There are so many types of flowers out there, but these ten are the ones that most people should start planting right away. These are easy to grow and they look great, too.
1. Borage
A borage flower is a star flower thanks to its attractive star shaped blue flowers that are beloved by people and pollinating insects alike, borage provides plenty of sweet nectar, which is perfect for bees.
This is a beautiful flower and it will add some cheer to your yard or patio. It will be low maintenance, requiring minimal care, and it is not only pretty, but useful too.
Borage is a tasty, nutritious addition to any summer garden. Learn more about growing borage here.
2. Butterfly Bush
Butterflies and hummingbirds will love this. In spring and summer, purple, lavender, pink, or white flowers will bring lovely fragrance to your backyard. They can be grown in zones 5-9.
Unlike annuals, which flower and die each year, these are long-lived shrubs. They grow into large trees, reaching heights of 8-10 feet. They can take years to reach maturity, and then may grow to be about as wide as the original plant.
There are many colors and cultivars available at Nature Hills Nursery. You’ll find tips and tricks for growing butterfly bushes here.
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3. Coneflower
The bright yellow flowers of Coneflower attracts butterflies, which enjoy a drink of its sweet nectar. They attract a range of smaller beneficial insects such as bees.
These lovely flowers are best positioned in perennial gardens adjacent to vegetable gardens. There are several varieties of coneflower plants available from Burpee, including a ‘Paradiso Mix,’ which produces a wide range of colors. Learn more about growing echinacea here.
4. Cow Parsnip
Parsnips are not as well-known as other root vegetables, such as carrots, but they have a number of uses. They are excellent sources of nectar and pollen for pollinators, including small bees and wasps.
This attractive plant produces showy flower heads from spring through summer. It grows easily and is hardy across most of North America.
5. Dahlia
From deep red to delicate pink, they are among my favorite flowers. It is important to get the right variety of dahlias, from bushy to herbaceous, to give your gardening friends.
You’ll have more success attracting insects with cacti or other varieties of succulents if the blossoms aren’t too close together for pollinators to reach the flower.
Choose the types of dahlias that don’t have spiky centers, like the double and single types, which are easier to care for and have longer bloom times. Burpee has over 40 varieties to choose from, including a rainbow of colors.
Have Look: How to grow hydrangeas
6. Daisy
In the springtime when I was a kid, daisies were very much the flowers of my youth. They brought me hours of fun in the schoolyard making daisy chains. And because they’re a great nectar source for bees and butterflies, they were great for attracting them into my garden. The classic white and yellow colors on their petals help to make them stand out against the green foliage of my garden.
But daisies are a great choice, as they can bloom for months. Some types of daisies come in all sorts of beautiful colors like Yellow, Pink, Blue, and more. Plant them in a sunny window to see if you like any of these lovely flowers.
7. Dandelion
Each time I see someone spraying pesticides on a plant that makes up a significant part of the healthiest organic food we produce in America, I inwardly cringe. Dandelions are one of the easiest, hardest plants to kill with pesticides, and once they’re gone, the soil is left barren for all the other native plants that benefit from being pollinators.
Dandelion leaves are a nutritious food for many insects, but it’s those bright yellow blooms that we should be paying attention to. They can grow throughout the spring and summer, providing lots of food for pollinators such as bees.
Some people love the dandelion so much, they would pay to make them part of their garden. There are many different varieties of dandelion. This is the only one we sell. The only problem is that the other types of dandelion flower so much better for bees and butterflies.
8. Goldenrod
Goldenrods is a gorgeous flower that will look lovely in your garden or home. It lasts well into the fall and blooms during summer. Its beautiful bright yellow flowers and dark green foliage make it a stunning choice for adding color to any room.
Your new neighbors are important for more reasons than one: they’ll keep you company while you’re gardening, they’ll help you weed your garden, and they’ll encourage other members of your community to get involved in growing their own garden this year.
9. Lavender
9. Lavender is a great plant to attract bees. Besides bees, this plant has a wide variety of other uses that can benefit both humans and pets. It repels ants and other insects, and it has insecticidal properties. It also helps keep fleas and other pests away from you.
Lavender is a very pleasant smelling plant that’s good to use in the home, especially for scenting the air. You can grow it at home, using these seeds from Eden Brothers.
10. Marigold
Rosemary is a plant used for culinary purposes and for making essential oils. It has medicinal uses as well, being used for digestive problems. You can buy rosemary in different forms, including leaves, flowers, and dried flowers.
Marigold comes with the added bonus of being great for improving soil health, and its roots are supposed to repel diseases-causing soil nematodes. If you’re going to plant tomatoes, try varieties with open centers so the insects can reach the pollen.
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A combination of yellow, gold, orange, and red flowers, ‘Chameleon’ marigolds are a wonderful variety for attracting pollinators like honey bees, bumblebees and hummingbirds. They’re also perfect for cutting for bouquets and wreaths.
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