How to Grow the Most Popular Flowers

Every garden starts with plants, water and sun — but gorgeous gardens come from knowing what each plant needs. Read on, and we'll tell you how to grow the most popular flowers.

By: Lynn Coulter

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Learn How to Grow the Most Popular Flowers

Roses, sunflowers, hydrangeas and daffodils are some of the most popular flowers in American gardens. Some have a high-maintenance reputation (roses, we're talking to you). Others sail along with little care.

Grow annuals, perennials, shrubs and ground covers with different bloom times, and you'll have a colorful show from spring into winter. Gardens are magical, but there's no wizardry required. Just visit the USDA Gardening Zone Map to find the right plants for your climate, and we'll tell you how to grow the most popular flowers.

Primroses

Prima rosa is Latin for first rose, and primroses (Primula) are among the first spring flowers. Most cultivated types are hardy in Zones 5 to 9 and behave like short-lived perennials. In other zones, they're grown as annuals. Look for primroses in white, yellow, pink, red, purple, violet-blue and orange. Some grow to 24 inches tall but most mature at 8 to 12 inches.

Sow primrose seeds indoors in late winter or outdoors in a cold frame and transplant them when they have two sets of leaves. Most primroses like cool weather, partial shade, regular water and slightly acidic, well-draining soil mixed with organic matter. Plant young plants outdoors about two weeks before your last expected frost, spacing them every 6 to 12 inches. Protect them with frost cloth if there's a freeze.

Learn More: How to Grow and Care for Primrose Flowers

Pansies

Cheerful pansies (Viola x wittrockiana) bloom in early spring. These short-lived perennials get leggy and produce fewer flowers in warm weather, so most gardeners treat them as annuals. In mild-winter areas like Zones 7 to 10, pansies flower through the winter, wilting but perking back up after a frost. They also provide cool-weather color in Zones 4 to 6, although they may go dormant when temperatures drop very low.

Give pansies six hours of daily sun and organically rich soil. Mix in slow-release fertilizer at planting in the amount indicated on the fertilizer label. Southerners can sow pansy seeds outdoors in the fall and all gardeners can start seeds indoors for blooms in 10 to 12 weeks. Pansies grow best with night temperatures in the 40s and days in the 60s. Water them regularly while they're actively growing and let the soil dry out slightly between waterings.

Learn More: How to Grow and Care for Pansies

Cosmos

All types of cosmos, including Cosmos bipinnatus, C. sulphureus and C. atrosanguineus, are grown as annuals in the US and bloom from late spring or early summer until frost. After your last frost, scatter the seeds over loose, well-draining soil or sow them in shallow trenches in full sun. Cover them lightly. If you prefer, start the seeds indoors four weeks before your last frost; put the seed trays on a heating mat and cover them to retain humidity. Gently water the soil and keep it moist until the seeds germinate. For a steady supply of flowers, sow more seeds every 4 weeks.

After all danger of frost has passed, transplant cosmos into your garden 9 to 12 inches apart. They need well-draining soil with moderately low fertility and a neutral pH. Don't fertilize. When the seedlings are 6 inches tall, pinch them just above the first or second leaf node to encourage branching. Deadhead faded flowers or let them set seeds to drop and self-sow.

Learn More: How to Plant, Grow and Care for Cosmos Flowers

Tulips

Tulips (Tulipa) also bloom in spring. Although they're perennials, many hybrids bloom for only a year or two and don't come back, so some gardeners treat them as annuals. They're available in many lovely colors and flower forms.

Unless you live where winter temperatures stay around 30 degrees, buy pre-chilled bulbs. Plant them in the fall, six to eight weeks before your first frost, in well-drained, loose soil amended with organic matter. Tulips need full sun in northern climates or cool, morning sun where the afternoon sun is hot. Place them pointed ends up as deeply and as far apart as indicated on the label for your variety. If it rains after you plant, don't give them extra water. Wait until the leaves emerge in spring to apply bulb food or bone meal. Let the leaves die back naturally after the flowers finish.

Learn More: Planting and Caring for Tulips

Bleeding Hearts

Bleeding heart (Lamprocapnos spectabilis, formerly called Dicentra spectabilis) is a perennial that blooms in early spring. Hardy in Zones 3 to 9, it bears heart-shaped red or pink blooms. Bleeding hearts come in two forms: dwarf plants that can be used as groundcovers and taller, classic types. When the summer heats up, their foliage turns yellow and the plants go dormant until the following spring.

Bleeding hearts need moist, organically rich soil with a neutral to slightly acidic pH and partial to full shade. Set out bare-root plants in early spring. Add potted plants to the garden anytime during the growing season. Don't fertilize at planting. When new spring growth emerges, apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer or side-dress them with compost.

Learn More: How to Grow Bleeding Heart

Snapdragons

Snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus) come in a variety of colors, flower forms and heights. They're usually grown as cool-season annuals, although they're tender perennials in Zones 7-10. Give them full sun, well-drained soil amended with organic matter that has a pH of 6.2 to 7.0. Plant young snapdragons in cool weather for flowers from spring until the temperatures rise. They may rebloom when the mercury drops in the fall.

You can also start seeds indoors eight to 10 weeks before your last expected frost. Transplant small varieties into the garden about 6 inches apart and larger varieties 12 inches apart. Apply an inch of water per week if rainfall is scarce and fertilize after the flowers open.

Learn More: How to Grow and Care for Snapdragon Flowers

Daffodils

Grown from bulbs, daffodils are hardy in Zones 3 to 8 and need a period of cold to bloom. In Northern gardens, plant them in September and in warmer climates in November, or when your soil is about 50-55 degrees. Plant them twice as deep as their diameters, pointed ends up. Mix in some bulb fertilizer, but don't let it touch the bulbs; it could burn them. Space them 6 to 12 inches apart or scatter them over the ground and plant them where they land.

Daffodils need sun to part sun and well-drained soil that stays moist. Stop watering when the flowers finish or the bulbs may rot. Depending on the variety, daffodils bloom from late winter (February and March) to late spring (May), so you can plant early- , mid- and late-blooming types for a staggered flower show.

Learn More: Planting and Growing Daffodils

Irises

Irises fill the garden with rainbow colors. Look for bearded irises that bloom from midspring to early summer or Siberian irises that flower from late spring to early summer. Both types are perennials in Zones 3 to 9. Spring-blooming Dutch irises grow from bulbs and are usually treated as annuals. Other types include Japanese and African irises, and some are rebloomers.

Plant irises so the upper part of the rhizome is exposed to the sun. Mulch only in the first winter, so strong roots can set. Bearded types need full sun but Siberian irises can tolerate some shade, especially in hot climates. Both need moist, well-draining soil. Plant them before the first frost because they need a period of cold to bloom. Dutch irises can be planted in fall or spring.

Learn More: Iris Flower: Varieties to Grow and How to Care for Them

Sweet Alyssum

Don't forget sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritima) when you're growing the most popular flowers. These short-lived perennials, hardy in Zones 9 to 11, are annuals in Zones 5 to 8 and grow easily from seeds or plants, bearing fragrant white, pink or purple flowers all spring.

Depending on the variety, sweet alyssums can grow 3 to 10 inches tall. Most slow down or stop flowering in the summer heat, but perk back up when they're trimmed and watered consistently. In very warm climates, they'll bloom in the fall and winter.

Start the seeds indoors six to eight weeks before your last frost or sow them outdoors on the day of your last frost. Sweet alyssum likes moist, well-draining soil with a neutral to slightly acidic pH. Give them full sun in cool climates and partial shade in warmer areas. Plants growing in the ground don't need fertilizer unless the soil is depleted. If it is, mix a slow-release fertilizer into the soil when you're sowing the seeds and re-apply it as the product directions indicate. Feed potted plants monthly with a water-soluble, balanced fertilizer.

Learn More: How to Grow Sweet Alyssum

Lilies Of The Valley

From late spring to early summer, lily of the valley plants (Convallaria majalis) perfume naturalized areas, beds and borders. Available in white or pink, lilies of the valley are hardy in Zones 2-7 and flower best in cold-winter regions. Most grow 6 to 12 inches tall.

Plant lilies of the valley in shade or dappled shade in moist, well-draining soil mixed with organic matter. Set out bare-root plants, called pips, in very early spring and they'll flower in about two years. Set out young plants after all danger of frost has passed.

Lily of the valley plants seldom need extra water. Top dress them with an inch or so of nutrient-rich compost after the stems appear. They'll go dormant in the summer. Because they spread by above-ground and underground stems, the plants will probably need dividing every few years to avoid overcrowding.

Learn More: How to Grow Lily of the Valley

Peonies

Different types of showy, fragrant peonies bloom from late spring to late summer, so you can combine them for a long-lasting flower show. Because peonies need a period of cold to bloom, Southerners should plant early types that don't require much cold weather. Set out bare-root peonies in the fall at least six weeks before your first frost. It's also fine to plant in the spring, but you may not get flowers for a year or two.

Most peonies are hardy in Zones 3 to 8; some herbaceous types can survive temperatures as low as 20 degrees below zero. Give them full sun in cool climates and plant the eyes two inches below the soil. In warm climates, give them afternoon shade and plant the eyes one inch deep. Plant potted peonies so their roots are level with the soil. Apply one or two inches of water weekly if rainfall is insufficient. Peonies need plenty of room to grow and moist, rich, well-draining soil with a pH of 6.5 to 7. After they bloom, feed them lightly with a little fertilizer and compost.

Learn More: Peony Flowers: How to Plant and Care for Peonies

Poppy

Some people think all poppies are red, but these spring bloomers come in yellow, white, orange, gold, blue, pink or purple, and there are different types, including Oriental, Shirley, Breadseed, Iceland (all Papaver spp.) and California poppies (Eschscholzia californica). Different species grow in Zones 2 to 10 as annuals while some are short-lived or true perennials, so there's a poppy for almost any every garden. Poppies bloom in mid-spring while the nights are cool and may bloom into the summer if the nights stay cool.

Poppies dislike transplanting, so direct seed them into a sunny spot. In Zones 8 to 10, sow the seeds in fall. In Zones 3 to 7, sow them when the nights are cool in fall, late winter or early spring. Sprinkle the tiny seeds evenly over the soil's surface and lightly press them in; don't cover them. Mist them gently. Thin the seedlings as indicated for your variety and protect them with a floating row cover if there's a hard freeze. Once established, poppies self-seed nicely.

Learn More: How to Plant, Grow and Care for Poppy Flowers

Foxgloves

Common foxgloves (Digitalis purpurea) are biennials that take two years to bloom from seeds, but they're also sold as young plants. Starting in late spring, foxgloves flower for two to three months. Leave a few faded flowers on these spiky beauties to drop seeds and self-sow.

Most foxgloves need dappled shade, but some take full sun (read your label or seed packet to know which kind you have) and grow 12 to 36 inches tall. Sow the seeds in early summer but don't cover them; they need light to germinate. You can also start the seeds indoors eight to 10 weeks before your last frost. Foxgloves need evenly moist, slightly acidic soil that drains easily and should be watered during dry spells. Space the plants 12 to 20 inches apart and stake them, if needed. When grown in organically rich soil, they don't need fertilizer. If the soil is poor, apply a slow-release 5-10-5 fertilizer and water it in.

All parts of foxgloves are toxic, so keep children and animals away from them and wear gloves when handling them.

Learn More: How to Grow Foxgloves

Impatiens

Impatiens (Impatiens walleriana) are nearly carefree annuals you can plant after all danger of frost has passed, and they'll bloom until frost. Their seeds are slow to germinate and picky about soil temperatures, so most gardeners grow them from young plants. Give impatiens shade or filtered sun and fast-draining, organically rich soil. Mix in a slow-release fertilizer at planting, water it in and apply a water-soluble fertilizer every two or three weeks thereafter. Let the top two inches of soil dry out before watering again. Impatiens range in size from 8 to 48 inches tall and may come back as perennials in the warmest gardening zones.

New Guinea impatiens (I. hawkeri) bloom until frost and grow in shade. Some can take more sun than regular impatiens. SunPatiens (I. hybrids) can take full sun.

Learn More: Growing and Caring for Impatiens

Dianthus and Carnations

Sweet William, cheddar pinks and carnations are varieties of dianthus, fragrant plants that bloom at different times from late spring until frost.

Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus), hardy in Zones 3-9, is a short-lived perennial that starts blooming in May and grows 1 to 2 feet tall. Cheddar pinks (D. gratianopolitanus) are hardy perennials in Zones 4 to 8 and flower from May to July, growing 6 to 12 inches tall. Carnations (D. caryophyllus) are also perennials. Hardy in Zones 5 to 9, they bloom in June and July and grow 12 to 18 inches tall.

Except for Sweet Williams, which take full sun to part shade, these other dianthus need full sun. Give them organically rich, loose soil. Sow the seeds eight weeks indoors before your last frost and transplant them after all danger of frost has passed, or direct-sow them into the summer garden. If you prefer, plant young dianthus plants outdoors in the fall or after the last spring frost.

Each spring, top dress dianthus with a thin layer of compost and apply mulch. Water in the summer unless the plants get about an inch of rain per week.

Learn More: How to Grow Dianthus Flowers

Zinnias

Butterflies love to visit zinnias (Zinna spp). These popular annuals come in a rainbow of colors and bloom from late spring until frost. Zinnias are easy to grow from seeds sown directly into the garden after all frost danger has passed. Give them well-drained soil mixed with a slow-release fertilizer. In heavy or clay soils, add organic matter. Zinnias vary from 6 inches to 4 feet tall.

Relatively drought-tolerant, zinnias need full sun but appreciate afternoon shade in hot climates. Space them as directed on their labels or seed packets. Good air circulation around the plants helps prevent fungal diseases.

Learn More: Planting and Growing Zinnia Flowers

Marigolds

Add a burst of sunshine to your garden with marigolds (Tagetes spp). African, French and signet marigolds are the most popular types to grow and range from 4 to 48 inches tall. These annuals are easy to grow from plants or seeds. Give them full sun and slightly acidic to neutral soil with good drainage and they'll flower until frost.

Plant marigold plants outdoors from spring into midsummer after your last frost. Start their seeds indoors six to eight weeks before the last expected frost in spring and transplant them when they're 2 inches tall and all danger of frost has passed. You can also direct sow the seeds outdoors. Add a slow-release fertilizer at planting time and you probably won't need to fertilize again. Space small marigolds 8 to 10 inches apart and larger types 10 to 12 inches apart. Water regularly but let the soil dry out a little between waterings.

Learn More: How to Plant and Grow Marigold Flowers

Hydrangeas

Depending on the variety, hydrangeas bloom from spring into late summer, and some newer types are rebloomers. Most U.S. gardeners grow one or more of six species: bigleaf (Hydrangea macrophylla); smooth (H. arborescens); panicle (H. paniculate); oakleaf (H. quercifolia); climbing (H. anomala ssp. petiolaris) or mountain (H. serrata).

Their light needs vary, but in general, hydrangeas thrive in morning sun and afternoon shade, especially in hot climates. Plant them when the weather is mild in spring or fall, in rich, easily-draining soil. Water regularly, applying at least one inch of water per week if there's not enough rain. Once a year, give them a balanced, slow-release fertilizer, or twice a year, feed them with 10-10-10 fertilizer (stop feeding in August). Deadhead them but don't prune them. It usually isn't necessary, and depending on the type you're growing, doing so might remove old wood that would bear flowers the following year.

Different hydrangeas are hardy in Zones 3 to 11, so know your zone to choose the right plants for your climate.

Learn More: How to Plant, Grow and Care for Hydrangeas

Hybrid Tea Roses

Roses are probably America's most popular flowers. Many hybrid tea roses (Rosa x hybrida) are hardy in Zones 5 to 9, mature at 3 to 8 feet tall and bloom from spring into fall. Give them full sun and well-draining soil with a pH of 6.0 to 6.5.

Plant dormant, bare-root roses in late winter or early spring after soaking them overnight in a bucket of water. Container roses can be planted anytime, but fall or spring is best. Dig holes in the ground, shape the loosened soil into cone-shaped mounds and drape the roots over them. Northerner gardeners should keep the graft union of the rose (the bulge near the base of the stem) 1 to 2 inches below the ground. Elsewhere, keep it just above ground level. Space the roses 2 to 3 feet apart, backfill the holes with soil and organic matter and water deeply.

Add a 2- to 4-inch layer of mulch and apply an inch of water per week if rain is lacking. These heavy feeders need a balanced fertilizer or one made for roses. Use it as directed on the product label.

Learn More: Tea Roses: How to Grow and Care for Hybrid Tea Roses and Old-Fashioned Tea Roses

Asiatic Lilies

Lovely, almost carefree Asiatic lilies (Lilium spp.) flower from early to late summer in many colors. Plant the bulbs in the fall, before the first freeze, in sun to part sun and loose, well-draining soil. Dig holes three times as deep as the height of the bulbs, place the flat ends down and space them 8 inches apart. Some gardeners top dress Asiatic lilies with compost tea in the spring and bone meal when the buds emerge. Let the leaves die back naturally when the flowers finish. Insulate your Asiatic lilies with mulch for the winter. Most are hardy in Zones 3 to 9 and can grow from 18 to 48 inches tall.

Learn More: How to Plant, Grow and Care for Asiatic Lilies

Dahlias

From late summer to early fall, dahlias are garden standouts. You'll find them in many lovey colors and flower forms. They can be challenging to grow in hot climates, so choose varieties recommended for your region.

Plant dahlia tubers after your last frost when the soil is 55 to 60 degrees. Give them full sun in climates with warm days and cool nights or part shade where the summers are hot and long. Morning sun and filtered afternoon light are ideal for Zones 7 to 10. Space the tubers 4 to 6 inches deep and 18 to 24 inches apart in organically rich soil that has excellent drainage.

Don't water at planting time. Wait until they have 6 to 12 inches of foliage and then apply an inch of water per week if rain is insufficient. Do a soil test to see if you need to add fertilizer. When three or four sets of true leaves appear, pinch the plants to encourage branching. Mulch and stake them as needed.

Gardeners with mild winters can leave dahlia tubers in the ground year-round. Where the winters are colder, dig, divide and store the tubers to replant the following spring.

Learn More: How to Grow and Care for Dahlias

Gladiolus

Also known as "glads," gladiolus are classic flowers for cottage and cutting gardens. Available in many colors, they grow from corms and bloom in summer, with most reaching 2 to 5 feet tall.

Gladiolus like full sun and are hardy in Zones 7 to 10, where gardeners can leave the corms in the ground to overwinter. In Zones 6 and colder, the corms should be dug and stored. After the last spring frost, replant or plant your corms, pointed ends up, 2 to 6 inches deep or as recommended for your variety. They need well-drained, moderately fertile soil amended with organic matter. Plant more corms every 14 days until early summer for flowers into early fall, or plant a mix of early, mid-season and late-season flowering types. Apply an inch of water weekly if rain is insufficient and stake them as needed.

Learn More: How to Grow Gladiolus Flowers

Sunflowers

Sunflowers (Helianthus) love the sun. These summer-blooming annuals crave six to eight hours of daily sun and nutrient-rich, well-draining soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5.

Some varieties grow to 16 feet tall while others are small enough for containers. Look for young plants or grow them from seeds. Sow the seeds after your last spring frost, when the ground is at least 60 degrees. Tuck them an inch deep into the soil and six inches apart. When they're 6 inches tall, thin them to every 12 inches. Plant more seeds every two or three weeks for continuous blooms until frost. Depending on the variety, sunflowers can take 80 to 120 days to go from seeds to blooms.

Learn More: Growing Sunflowers: When to Plant and How to Grow Sunflowers

Chrysanthemums (Mums)

Chrysanthemums (Chrysanthemum spp.) bloom from about September to frost. Garden mums are perennials that can grow 12 to 36 inches tall. Most are hardy in Zones 5 to 9, with some hardy to Zone 4.

Plant garden types you want to keep as perennials in early spring or at least six weeks before the first killing frost in fall. Mulch them to protect their shallow roots. To use them as annuals, plant them while they're in bloom in late summer or early fall. Mums need full sun and well-draining soil enriched with organic matter. Water them often and keep them mulched. Fertilize hardy mums in spring and fall, before the buds appear (don't feed mums you're growing as annuals).

Mums used as annuals don't need pruning. For hardy garden mums, cut off an inch of the branch tops early in the growing season and snip the stem tips every two weeks through the middle of the summer. This promotes more branches and blooms.

Learn More: Mums 101: When To Plant and How To Grow Chrysanthemums