in season. Lavender and chamomile are other skin care-friendly, heavily scented flowers.
If the scent is the main goal, hyacinth, lily of the valley, gardenia, and lilac all come with a heavy perfume. Check out my list of fragrant flowers and skin care herbs for more ideas.
Note: please use caution when working with lily of the valley. It smells wonderful, but when ingested, it is extremely toxic to living beings, especially children and pets. Keep out of reach of little hands and paws!
Not sure what flowers to use? Opt for what’s in season!
How to Infuse Flowers in Oil
When making infusing flowers in oil, you’ll need a little bit of heat. This can be done using the stovetop, a slow cooker, or by sitting out in the sun. For all three, the premise is simple: submerge the flowers in oil and let them sit.
Keep in mind that only dried flowers should be used to infuse the oils. The moisture from fresh flowers won’t mix well.
Luckily, drying flowers is much easier than you may think! Here’s how to dry flowers, plus 14 other things you can do with them.
Infuse your flowers all together.
DIY Flower Lotion Recipe
Bottle up the heavenly scents of your garden with this ultra-moisturizing floral lotion. If this is your first time making lotion, check out this post first for more detailed how-to instructions. Lotion is one of the trickier recipes to make, and it may take a couple of tries before you get it perfect!
Makes 200g. For exact measurements, refer to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Before even getting started, sterilize all your equipment and your workspace. Then, weigh out all your ingredients separately, combining all your oil ingredients together and then your water ingredients.
With a double boiler, heat both the water and oil ingredients to 160 degrees while keeping them separate. Let them sit at this temperature for twenty minutes.
In a mixing bowl, pour in the oil ingredients followed by the water ingredients. Use an electric mixer to combine the ingredients and thicken the mixture.
When the mixture cools to 80 degrees, add in the cool phase ingredients. Continue mixing with the electric mixer until it reaches a fluffy consistency.
Wait for the mixture to cool to 80 degrees before adding in the cool phase ingredients. Temperature is key!
Then it’s ready for a container! Put into a sterilized container with a pump. You can use a piping bag to help get the lotion into a container with a small opening.
Use this flower cream within six months. Discard earlier if you notice any change in colour or odour.
Enjoy the custom scent of your new lotion!
Floral Lotion FAQ
Making lotion for the first time can be difficult. If you’re having any issues, I encourage you to check out the FAQ section of my magnesium lotionwhere I answer some of the most common issues in regard to making floral lotion.
If you still have a question, feel free to leave it in the comments down below, and I’ll do my best to answer you as quickly as possible! But here’s a few common questions I get.
My lotion moulds a few weeks after making it. How do I prevent this?
The issue with the mould would have happened while you were making it—likely using something that hasn’t been sterilized in the preparation area, such as the bowls, jars, spatula, etc. It’s essential to use sterile tools and spray everything down with alcohol.
I have a jar of this lotion that will last for six months and show no signs of mould. If I have extras, I put them in my fridge until they’re ready to use. But I keep the jar I’m currently using in my bathroom stored at room temperature.
How can I stop my floral lotion from separating?
Lotion is prone to separating when you make it. While there are emulsifiers to prevent this, you still need to blend it. Use an electric blender or an immersion blender until it looks like it’s holding together, and then let it cool. Repeat if necessary.
More DIY Lotion Recipes
DIY Floral Lotion
Naturally scented with flowering quince, rose, calendula, and peony, this lotion takes inspiration from the garden while leaving your skin silky smooth. Makes 200g.
Aqueous Phase Ingredients
Sterilize all your equipment. Weigh out your ingredients. Combine all your oil ingredients together and the water ingredients together.
While keeping separate, heat the water and oil ingredients to 160 degrees. Let sit at this temperature for 20 minutes.
Pour the oil ingredients followed by the water ingredients into a mixing bowl. Combine with an electric mixer until the mixture thickens.
Once cooled to 80 degrees, add in the cool phase ingredients. Mix with the electric mixer until it reaches a fluffy consistency.
Pour into a sterilized pump using a piping bag. Use within 6 months.
Learning how to dry flowers will open up a world of possibilities! Here’s everything you need to know about drying flowers and 14 different ways to use dried flower petals.
Dried flower petals are the best way to preserve the beauty of the garden well into the cold winter months when our plants hibernate. I always have dried flower petals on hand to use for my beauty recipes, soaps, and other crafts.
To ensure I have enough, I stock up on flowers each summer. I want to have an entire rainbow at my disposal for the coming months.
As different flowers bloom each week, I am out in my garden with a basket. I collect and snip the flowers until I have more than enough blooms. Since I like to experiment and give away handmade gifts, I can never have too many!
Here’s what you need to know about dying flowers, from how to dry them to what to do with them.
Sometimes, it’s best to just dry the petals of a flower rather than the whole head.
What Flowers Can You Dry?
While I wish every flower dried as lovely as it looks on the stem, not all flowers dry perfectly. When looking to dry flowers, you want ones that hold their colour and fragrance. A lot of it comes down to testing different flowers and seeing how they dry.
For instance, saliva flowers dry well and really hold their colour. However, the flowers shrink so much and become so tiny that it is not worth the trouble unless you have hundreds. Some of my favourite flowers to dry are:
Lavender bunches smell absolutely divine while they dry.
How to Dry Flower Petals
When it comes to drying flower petals, there are a few methods that can be used. However, some will work better than others for different kinds of flowers. Once again, it’s all about experimenting!
Store your dried flowers in airtight jars so they don’t rehydrate.
Hang Upside Down
You’ve probably seen quite a few photos of this first method because of its Instagram-worthy aesthetic. This popular method is to bundle the stems together and hang upside down. To dry flowers this way, you will want to hang them in a dark and cool room such as a closet that isn’t often used.
If you aren’t going to be using the leaves, strip the stems bare before making bunches. I like to use string, twine, or wire to wrap my stems together and attach them to a hanger (see it in this photo?).
Flowers that are good for this method include lavender, roses, centuarea, echinacea, hops, and more. Some larger flowers such as roses may be better to be hung individually rather than in a bunch.
One of my favourite tricks is to cover lavender bunches with a bag. This allows you to catch lavender buds as they fall, making gathering that much easier!
Dry Flowers in Water
I primarily use this method for hydrangea flowers as it helps to retain the bright pink and blue tones. Remove all the leaves and place the flowers in a vase with an inch or two of water.
Place the flowers in a dark and cool room and simply wait for the water to slowly evaporate. This allows the flowers to dry slowly, helping to preserve the petals’ colour.
Without this technique, the hydrangea flowers get floppy and don’t retain their shape.
Air Dry Flower Heads
Air drying flowers are great for flower heads that can easily pop off their stems, such as calendula and chamomile. To do this method, pop off the heads of the flowers and discard the stems. Then, spread them out on a dish, tray, or drying rack and wait.
Once again, be sure to place these flowers out of direct sunlight while drying. For easy gathering and clean up, be sure to have a tray below that picks up any flowers that fall through a drying rack.
Drying flowers on a tray can also work if you just want individual flower petals and not the whole head. This method works great for larger flowers such as roses, centaurea, sunflower, bee balm (monarda), and peonies.
Lay peony flowers on a tray to get the dried petals.
Use a Dehydrator
If you are strapped for time, you can even use your at-home dehydrator if you have one. The process is the same as drying flower heads and petals on a tray, but instead, you are going to place them in your dehydrator for 8-10 hours.
Be sure to place like flowers in the dehydrator so they all evenly dry or place larger flowers on the top rack as they will take the longest to completely dry. If all flowers are the same size, feel free to rotate the trays so the flowers evenly dry.
Press Flowers
The last method for drying flowers is an old favourite! Pressing flowers is a great method for making personalized cards, framed flowers, and other creative artwork. To make pressed flowers, you can use a flower press or a large book (phone books are great if you still have those kicking around!).
Place your flowers how you want them to dry between two pieces of newspaper or printer paper. This will prevent your flowers from sticking to the book pages and stamping them with colour. Squish them down, and if using a book, place some extra books on top as a weight.
Wait at least three weeks before you open up and check on your flowers. For perfectly pressed flowers, you can make a handmade flower press by following these steps.
Use blotting paper with your flower press to help absorb any moisture.
Where to Buy Dried Flowers
Whether it’s due to space limitations or climate issues, some of us don’t have the capability to grow our own supply of flowers. That doesn’t mean you aren’t allowed to enjoy the beauty of dried flowers! There are tons of places where you can buy dried flowers. Here’s a short list:
If you’re wondering where to get started when it comes to purchasing flowers online, consider what you want dried flowers for. This resource guide on how to create your own herbal home apothecary is a great place to start.
What to do With Dried Flowers: 14 Dried Flower Projects
Now that you know how to dry flowers and what to look for when choosing your plants for drying, let’s talk about what to do with them. Once you begin experimenting, you’ll find that the possibilities are endless with these colourful creations. Here are some of my favourite ideas to try.
Beautiful Soap Toppers
Homemade soaps make a wonderful, customized gift. To make my soaps a true showstopper, dried flower petals oftentimes take center stage as the final touch. They are one of the easiest ways to decorate, add colour, and even enhance the smell of soap. For my own soaps, I used dried wildflowers. Follow my steps and create your own wildflower soap.
These petals are for decoration only; they will come off the soap not long after you begin to lather up with it.
Melt And Pour Soaps
While dried flower petals sprinkled on top are lovely, you can also incorporate them directly into your soap. Melt-and-pour soaps are the easiest method for beginners, but that won’t stop your soaps from looking absolutely amazing. Check out how to make your own botanical soaps with flowers inside.
For these soaps, choose flowers you know will hold their colour well through the soap.
Lotion Bars
Calendula has a beautiful golden hue to it and also works as an anti-inflammatory for the skin. Experiment with the garden and treat your skin by making lotion bars with calendula.
Calendula is one of the best herbs for skincare.
Bath Bombs
Bath bombs can make a bath go from simple and relaxing to fun-filled aromatherapy. Dried flowers are one of the best natural ways to make a beautiful bath bomb. You can place a full flower on top or even sprinkle them on as a final decoration. Check out my full list of DIY bath bombs you can make yourself.
Shower Steamers
If baths aren’t your thing, shower steamers are the bath bomb made for shower lovers. If you haven’t tried it before, a shower steamer enhances your shower by filling it slowly with wonderful aromatherapy scents. You can find a complete tutorial here.
Shower steamers are just like bath bombs, but for those who prefer a shower.
Wax Melts
Ditch the plug-ins and aerosols and add fragrance to your home naturally with aromatherapy wax melts. These cute herbal infused melts make a cute gift or are lovely to have on hand when your home needs some freshening up.
Adding dried flowers to wax melts is safer than adding them to candles.
Tub Tea
If you don’t care for the aesthetic of flower petals and herbs floating in the bathtub, tub teas are a great alternative. You get the aromatherapy of the flowers without the cleanup. Here’s how you can make them yourself.
Bath Salts
Perfect for beginners, bath salts are a super quick and easy way to get creative with dried flower petals. This tutorial uses peony, but the flower options are endless!
Dark pink peony flowers hold their colour very well.
After a long day, my sore and tired feet are always the first thing on my mind. I like to give them a little bit of extra loving with a herbal foot soak, complete with dried flowers.
You can customize this project and many others based on the flowers you have on hand.
Rose Water
Did you know that rose is amazing for the skin? Coupled with its amazing scent, dried roses are definitely something you want to have on hand for skincare recipes. Here’s how I use mine to make rose water.
Framed Flowers
Some pressed flowers are just so lovely they need to be framed! Pressed flowers are extremely delicate and framing them definitely takes a careful hand. Follow these tips and steps and you’ll have beautifully framed flowers.
Thinner flowers dry best in a flower press, as large flowers can rot.
Dried Flower Arrangements
A flower arrangement is one of the best ways to brighten up your living space and bring nature indoors. While fresh flowers are beautiful, they only last for so long. Preserve the beauty of your garden inside your home and make it last by creating dried flower arrangements. See all the steps on how to preserve your ornamental flower garden.
You can also combine your dried flowers with fake flowers.
Wreaths
Using dried flowers to create a wreath makes a gorgeous and long-lasting decoration perfect for spring and summer. Follow my steps on how to make a lavender wreath or give my hydrangea wreath a try.
This lavender wreath can be made fresh, and will dry wonderfully to enjoy for years to come.
Echinacea Tincture
Flowers can be so much more than beauty. This echinacea tincture helps to boost immunity and reduce symptoms during cold and flu season. Make your own and learn how to use this incredible flower here.
Tinctures are typically made by soaking the plant in an alcohol base.
FAQ About Drying Flowers
How long will dried flowers last?
Most dried flowers are good for at least 2-3 years if kept in the right conditions. Avoid any sunlight and heat, as well as humidity. Once placed in sunlight, the colour from the blooms can fade quite quickly.
How do you keep dried flowers from rotting?
Rotting dried flowers have absorbed moisture. It’s essential to keep dried flowers away from moisture and humidity. For example, you might not want to keep a dried flower arrangement in the bathroom.
If storing your dried flowers in a container, consider including some silica gel packs to help absorb humidity.
Should I spray my dried flowers with hairspray?
Hairspray can really help to prolong the life of dried flowers. If you’re using dried flowers for display and arranging, spray a light layer of hairspray to help them retain colour and hold their shape. Don’t use hairspray on dried flowers you plan on using for crafts or beauty recipes; it should only be used on display dried flowers.
And there you have it! The gorgeous colours of dried flower petals are lovely to hand for beauty recipes, DIYs, and crafts, but they also stand out on their own in glass jars. If you’re like me, once you start drying flower petals, you won’t be able to stop!
“Chrysanthemums are long overdue for a revival,” says garden writer Naomi Slade, the author of the new book Chrysanthemums: Beautiful Varieties for Home and Garden, which is out in the U.S. now and launching in the U.K on September 12. “They’ve gotten this reputation of being workhorse flowers that are not very special,” she says. “In fact, they’re incredibly special and really interesting.”
Because chrysanthemums, or mums as they’re often called, are easy to grow and last for ages, they’ve become ubiquitous in commercial floristry. Some cut flower growers, however, have caught the heirloom chrysanthemum bug, and with the help of Slade’s book, more people will soon discover how exciting chrysanthemums can be.
Photography by Georgianna Lane from Chrysanthemums: Beautiful Varieties for Home and Garden by Naomi Slade, courtesy of Gibbs Smith Books.
Above: Slade says she was excited to discover the PIP series of commercially-grown chrysanthemums, including ‘PIP Salmon, above. “Its creamy apricot blooms have a deeper caramel stripe,” Slade writes, “The lightly brushed streaks add detail without being fussy, and impart a gentle texture that helps the flower blend with other components of a bouquet.”
Slade attributes the growing enthusiasm for chrysanthemums in part to the recent popularity of dahlias. “Chrysanthemums have all the good qualities that dahlias have,” Slade enthuses. “They pick beautifully, they photograph well, they’re wonderful for arranging. And there’s this whole other bunch of chrysanthemums, which are also hardy garden plants. So, it’s like dahlias plus.”
In general, flowers are probably less important than form. Some have a fleeting season, perhaps blooming just once before doing nothing for the remaining eleven months of the year (I’m looking at you Iris germanica). Others have an important support act, providing an abundance of flowers or beautiful foliage for the majority of the year.
Yes, I want plants that are beautiful (and that work well together), but I also want them not to be too much trouble. So increasingly, as I’ve realized that you can never really fight the existing conditions in your garden, I just plant more of these low-work plants. If something does well, and needs little to no TLC then it’s very welcome in my garden.
Earlier this week I read a quote from the late plantswoman Beth Chatto, about her much-copied borders in Essex, England. “The point I need to stress,” she wrote in her ground-breaking book Drought-Resistant Planting, “is that copies of my gravel garden will not necessarily be successful or suitable if the principles underlying my planting designs are not understood. When visitors to my garden tell me they have attempted to make a gravel garden but the plants don’t look or behave as they do in mine, they wonder what they have done wrong. I ask ‘What type of soil do you have?’, ‘Very good,’ they reply. The amount of rainfall? ‘Twice what we have here,’ they tell me. I laugh and tell them if I had good soil and adequate rainfall I would not be growing drought-resistant plants.”
Favorite plants should always come with this disclaimer—what works in one garden may not work in another, because the soil, moisture, and conditions will vary immeasurably. Some of my most cherished plants will flourish in all conditions, but some do particularly well because they are especially suited to my garden, which has very free-draining sandy soil and is largely in full sun.
With that in mind, here are the plants I would not be without.
Above: I love almost all salvias and they all tend to love my garden, too, so long as I put them in a sunny spot. ‘Caradonna’ has the most intense deep purple flowers that will be smothered in bees for weeks on end. Once it’s finished flowering I cut it back and it will re-flower again, although less prolifically. This is a very upright salvia and looks best softened with hazy grasses or more unruly perennials such as Knautia macedonica.
Nepeta ‘Six Hills Giant’
Above: Arguably the most prolific, no-trouble plant I grow. Catmint springs into life early in the season, often flowering well before any other herbaceous perennial. It’s healthy, seems to cope with almost any conditions, and is particularly beloved by bees that smother this plant while it’s in flower. As soon as it starts to go over, I cut the whole plant back to a few inches from the base and it will usually regrow and flower again within a few weeks. It’s also very easy to divide and replant and looks fabulous flopping over a pathway.
Verbena bonariensis
Above: All the verbenas work really well in my garden, but the tall, billowing Verbena bonariensis is a brilliant border plant, emerging in mid-summer amongst other perennials and grasses. It’s a favorite of many butterflies and has an extremely long season. It looks wonderful though the autumn and winter as it holds its structure, but it will also happily self-seed so I am normally selective in how much of it I leave standing. Finches love to eat the seeds in winter, too.
If you’re a regular Gardenista reader, you’re likely already familiar with Sarah Raven. But if you’re not, here’s the easiest way to describe her: She’s the Martha Stewart of the U.K. A tireless gardener, writer, cook, TV personality, entrepreneur, and general arbiter of good taste, Sarah has spent a lifetime crafting beauty and meaning in the domestic realm. She hosts workshops at her floriferous farm Perch Hill in East Sussex, England. She’s written stacks of gardening books and harvest-focused cookbooks, the latest being an updated version of Sarah Raven’s Garden Cookbook (with a new cover and introduction). She runs a respected mail-order plant nursery. And she hosts the podcast Grow, Cook, Eat, Arrange with colleague Arthur Parkinson.
Despite all her commitments, Sarah found time to answer our Quick Takes questions. Read on for her expert gardening recommendations—including her genius tip for using lemonade to keep cut flowers fresh!
Photography courtesy of Sarah Raven, unless otherwise noted.
Above: Sarah is a master when it comes to container gardening. Photograph by Jonathan Buckley, for A Year Full of Pots. (See our story on her new book here.)
Your first garden memory:
It was picking flowers for my father who was recovering from an operation—a small sherry glass of crocus and iris in February. It’s still one of my favorite ways of having flowers in the house. They’re mini simple jewels.
Garden-related book you return to time and time again:
Giardino_di_hera’s account shows their wonderful garden in southern Italy. It’s just like the garden I dream of and hope to make on a plot of land we’ve just bought in Crete.
Describe in three words your garden aesthetic:
Above: An overhead view of the Oast Garden at Perch Hill in spring. Photograph by Jonathan Buckley, for A Year Full of Pots.
Colorful. Jam-packed. Nature-filled.
Plant that makes you swoon:
There are three: Trachelospermum jasminoides, honeysuckles (many), and Sarcococca.
Plant that makes you run the other way:
They are also a few! Variegated, over-fussy leaves, hugely heavy double begonias with flowers so huge they hang their heads with the weight of petals and double bedding pelargoniums with no nectar or pollen for pollinators.
Favorite go-to plant:
Above: Dahlias at sunset at Perch Hill.
Always the dahlia—no doubt.
Hardest gardening lesson you’ve learned:
Dead-heading and staking are both essential—no garden can survive looking good until the autumn without quite a bit of both.
Gardening or design trend that needs to go:
Stumperies—they feel too contrived to me!
Old wives’ tale gardening trick that actually works:
You should put flat lemonade in your cut flower water. This has citric acid and carbonic acid (CO2 in liquid forms weak acid). By changing pH you decrease bacterial reproduction and enable the flowers to last longer.
Unpopular gardening opinion:
Above: Her gardens are driven primarily by color.
Color is everything, not architectural and structural plants.
Every garden needs a:
Source of water, even if it’s a shallow plate/tray with stones in. The birds and pollinators need tons of water on a hot day. The plate/tray also needs a lip so the insects don’t drown. Keep it full and keep it clean.
Favorite hardscaping material:
Soft, reclaimed red-bricks.
Tool you can’t live without:
Hori-hori knife. It’s brilliant for weeding, even better for planting, and great for teasing open the structure of the soil
Go-to gardening outfit:
A dress always!
Favorite way to bring the outdoors in:
Above: A freshly picked winter salad from her greenhouse.
To have cut flowers around the house and use cut-and-come-again easy salads and herbs like Salad Rocket and Flat-leaved parsley in recipes.
Favorite nursery, plant shop, or seed company:
Mine!
On your wish list:
Lovely huge citrus trees as much for their winter blossom (and its magnificent, seductive fragrance) as their fruit.
Not-to-be missed public garden/park/botanical garden:
Keeps me happy, content, engaged, calm, centered. I’d be a much lesser person without gardening and nature and walking out into it for an hour or two every morning at 5am in summer.
As well as looking amazing in our gardens, flowers play a key role in our lives. They can help to convey our feelings and emotions toward someone in a way that few other things can. If words are not enough, flowers can get the message across and strengthen the bond with the person you love or care about. Put simply, flowers help you express your feelings perfectly.
The best occasions to give flowers to someone you love
There’s never a wrong time to give flowers to someone you care about! You don’t need an occasion or special event to present flowers to your loved ones. Having said that, some particular days are ideal for gifting beautiful blooms.
Here’s a list of the most popular occasions for gifting flowers.
1. Mothers’ Day
Mother’s Day is an ideal opportunity to show gratitude and love to your mother. Presenting her with flowers is a way to let her know that all her hard work and support have not gone unnoticed.
To wish your mum a Happy Mother’s Day you can order the best flower bouquet on flowershops.co.uk. There are lots of bouquets to choose from, such as rose bouquets, marvellous blooms, and from the heart tributes.
2. Father’s Day
When it comes to the best occasions to give flowers, Father’s Day isn’t always an obvious one. However, flowers are a perfectly acceptable way to show your Dad that you appreciate him.
3. Funerals
Giving flowers at any funeral is a popular choice, as it allows you to convey your sentiments to the relatives of the deceased. If you can’t make it to your loved one’s funeral for some reason, click here to send online flower bouquets. There are many bouquets suitable for funerals, such as an everlasting memory cross or a peaceful wreath.
4. Birthdays
Birthdays are a special day and flowers are an ideal gift. As well as showing them how much you care, a beautiful bouquet will bring colour, fragrance, and a touch of nature to their home. You could even choose their birth flowers for a truly personalised gift.
5. Anniversaries
Anniversaries are memorable days in a relationship, and flowers are a traditional way to mark this special occasion. While roses are a popular option, you can choose any arrangement to show your love.
6. Graduation
After years of hard work and studying, graduation is one of the most special moments in anybody’s life. If you have a loved one who is about to don their cap and gown and collect that meaningful certificate, then sending a beautiful bouquet makes the ideal gift.
7. Friendship Day
From providing support in difficult times to sharing the fun and memorable occasions, a good friend is always there for you. International Friendship Day is celebrated every year and flowers are a lovely way to show your friend your thankfulness, love, and loyalty on this day.
8. Sympathy
If you know someone who is feeling sad, a beautiful bouquet and a nice note are always appreciated. Flowers show your support during a time of sadness.
9. Christmas
Christmas is a time when gifting takes centre stage, and flower bouquets are a great option for gifts. Use them to say thanks for hosting, or as a main gift for friends and family.
10. Housewarming
When a friend or family member moves into a new home, it’s nice to give them a housewarming gift. Flowers are a popular choice for housewarming gifts because they can help make a new place feel more welcoming and inviting.
Whatever the occasion you choose to gift flowers, a beautiful bouquet will always show your thoughtfulnesss, be well received, and make the recipient’s day.
With their iconic vibrant petals and reputation for hardiness, it’s no wonder sunflowers are one of the best selling flowers year after year. These easy to grow plants come in numerous varieties depending on what colours and sizes you need for your garden or arrangements. If you’re ready to add this staple to your summer garden, this post covers everything you need to learn about how to grow sunflowers.
Sunflowers just might be the perfect low-maintenance yet eye catching addition to your garden. These striking plants are a staple, and they’re easy to grow.
You’ll find sunflowers at the florist stand of your local farmers market and lining fences in your neighbourhood during the heat of summer into the early fall.
While the bright yellow flowers of the common sunflower (or Helianthus annuus) are classic, different variations can add contrasting colours to your garden. You can even grow a variety of sizes, making them a great choice for arrangements!
Here’s what I’ll be talking about today…
This giant sunflower was a Mother’s Day gift from Kiddo, who was approximately 5 in this photo!
Meet the Sunflower
Native to North America, sunflowers are best known for their vibrant yellow petals, which resemble rays of sunshine.
Besides their decorative function, sunflowers can be used to increase the production of other crops, such as corn and squash, in a method similar to the Three Sisters’. This is a method of companion planting that indigenous people of North America have been doing for thousands of years.
When it comes to learning how to grow sunflowers, there are two types you should know: single-stem and branching.
Single-stem or non-branched sunflowers are recognizable by their long, straight stems, which make them useful for floral arrangements. These plants produce one flower per seed, and the sizes can vary depending on how far apart they are planted. Species of single-stem sunflowers include the Marley and Procut Bicolour varieties, as well as the Sunrich Series.
Large sunflowers tend to be single stem.
Branching sunflowers, which include the Chocolate, Greenburst, and Starburst Panache varieties, produce more flowers over a longer period of time, with multiple stems in a more bushy growth pattern. As a result, they require more room to grow.
There are also some species of perennial sunflowers.
If you are hoping for a garden that doesn’t require planting each year, these would be a great option. Though smaller than the large yellow blooms you’re used to, perennial sunflowers can still add a pop of brightness to your low-maintenance garden.
Branching sunflowers have many off-shoots, as you can see in this picture.
How to Grow Sunflowers
Whether you’re hoping to add a festive touch to an already established garden or sowing your first seeds, their beauty and hardiness make sunflowers a great choice. If you’re ready to get planting, this grow guide has everything you need to know.
This collage was one of the very first photos I shared on Garden Therapy 15 years ago!
When and Where to Plant Sunflowers
Though sunflowers are typically associated with the late summer and early fall, they can be planted in the spring as soon as the weather warms up and frost is no longer a concern.
I prefer to get my sunflowers started inside due to the fickle nature of spring in Canada and the abundance of slugs in my ecosystem. If you’re doing the same, plant your seeds 2-3 weeks before you plan to transplant them into the garden. You’ll know they’re ready to be moved outside, when your sprouts are 3-5 inches tall.
You can also plant your seeds directly in your garden. I find that when I directly seed them, either the birds eat the seeds or the slugs eat the sprouts. So make sure to protect them with netting or a cloche until they are about five inches tall.
Whether you’re planting inside or outside, make sure to fully cover your seeds with soil, as sunflowers (ironically) sprout in the dark.
Sunflowers don’t require any special soil, so whatever garden or potting soil you’ve got will do.
Sunflower stalks typically grow thick enough that they don’t need support, unless they’re not getting enough sun.
Light
As the name suggests, sunflowers need plenty of light. In order to thrive, they require at least 8 hours of direct sunlight. That shady spot next to your fence is not the place to plant these light-loving flowers.
If sunflowers don’t get enough sun, they become leggy and weak, being more likely to snap.
Water
Sunflowers require the most water after they’re first planted, so water your sprouts often to keep the soil damp.
After your sunflowers are established, they are considered a low-maintenance, drought-resistant plant. Water them regularly, but don’t worry if the soil dries out between waterings. During intense heat, they may need some extra moisture.
This teddy bear sunflower was in my GardenTrends seed collection.
Pruning
If you’re growing single-stem sunflowers, there is no need to worry about pruning.
For branching varieties, I recommend pinching your plants back to 4 leaves once they grow to be 12-18 inches. If you’re harvesting your sunflowers, cutting the blooms from the base of the stem can also help encourage new growth.
When the seeds are fully ripe, they begin to loosen from the head. You can cut the sunflower and save the seeds for next year.
Common Pests and Diseases
Your sunflowers are most vulnerable in the early stages of germination. This is one reason to consider starting the seeds indoors and transplanting them into your garden.
However, if you’ve opted to plant your seeds directly in the ground, covering the sprouts can help protect them from birds, deer, and other animals. I like to use lightweight netting or cloche, but any sort of chicken wire or fencing will do the trick.
I also recommend changing where you plant your sunflowers each year to help prevent disease.
Once grown and gone to seed, sunflowers can be a great food source for pollinators.
How to Grow Sunflowers in Containers
Planting sunflowers in pots can be a great option if you have limited outdoor space.
Many varieties will grow well in a container or bag as long as it has drainage holes. Just keep in mind these sunflowers will be smaller than those planted directly in the ground.
Make sure the pot is large enough to accommodate the mature sunflower, even when it’s a dwarf variety.
How to Harvest Sunflowers
If you’re growing sunflowers in hopes of decorating your kitchen table, I highly suggest choosing a pollen-free variety to save yourself the cleanup and avoid ruining that new pastel tablecloth.
You can harvest your sunflowers as soon as the first petals start to unfurl. To extend the life of your sunflowers without adding any chemical preservatives, make sure to remove the leaves from the stem, leaving only the top leaf.
Your beautiful sunflowers will last about a week in a vase. Keep in mind that a warm environment will speed up the flower’s opening. If you’re saving them for a specific occasion, you can place them in a cooler area of your home to slow down the blooming process.
Place your sunflowers away from sunlight and heat to prolong their vase life.
FAQs About Growing Sunflowers
Do sunflowers really track the sun?
While sunflowers do respond to light, they don’t move in the way you’re probably picturing. In other words, their heads do not rotate throughout the day along with the sun.
Contrary to popular belief, sunflowers only respond to light before they flower. During this stage, more growth occurs on the sunniest side of the stem, causing the flower to eventually tilt to one side, usually east.
How far apart do you plant sunflowers?
Spacing your seeds correctly is an important part of learning how to grow sunflowers. For branching sunflowers, 18-24 inches is the ideal space between seeds, as these types of sunflowers grow large quite quickly.
The spacing of single-stem sunflowers is up to you, as you can control the size of your sunflower blooms by changing the spacing of seeds. I find leaving 4-6 inches of space between seeds gives me the perfect flowers for bouquets. If you’re hoping for larger sunflowers, just space your seeds out more.
What is a good sunflower germination temperature?
Sunflower seeds like warm soil temperatures of about 21-25℃ for optimal growth. Make sure to wait until the weather has warmed and the overnight frost has passed. If you live in a cooler climate like I do, you may want to consider starting your seeds inside.
How long should it take for a sunflower to grow?
Once your seeds are in the ground or a pot, it won’t take long for them to start growing. You’ll likely notice sprouts poking through in just a few days.
From there, depending on the variety, your sunflowers will start blooming 2-3 months later. Some types of sunflowers take up to 110 days to grow flowers.
Where would you expect to find a meadow filled with native flowers and grasses, where once an expanse of lawn grew? In a suburban front yard, as the short-back-and-sides neighbors give the gardener’s tousled vision the stink eye? At the summer home of weekend warriors who have newfound respect for the perils of mugwort? Or in an urban cemetery that doubles as a laboratory for biodiversity? Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York, is home to an experimental wildflower meadow, seeded in October of 2022, and part of the cemetery’s Urban Grasslands initiative.
This summer, from June through July, I visited the meadow over the course of six weeks, watched its palette evolve, learned about the reasons for the transition from lawn to wildflowers, and some of the challenges unique to this unusual site.
Above: Coreopsis and Penstemon in the experimental meadow in early June.
Set on a ridge in South Brooklyn, with views of New York Harbor, Green-Wood is no ordinary cemetery. The green space is a haven not only for the dead but for the living: for birds and the birders who watch them, for a monk parakeet colony, for honey bees in hives, for native pollinators, for artists in residence, for researchers, and for the local community, who find respite from urban life among the towering trees of this nationally accredited arboretum and historic landmark.
Above: In early June the meadow’s palette is yellow with white relief from Penstemon and Achillea.
Stippled with weathered marble and brownstone headstones, the 1.2-acre wildflower meadow is one of four re-wilded areas in close to 30 acres of public lots on the cemetery’s historic perimeters. “These lots were some of the first areas to be developed as an affordable internment option when Green-Wood was established in 1838,” said Sara Evans, the Director Of Living Collections and Curator at Green-Wood. In contrast to the large opulent family lots, she explained, “the public lots are dense with small graves characteristically marked with modest headstones primarily made of more delicate stone.”
Collectively, they are now the site of the ongoing project to transition from high-maintenance turf that requires noisy and carbon-unfriendly mowing (which also risks damaging these modest headstones), “to resilient native species more tolerant of drought, an increasing feature as the planet warms and the climate changes.”
Each of the six sections in the experimental meadow is seeded with a different combination of native grass and wildflower species “that also differ in species-richness (low-to-medium-to-high diversity),” said Sara. The goal is to “test and see what communities evolve, especially in terms of mowing stresses.” Paths are mown to allow access for visitors and researchers, and each wildflower block is given at least one annual mow with a weedwacker or hedge trimmer, “cut very high, at eight to ten inches, to leave material for nesting pollinator habitat and seed heads to establish a seedbank,” she said.
Above: Coreopsis leaning over a mown path in the meadow.
To prepare the site prior to sowing, the existing lawn grasses were treated with herbicide. Sara explained that such a large area, “with hundreds headstones,” cannot be solarized. (This technique involves placing expanses of plastic sheeting over unwanted vegetation to heat the soil underneath, spurring the germination of seeds, and their subsequent death. With established plants it can take a very long time.) Despite the treatment, some resilient invasive and naturalized plants persist: Mugwort, as well as bermuda, foxtail, sweet vernal, and brome grasses remain a perennial challenge.r
Welcome to a fun guide to flowers that start with the letter “M”. This list features a gorgeous array of blooms, from the majestic Magnolia to the vibrant Marigold.
List of flowers that start with M
Perhaps you need some ideas on flowers starting with M for baby names, floral designs, or your own plant knowledge. Or maybe you just want to enjoy some lovely flower images. Whatever your motivation, you’ll find lots of lovely flower inspiration here.
For each of the 35 flowers beginning with M on this list we’ve included some key facts, an image, common names and associated symbolism (our guide to birth month flowers has more flower symbolism).
Madder (Rubia tinctorum)
The dainty little flowers of Madder are really small – less than 5mm – and appear in summer. This climbing plant can reach 1.5m tall.
Madder flowers symbolise tranquility.
Magnolia
A hugely popular garden tree, Magnolia produces stunning flowers in a spring garden. The flowers are usually white, pink, or purple.
Magnolia trees symbolise nobility, love of nature, and dignity.
Mallow (Malva sylvestris)
This summer-flowering ornamental plant that produces pink, white or purple flowers.
Mallow flowers are associated with love, fertility and protection.
Mandevilla (Rocktrumpet)
If you like the idea of tropical flowers that begin with M, the trumpet-shaped blooms of Mandevilla is a great option. This flowering tropical plant is native to Central and South America, and produces large blossoms in shades of pink, white, and red.
Mandevillas symbolise resilience and strength.
Mandrake (Mandragora officinarum)
Mandrake plants have a rich history of association with magic and pagan traditions. More recently, their inclusion in the Harry Potter books has caused renewed interest in this flowering plant. The flowers appear in spring and can be shades of purple, green, or yellow.
Mandrakes symbolise magic, love and good luck.
Maple
Also well-known as acer plants, maples are a large group of ornamental trees and shrubs that are mostly native to Asia.
Maples are best-known for their stunning foliage, but some different species also produce flowers in late winter and early spring.
Maples are associated with endurance and strength.
Marguerite Daisy (Argyranthemum frutescens)
A cheerful flower that starts with M, Marguerites are evergreen, bushy shrubs that produce masses of daisy-like blooms in summer. These popular flowers are available in white, pink and yellow, and you might even find double varieties on sale.
Marguerites symbolise joy, happiness, and innocence.
Marigold (Calendula officinalis)
For flowers that pack a punch, you can’t go wrong with marigolds. Their bold orange or bright yellow flowers really stand out in the garden, and they will flower from late spring right through to autumn.
Marigold flowers symbolise joy, power, and warmth.
Marjoram (Origanum majorana)
This perennial herb isn’t just grown for it’s culinary uses; it also has pretty clusters of flowers that are a big hit with bees and butterflies.
Marjoram is associated with love and happiness.
Marsh Mallow (Althaea officinalis)
Marsh Mallow is a tall plant that produces impressive clusters of white or pale pink flowers in later summer. The flowers have a delicate, sweet smell – not surprising, given the common name!
Marshmallow flowers symbolise love, romance, and passion.
Marsh Marigold
These cheerful flowers are bright yellow and look a bit like buttercups. They love damp conditions.
Marsh Marigolds symbolise fresh starts and renewal.
Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria)
Meadowsweet is a perennial plant that blooms from late spring into summer. Its frothy flowers are white or cream and produce a strong fragrance.
The flowers of meadowsweet are associated with love, happiness and peace.
Mexican Sunflower (Tithonia rotundifolia)
If you need height and bold colour in your flowers, Mexican sunflowers are perfect. They can reach 2m tall and produce lots of bright orange or yellow flowers in summer and autumn.
These fiery flowers symbolise passion, faith, and loyalty.
Michaelmas Daisy (Aster)
These are probably the most popular flowers that start with M. Valued for their ability to add colour and interest to the garden in late summer, their daisy-like flowers are available in pastel shades of pink, purple, blue, and white.
Michaelmas daisies signify a departure or farewell.
Milfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum)
How about an aquatic flower that starts with M? Milfoil grows underwater, but the clusters of pink flowers grow on stems that reach above the surface. A great plant for a garden pond.
Milfoil symbolises everlasting love.
Milkwort (Polygala vulgaris)
Milkwort flowers can be blue, pink, white or purple. They grow on long stems and look a bit like sweet pea flowers.
Milkwort is associated with healing, grace, and endurance.
Mimosa
The Mimosa tree has an abundance of fluffy yellow flowers in spring.
Mimosa flowers symbolise victory, solidarity, and strength.
Mistletoe (Viscum album)
You probably know mistletoe for its white berries and green leaves, but this parasitic plant also produces small white flowers.
Mistletoe symbolises love, peace, and goodwill.
Mock Orange (Philadelphus)
These lovely white flowers are in full bloom in late spring and early summer. As the name suggests, the fragrant flowers are orange-scented and popular with pollinating insects.
Mock orange flowers signify purity and innocence.
Monarda Didyma (Bee Balm)
You may know these flowers by their other name: Bergamot. They grow on tall stems and have a really striking shape. You’ve got a variety of colours to choose from, and they’re a great plant to make your garden more wildlife-friendly too.
Monarda is associated with protection, prosperity, and health.
Monkey orchid (Orchis simia)
This unusual orchid has flowers that resemble a monkey’s face!
Monkey orchid’s have been associated with adaptability, but also with evil.
Montbretia (Crocosmia)
If you’d like a splash of colour in the garden, Montbretia will deliver. It has long, thin leaves and produces fiery orange, yellow or red flowers along arching stems in summer.
Montbretias symbolise confidence and love.
Moonflower (Ipomoea alba)
The impressive white flowers of this climbing plant open at night and close in the morning, hence the name. Enjoy the flowers on these fast-growing vines from midsummer to early autumn.
Moonflowers are often associated with mystery, femininity, and romance.
Morning Glory (Ipomoea)
The more well-known variety of Ipomoea has purple flowers that open in the morning.
Morning Glories symbolise unrequited love, sympathy, and resilience.
Moss Rose (Purslane)
With their bright colours, trailing habit and long flowering season, Moss Roses are a good choice for low maintenance gardens.
Moss roses are associated with love.
Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca)
Belonging the the mint family, motherwort has interestingly-shaped leaves and small pink or lilac flowers with a tactile, furry texture.
Motherworts symbolise hidden love.
Moth Orchid (Phalaenopsis)
A hugely popular indoor orchid, Moth Orchids have stunning flowers and enjoy humid environments.
Phalaenopsis signify prosperity, elegance, and purity.
Mountain Phlox (Phlox austromontana)
If you need your flowers to cope with the cold, consider Mountain Phlox. These plants grow on mountainsides so they’re used to low temperatures.
Mountain Phlox is associated with friendship and togetherness.
Mouse Ear (Cerastium)
This cute white flower isn’t what gives this plant it’s common name. The leaves are actually what look like a mouse’s ears!
Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris)
A perennial flowering plant, mugwort has fragrant leaves and cream flowers. It has been used for many medicinal purposes and herbal remedies, from digestive aid to insomnia.
Mugwort is associated with female health.
Mulberry (Morus alba)
You may know mulberry plants most for their edible berries, but they also produce clusters of yellow-green flowers in spring.
Mulberry flowers symbolise faith, wisdom, and growth.
Mulla Mulla (Ptilotus exaltatus)
How about an unusual flower starting with M? Mulla Mulla is an Australian plant that has lovely, feathery pink flower spikes.
Mulla Mulla is associated with protection.
Mums (Chrysanthemums)
Loved for their ability to add colour to a border, mums can be found in a wide range of shades. They’re also a popular potted plant gift.
Mums symbolise joy, optimism, and love.
Musk Hyacinth (Hyacinthus muscari)
Also known as grape hyacinths, these hyacinths in miniature are usually bright blue. They grow from bulbs, and are a fantastic addition to a spring bulb display.
Musk hyacinths symbolise confidence and power.
Myrtle (Myrtus communis)
This evergreen shrub is covered is small white flowers from later summer into autumn.
Myrtle flowers are associated with love, prosperity, and beauty.
From the magnificent Monarda to the elegant Moth Orchid, each bloom on our list of gorgeous flower names starting with M will bring its own unique charm to a garden or floral arrangement. Will you be adding some of these beautiful flowers that start with M to your wish list?
Flowers are one of the top choices when gifting someone special. In addition to their universal symbolism of appreciation, love, and celebration, different types of flowers have their own significance and beauty.
Each season has its flowers, bringing unique blooms to choose for your bouquets. When it comes to selecting the best flowers for every season, there are many options from which you can select varieties that appeal to you.
Here are some of the best gifting flower choices for each season, and why you should consider them.
Top flower choices for each season
Choosing seasonal flowers offers a number of benefits. These include freshness, cost-effectiveness, and higher chance of availability. Seasonal flowers will always be more vibrant and long-lasting when they are freshly sourced from local florists.
Here’s some inspiration on seasonal flowers to pick for gifting someone special:
Spring
Tulips
Tulips are widely available in various colours. They symbolise love and are the perfect pick to brighten someone’s day.
“Tulips are where elegance meets resilience, their vibrant petals dancing in the breeze, a testament to nature’s artistry and the promise of renewal of the spring” – 800Flower
Tulips are ranked amongst the top ten most popular flowers worldwide.
Lilacs
Each color of lilac has a different meaning. White lilacs symbolise innocence and purity, whereas purple lilacs symbolise first love. Blue lilacs are associated with happiness.
These spring-like floral and fresh flowers have a pure, romantic feel. That’s why purple lilacs symbolise first love ( they also are the strongest scent in the lilac family).
Daffodils
“Daffodil (Narcissus pseudonarcissus), bulb-forming plant in the amaryllis family, widely cultivated for its showy, trumpet-like flowers, which emerge in the spring” – Britannica
Daffodils are bright, vibrant, and cheerful, making them another popular spring flower choice.
The flower itself is a representation of hope, a new beginning and rebirth. These flowers are also associated with resilience, probably due to their strength as they survive winter and are ready to bloom as spring arrives.
Summer
Sunflowers
Sunflowers are symbols of positivity, loyalty, adoration, and joy.
“Keep your face to the sunshine, and you cannot see the shadows. It’s what sunflowers do,” – Helen Keller
These vibrant and uplighting flowers will always bring a touch of sunshine.
Peonies
Peonies are associated with happiness, good luck, and romance due to their lush and full-bloom petals.
They are often considered a favourite summer flower, especially for occasions like weddings or celebrations. They can also be an ideal choice for someone who has recently got married, given birth, or graduated.
Marigolds
Marigolds are a celebration of life and positive emotions. These flowers add a sense of divinity and carry an auspicious connotation.
With their bright colours and sweet fragrance, they are the perfect choice to cheer up and drive away any kind of negativity.
In some cultures, the flower is also thought to bring good fortune.
Roses
These timeless flowers are available in various colours, each representing different meanings. This makes roses a very versatile gift that’s suited to everything from a romantic dinner dates to a friend’s birthday.
“There are over three hundred species and tens of thousands of cultivars. They form a group of plants that can be erect shrubs, climbing or trailing, with stems that are often armed with sharp prickles.” – Wikipedia.
Autumn
Asters
These daisy-like flowers are available in vibrant colours like pink, lilac, red, and white.
In Greek mythology these flowers were considered symbols of love and placed on altars of gods.
With their delicate scent, asters are not only thoughtful gifts but also popular choices for autumn gardens.
Dahlias
Dahlias were considered to be a symbol of everlasting union and commitment during the Victorian era.
These bold flowers are available in over 40 different species, making them ideal for any occasion. Dahlias will bloom from late summer right through to the beginning of winter.
Winter
Amaryllis
Amaryllis are hugely popular winter flowers, symbolising determination, beauty, and pride.
The dramatic blooms of Amaryllis have large, showy petals, making them the perfect choice for a statement winter bouquet.
Amaryllis are also widely available as bulb kits, providing an alternative format of flower gift.
Camellia
These flowers bloom beautifully in winter, adding elegance and a long-lasting touch to winter bouquets.
Camellias symbolise love, grace, and sophistication. Red camellias are often considered as floral gifts to express passion and love, while pink is associated with longing.
Wrapping Up
Gifting flowers to your loved ones is a timeless choice. It brings warmth and adds joy regardless of the occasion. Choosing seasonal flowers also aligns with nature while ensuring freshness and the best quality of blooms. Whatever time of year you choose to gift flowers, there’s a wide range of seasonal varieties to enjoy.
For more information on flower symbolism, take a look at our birth flowers guide.
Mosquito repellent plants are garden heroes: colorful flowers and herbs with natural fragrances that chase away buzzing insects even as their perfumes soothe humans.
The first step in your plan to thwart mosquitoes? Grow plants such as lavender, basil, mint, scented geraniums, and marigolds. But unless you’re planning to plop your chair down in the middle of a flower bed, you may not enjoy the full protective benefits. So we came up with a plan to bring the full power of your anti-mosquito forces to the deck or patio: a mosquito repellent floral arrangement. (We placed ours on a side table next to our favorite reading chair.) Read on for step-by-step instructions.
Lavender’s strong scent, which comes from essential oils that can be distilled from its flowers, is often used for aromatherapy. While there is little scientific evidence to back up claims that lavender oil has health benefits, inhaling its fresh, herbal scent calms many people. But not mosquitoes.
Above: Florists at work.
I asked a couple of aspiring florists named Clementine and Eve to arrange the mosquito repellent plants and flowers in a few clear glass vases: a deconstructed floral arrangement. (If you don’t have vases of different heights and shapes on hand, you can just as easily arrange the flowers in mix-and-match drinking glasses or glass jars to get the same effect.).
Above: Jagged lavender (L. pinnata buchii) with feathery leaves and deeply purple flowers goes into a vase, roots and all.
Hydrangeas are a beautiful shrub with an old-fashioned appeal, yet they fit into the modern garden seamlessly. Possibly the best thing about hydrangeas is you can enjoy your lovely blooms indefinitely. Here’s how to dry hydrangeas so they keep their colour.
With so many varieties, colors, and even bloom shapes, you’d easily be able to find a hydrangea that suits your garden (as long as you are lucky enough to have the right climate, of course!). You can enjoy them both on and off the plant too!
The problem many people have with hydrangeas is that they become limp before they can dry out. Hydrangeas have a tendency to lean towards the drama, but they’re actually quite easy to both hydrate AND dry once you know how to do it.
Hint: You’re not going to hang them upside down.
This is the simple method that I use to dry hydrangea flowers and keep their hue.
Parts of this hydrangea have already gone brown, so it’s a little late for cutting and drying.
Dried Hydrangea Colours
Of course, you won’t retain the same vivid colour that you have on the plant while it’s growing in the garden. The colour that you can achieve on a dried hydrangea is more of a muted set of greens, grays, blues, pinks, and purples that look beautiful when displayed together.
The other thing to note is that the climate and temperature at which the hydrangea shrub grows will affect how much colour is retained in the dried flower. It’s not a perfect system, but ideally, you are looking for a healthy plant grown in appropriate conditions. You can read more about that in my essential guide to hydrangeas.
Did you know you can easily change your hydrangea’s blooms from pink to blue (or vice versa)? Here’s how you can make your hydrangea change colour.
Hydrangea flowers come in many different hues, all creating antique, muted versions of themselves once dry.
When to Cut Hydrangeas for Drying
Mother nature and plant care aside, timing when you cut the blooms is the most important factor that you can control. If you leave the hydrangea heads to dry on the shrub, they can lose all of their color. If you cut the blooms too early, they can wilt (as opposed to dry with the petals retaining their shape).
In order to retain the most colour, you will need to let flowers partially dry on the shrub first. Depending on when your plant blooms, you should start checking on the flowers mid-way through the bloom time.
The colour will be fading, but they will still hold most of their shape, and they will start to take on a papery feel. Try cutting hydrangea blooms when there is still some colour remaining to get a dried flower with a colour that lasts.
These blooms have begun to dry and fade in colour and this would be the ideal time to cut them for drying.
How to Dry Hydrangea Flowers
Remove all of the leaves from the stem (or at least the part of the stem that will be submerged) and put the flowers in a vase with an inch or two of water.
Place the vase in a cool area, away from direct sunlight. The water in the vase will help to slow the drying process; the bloom will be preserved better with a slower transition. Once the water is gone, it will be completely dried and will last indefinitely.
You can touch the preserved hydrangea heads to see how dry they are. They should feel papery.
This way of drying hydrangeas takes about two weeks.
The same hydrangea dried!
What to Do With Dried Hydrangeas
Dry hydrangea flowers are very delicate, so it is often better to create your craft or dried flower arrangement before they dry. That’s precisely what I did with this hydrangea wreath. I made the wreath with partially dried blooms and allowed the drying process to finish on the front door! See how to make the wreath here.
You can also add in other dried flowers if you want more variety.
I love using dried hydrangea flowers in all kinds of crafts, including this dried flower arrangement. If you don’t have a large stem, you can add some by using a bamboo skewer and florist’s tape to extend the stem of your dried hydrangea flowers.
FAQ About How to Dry Hydrangeas
How do you hydrate hydrangeas?
Before you can dry your hydrangea flowers, they should be as hydrated as possible. After cutting them from the shrub, immediately put them in water.
Once inside, cut the stem again and, this time, place it in boiling water. Make sure the steam can escape. In this case, boiling water is extremely helpful in forcing the stems to drink water.
Hydrangeas can also drink through their petals, so people soak their flowers in a bowl of water. While this method works great for fresh hydrangeas, it doesn’t work for flowers that are already partially dry, which is what we’re going for after cutting the hydrangeas.
Should I spray dried hydrangeas with hairspray?
Once dried completely, you can spray any dried flowers with hairspray. Ensure it’s cheap and clear…don’t waste the good stuff. This will help to create a protective layer over the petals so they’re not quite as delicate.
How do you keep dried hydrangeas from crumbling?
When the hydrangeas are dried, they’re extremely delicate. I recommend making any arrangements slightly before the whole flower is dried, as it will be stronger. As above, spray with hairspray and keep away from heat and sunlight to prolong the life of your dried hydrangea flowers.
Above: Turbinado sugar gave this snowbell cordial ferment a darker hue.
After the first fizzing of fermentation happens, you have the cordial, a concentrate that you strain and bottle and refrigerate to drink diluted. Or you return that fragrant, sweet liquid to the loosely covered jar to invite the acetobacter to do their work, with time. This stage of the ferment turns into a deeply fruity and complex vinegar, in anywhere from four to 12 weeks. It is deliciously versatile, from a restorative summer beverage sipped with ice and chilled water, to a comfort-food braise of duck legs or root vegetables in the middle of winter.
Above: PH test strips are helpful for deciding when to bottle the vinegar. Above: Fragrant snowbell vinegar, pine cone jam, ice, and sparkling water. Above: Fragrant snowbell vinegar, bottled in July, from May’s flowers.
Recipe: Fragrant Snowbell Cordial and Vinegar
Makes 6 – 8 cups.
A large jar is best for this type of ferment. I use 64 oz Ball Jars, organic granulated sugar, and Brooklyn tap water.
4 packed cups fragrant snowbell flowers, stripped from their stalks (about 20 racemes, but it depends on their length) 2 cups sugar 6 cups water, or enough to reach the 6-cup mark on the jar
Do not wash the flowers or you will lose their scent.
Place the flowers in the clean jar. Add the sugar and the water. Either stir very well with a long-handled wooden spoon or screw a lid on and shake the jar to dissolve the sugar. Loosen the lid, if using, or cover the jar’s mouth with cheesecloth or a piece of paper towel secured with a rubber band or string. The ferment needs air, and the cloth or loose lid allows it in. Never keep a lid firmly screwed on, as fermentation will release gas that needs to escape. If it can’t escape, a sealed jar can explode.
Leave the jar at room temperature in a place away from direct light, and stir the contents once a day.
From around Day 2 to 6 (this varies a lot), you will notice small bubbles forming, and more when you stir. Your ferment is on its way. At this stage it will taste sweet and very appealing. When a lot of bubbles rise after stirring (usually another couple of days), allow another two days before straining this cordial into a large bowl through a fine-mesh sieve. Strain again (if you like, but it’s not essential) through doubled cheesecloth or linen. For a sweet cordial, you can now bottle it and keep it in the fridge for drinks or desserts (it makes wonderful ice cream).
If you want to continue and make vinegar, return the strained liquid to the rinsed jar, cover loosely again, and keep at room temperature in a spot without bright light. Stir or swoosh daily, making sure that your hands and any implement that touches the vinegar is clean. After a couple of weeks I taste the cordial every few days, noticing how its flavor transforms. Sometimes a vinegar mother forms on the surface, although not always. When it tastes like vinegar, it is vinegar. I test it with pH strips, and bottle when it hovers around the 4-mark.
Bottle, and keep at room temperature. Once a bottle is open, keep it cold in the fridge.
Heat-loving and drought-tolerant strawflowers grow well in areas with hot summers (cue my happy dance!) Brightly-colored concentric rings adorn these tall-stemmed beauties. This Australian native is also called “Everlasting flower” or “paper flower”. Strawflowers are an excellent choice for a cutting garden and provide long-lasting blooms in the garden as well. Learn how to grow strawflowers with these five tips.
Disclaimer: this post contains affiliate links. See my disclosure policy for more information.
5 Tips for How to Grow Strawflowers
1. Choose the best location for growing strawflowers
Strawflowers grow best in full sun, but will tolerate partial shade. During the hottest months of the year in warm climates like the low desert of Arizona, strawflowers are happiest with some afternoon shade.
Strawflowers do well in most soils as long as it is well-draining. Add compost to the planting area before planting.
Give strawflowers enough room to grow well and allow for airflow. Depending on the variety, strawflowers grow between 2-3 feet (61-91 cm) tall and 6-18 inches (15-45 cm) wide. Larger varieties may need flower stakes to stay upright.
Sprinkle seeds lightly on the soil surface. Press into soil gently. The seeds need light to germinate, do not bury deeply. Keep soil moist until seeds sprout.
Space seeds about 12 inches (30cm) apart.
Seeds sprout in 1-3 weeks.
Strawflower seedlings transplant well. If multiple sprouts appear, allow them to grow a few inches high and then carefully transplant them to other locations in the garden.
In the low desert of Arizona, start strawflower seeds indoors from August through December. Plant seeds or transplants outside from October through February.
In cool zones, start strawflower seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost and transplant outside once nighttime temperatures are above 50°F (10°C).
3. Care for strawflowers correctly as they grow
Mulch plants well to help retain moisture and keep down weeds in the soil.
Water the root zone completely each time you water and then allow the top inch or two of soil to dry out between watering. Do not let roots get soggy; they will rot.
Apply an organic fertilizer occasionally throughout the growing season if desired.
Cut the main stem when the flower is 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) tall to encourage branching.
Keep spent flowers deadheaded to encourage more blooms.
4. Harvest strawflowers at the right time for the longest-lasting and best-looking blooms
Strawflowers make an excellent cut flower in fresh and dried arrangements. Depending on their intended use, strawflowers should be harvested at different times.
To harvest strawflowers for use in fresh arrangements:
Harvest strawflowers when 3-4 sets of bracts (petals) are open but before any of the middle pollen is visible. Give the stem a slight wiggle – if it remains upright it is ready to harvest. If it wiggles, wait a bit longer to harvest. Cut the stem leaving 4 to 5 side shoots below. Strip leaves on stem before placing in water.
To harvest strawflowers for drying:
Strawflower petals (called bracts) are like stiff paper and hold their shape and color well as dried flowers. Harvest when only 2-3 bracts (petals) have unfurled and no yellow pollen is visible. Remove all leaves and hang flowers upside down to dry. The bracts will continue to open as it dries. A fan can speed the drying process.
5. Save seeds from strawflowers to plant next season
Once you’ve learned how to grow strawflowers, you can have seeds to plant for years to come. To save seeds, at the end of the season, leave the largest and prettiest blooms on the plant. The center of the bloom elongates and forms dandelion-like parachutes for each seed as it dries. Lift the parachutes up, and the small dark seeds will be attached or in the base of the flower.
The center of the flower elongates and driesDandelion-like parachutes form for each seedThe empty strawflower with just a few seedsStrawflower seeds and parachutes
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How to Grow Strawflowers: 5 Tips for Growing Strawflowers
