A Beginner's Guide To Flower Garden Plants

As you select the plants to put in your flower garden, don't be misled by the “flower” descriptive. Aside from flowers, there are actually a variety of plants that you can include in your flower garden. The following list should simplify things for you.

Flowers. Flowers are the heart of your flower garden because they dominate all other elements that are present. While you may have a couple of specific flower names in mind, you can actually get the best suggestion from the garden shop owner if you ask for flowers based on their lifespan.

• Perennials are long lasting; their flowers bloom on a particular season of the year. And because of their recurrent nature, these provide variety and color to your garden. Choose this if you want a garden that seems to live forever and changes colors as do the seasons. Examples include butterfly bushes, dahlias, hyacinths, peonies and scabiosas.

• Unlike perennials, annuals live only for a year but the blooms that last all season compensate for their short lives. Choose this if you plan to change the look of your garden at least once a year. Examples include begonias and gerariums.

Grass. Grass softens the look of your garden and conceals unsightly patches that are devoid of vegetation. Although many ornamental grasses abound, grasses are generally typified according to the season in which they thrive well: cool or hot season. Cite possible conditions that your ideal grass must tolerate (drought, traffic, shade, etc.) to get the best recommendation from the garden shop owner.

• Cool season grasses thrive in areas that have long winters and warm summers. Examples include ryegrass, fescue and bluegrass.

• Hot season grasses thrive in warm areas and even turn brown when the temperature is not warm enough. Examples include Bermuda, Buffalo and St. Augustine.

Herbs. Herbs add functionality to your flower garden, providing you with an easy stock of cooking ingredients and varied garden fragrances. If for any reason you're a stickler to flowering-plants-only rule, you can ask the garden shop owner for specific advice. Examples of flowering herbs are basil, chives and thyme.

Shrubs. Shrubs add height to your flower garden and make excellent privacy hedges when planted close to each other. These can be short enough to be called dwarves or tall enough to look like small trees. Whether these come as evergreen, broadleaf evergreen or flowering shrubs, these will enhance the look of your flower garden.

• Evergreens retain the same lush look and color throughout the year. Not all evergreens sport just green leaves however. Examples include ink berry (dark green), false cypress (gold) and blue princess holly (dark blue-green).

• A subcategory of evergreens, broadleaf evergreens have broad leaves, retain the same leaf color throughout the year and, in addition, produce blooms that add variety to your flower garden. Examples include azaleas and rhododendrons.

• Flowering shrubs mainly flaunt flowers, using to their advantage the height of the shrub to highlight flowers. Examples include roses, hibiscus, lilacs and laurels.

As you can see, not all plants in your garden have to be flowers. Happy plant shopping!