Unlimited Flower Power
Did you know that according to recent research, there are nearly 400,000 flowering plants in the world? However, despite the impressive number of options available to gardeners, fewer than 5% of those plants are regularly grown.
So what are the most common ornamental flowers around the world? Well, here are some of the most popular flowers according to Gardening Know How visitors. Click the image below to learn more about growing any of these popular petals:
Sunflower
Petunia
Dahlia
Daffodil
Verbena
Marigold
Find even more flowers you can grow by visiting our full collection of flower articles.
Full Sun vs. Shade: Understanding Your Flower Options
Just like people, some flowers live for the sunshine. Others would much rather have some protection from the rays.
What this means for gardeners of all skill levels, is that the key to growing happy, healthy flowers usually starts with knowing which ones will thrive in different parts of your garden space. Explore more below:
Shade Tolerant Flowers
A dark patch in your yard doesn’t always mean you can’t add some pops of color. In fact, the right flowers planted in just the right place will most certainly brighten up an otherwise dark corner. So what flowers grow well in the shade? Let’s find out!
Full Sun Flowers
Of course, other spots in your garden may have the opposite problem – a full day’s worth of sun beating down. The same way that shade shouldn’t prevent you from growing beautiful flowers. Discover many popular, full sun flowers that you can grow.
Sunlight Tracking
If you’re unclear exactly how much sunlight certain spots in your garden are getting (or aren’t getting), you may want to invest some time in mapping your sunlight. It can be a time-consuming task, but one that will help in the long run.
Know Your Zone
In addition to understanding the sunlight that is or is not reaching your gardening space, it’s also helpful to know your zone.
The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map can help you determine the likelihood that certain plants will thrive in your garden. In late 2023, the USDA updated its zone maps for all 50 states. Click the image below to see what exact zone you’re gardening in, and learn what it means for your garden.
(Image credit: U.S. Department of Agriculture)
Dig Deeper Into Flower Bulbs, Cacti & More
In general, ornamental gardening can be broken down into dozens of sub-categories, including succulents and cacti, flower bulbs, vines, ground cover, and so much more. To help guide you on your journey, we’ve made several of these subcategories easily accessible below:
Want More Flowers? Try These Bushes, Shrubs & Trees
Many of the most popular flowers grown all around the world are found on bushes, shrubs, and trees.
Below you’ll find the most popular flowering bushes, shrubs, and trees that Gardening Know How users are growing. Get the Know How and growing or caring for these flowers by clicking on any of the images below:
Hydrangea
Crepe Myrtle
Azalea
Forsythia
Rhododendron
Annuals, Perennials & Biennials
The life cycle of nearly all plants can be divided into three categories: annuals, perennials, and biennials. Understanding the differences between each can help gardeners determine not only when and how they grow, but also how to use them in the garden.
Learn more about each category below to save yourself time and money:
Annual Plants
The simple answer to “what is an annual plant?” is, generally speaking, a plant that dies within one growing season. However, learning more about annuals can also help ensure they can thrive in your space.
Perennial Plants
Simply put, perennials are plants that live on year after year. Of course, because perennials will most-likely come back, they actually can be a bit more work in the long-run than annuals. Let’s learn more.
Biennial Plants
In its most basic definition, biennials are flowering plants that have a two-year biological cycle. However, there is much more to know about these unique plants if you’re planning on adding them to your garden.
