From the article: Top Plant Choices for Including in Your First Gardens
If someone you knew was just starting their first flower garden and asked what was beautiful, yet easy to grow, what plant or plants would you recommend they include? Plants You'd Recommend
Native Plants
- Native plants are more likely to survive your area's conditions, even if you're a new gardener. They can take the weather in your zone and are suitable to your soil. A few soil amendments may need to be made, but overall, you can't beat the native plants.
- —AuntieMoon
Get a Specimen Tree
- I started with flowers and didn't build my backdrop. Makes for a boring winter in zone 5. A Pagoda Dogwood, a weeping cherry. Whatever tree, size and shape works for you even if you have to buy a tiny something at a big box store and wait for it to grow.
- —OhWhatA.com
Succulents!
- Because we have water "issues" here where I live, many folks are taking out thirsty lawns and planting edibles. I also have done that but I usually encourage people to grow succulents because they are easy and don't require much water. Plus, they are NOT run-of-the-mill ordinary. Enthusiasts find there is color, texture, size and shapes like things that grow on mars. And they don't need full sun, some even require light shade such as Epiphyllums. Oh, and did I mention the flowers?
- —Guest Cid Young
Easy Plants from Seed and Seedling
- I'd recommend planting coneflower, cosmos, and rudbeckia. I'd buy the plants for rudbeckia and coneflower, and start the cosmos from seeds. Zinnias, also from seed. Leave room in your garden for dividing your rudbeckia and coneflower. More good choices: Bearded irises, dahlias and daylillies.
- —Guest Lula todd
Morning Glory
- I would recommend morning glories to everyone, they are the most wonderful plant. These plants are simple and sweet. I think that the "Morning Glory" is a great name for them because when you wake up in the morning you can just look outside, and PRESTO! You are the most cheerful person!
- —Guest hailey
Plants For The New Gardener
- All of the plants suggested below are very easy to grow. I grow them all within my 400 ft. of gardens. In fact, most were part of my very first garden some 25 years ago! Of course, there are many, many more to choose from, but the ones mentioned below are a good start. For shade annuals: I would suggest impatiens, begonias, fuchsia or any annuals from the Coleus family. For shade perennials: My favorites are the Coral Bells, Astilbes or the fantastic blue/mauve Scabiosa. If you deadhead this perennial, it will bloom all summer long. For sun annuals: I just love the delicate blue Felicia Daisy, Ageratum Blue Horizon or the bright colours of the Calendula. For sun perennials: Try planting the Black-eyed Susans, Coreopsis Moonbeam or the Campanula white and blue clips.
- —dorismccomb
Making More Geraniums
- The hardy plants are the easiest to propagate. Just cut-off about 4 inches of the stem with leaves attached . Trim off all but 3 leaves and insert in the soil. Don't over water and give lots of room to grow.
- —Guest matt
Easy and beautiful flowers
- Annuals are easiest to grow as they can be sown directly into the ground. I'd suggest marigolds, phlox, nasturtium,sunflowers, cosmos, stock and sweet peas for sun. Perennials that are easy bloomers include daylily, daisy, speedwell, hosta and mums.
- —GetintheGarden
Cosmos
- They come in pink and gold for sure, but I have grown the gold. They come up early and once blooming they bloom all the way through fall. They reseed, but can be pulled up easily. Good curb appeal. Oklahoma gardener.
- —Guest Cosmos
Easy Perennials
- Echinecia (cone flower( is also very easy to grow and maintain. It really only needs a little dead heading. Heuchera is also a great choice for the front of the garden maybe with some coreposis at the edge? Really perennials are very easy to grow and maintain. Good luck have fun!
- —Guest Rebecca
Bamboo
- Running bamboo is my most admired plant.It's evergreen, grows 30' to 40' high,doesn't seed except every 50-80 years when the whole grove dies.However, it does require a bit of maintenance---step on the unwanted plants in Spring for a month.Otherwise, no water or fertilizer is required. May the gods forgive me for recommending a non-native species. Many of our plants come from Japan or China. [Note from Marie: If you are worried about bamboo taking over, try growing it in a container. Also, please remove bamboo when you sell your home and move or at least let the new owners know about it.]
- —Guest jeanX
New gardens in clay soil with sun
- As a new gardener, one of the best picks I made was portulaca-they love sun and heat and have interesting leaves, too. I love the fluffy blooms.
- —Guest Cathy
Hardy geraniums are easy
- I highly recommend hardy geraniums. There are many cultivars, all with different colors, length of bloom, habit. My favorite is Rozanne. But I'm ordering two new ones to try this spring. My first was a bigroot variety from a neighbor, and it was so easy to transplant. Still thriving after 10 years. Good luck!
- —Guest Kathy
FOOL PROOF SEDUMS HOSTAS
- For easy for first time gardeners & kids, I suggest sedums. I have many, easy to grow love full sun, will tolerate shade also, once established will tolerate dry soil. Honey bees love the flower heads. Easy to make new plants, simply pull off a few stems, pull from base of plant. Bury deep in ground, I strip off a good 6 inches of leaves and plant 6 inches deep, no need to root or use rooting powder. Water well daily till new growth appears at base. Look like little rosettes. Once established tolerate drought conditions. Flower heads turn from pink, to red, to deep rust in late fall. Hold up all winter, in early spring just cut off to ground & watch new growth emerge. we have RED CHIEF, grows about 25 inches tall & as wide, stays well shaped. A tough as nails plant. And also HOSTA's are easy to grow & come in so many different sizes from bushel basket size to little dwarf ones. With so many choices of foilage colors to chose from, greens, varigated ,white, even yellow.
- —GARDENGRANNIE
Sue
- I would recommend pinks. The flowers are pretty and fragrant, the foliage is beautiful even when they are not blooming, they spread nicely, but aren't too aggressive and the are easy to transplant. Best of all they are very low maintenance!
- —Guest Sue N.
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