Bright Plants for Flower Beds That Wow
From new annual and perennial varieties to grasses, get dramatic with swaths of color
The use of plants to provide blocks of intense color in gardens has been with us since Victorian days. Back then, they were mainly gaudy displays that showed off the financial status of the owner and his gardening skills. Plantings included pelargoniums, heliotropes, salvias and lobelias.
Raising these mainly half-hardy bedding plants was expensive — even in Victorian times. Raising plants from seed or cuttings requires heat in the late winter and early spring to bring on plants not suited to a northern European climate.
Today, showy annual bedding plants can still be expensive, especially if we want to use them en masse rather than just filling containers and hanging baskets. There is a more cost-effective solution to achieve a mass bedding look, however: herbaceous perennials.
Here are some great new annual bedding plants — as well as some perennials you may not have thought of — that can give your garden real drama.
Raising these mainly half-hardy bedding plants was expensive — even in Victorian times. Raising plants from seed or cuttings requires heat in the late winter and early spring to bring on plants not suited to a northern European climate.
Today, showy annual bedding plants can still be expensive, especially if we want to use them en masse rather than just filling containers and hanging baskets. There is a more cost-effective solution to achieve a mass bedding look, however: herbaceous perennials.
Here are some great new annual bedding plants — as well as some perennials you may not have thought of — that can give your garden real drama.
For many years, the impatiens, or buzzy lizzy, were known as a houseplant, perfect for growing on the window sill with its pink to white flowers. Breeding helped create varieties for bedding. Flower color remained fairly placid, with mainly pinks, orange and reds. Great for container use, yet plain in a mass bedding.
We now have more vibrant impatiens that really do provide drama in mass bedding. Here, 'Blitz Red' impatiens are used in a sweep of bright color that contrasts well against the emerald green of the grass in front.
We now have more vibrant impatiens that really do provide drama in mass bedding. Here, 'Blitz Red' impatiens are used in a sweep of bright color that contrasts well against the emerald green of the grass in front.
Discovered on a plant-hunting expedition to Southeast Asia, the New Guinea impatiens are ideal low-maintenance plants.
New Guinea impatiens also make a great impact when used in large containers.
There are many varieties to look for, including the 'Sunshine' hybrids, with their variegated foliage and bright-colored flowers of white, pink, red, orange, lavender and purple.
Planting: New Guinea impatiens grow best in the shade; in cooler areas, they will tolerate full sun, though too much sun can scorch the leaves. They are not as cold tolerant as geraniums or petunias, so plant when night temperatures reach above 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
There are many varieties to look for, including the 'Sunshine' hybrids, with their variegated foliage and bright-colored flowers of white, pink, red, orange, lavender and purple.
Planting: New Guinea impatiens grow best in the shade; in cooler areas, they will tolerate full sun, though too much sun can scorch the leaves. They are not as cold tolerant as geraniums or petunias, so plant when night temperatures reach above 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
Verbena Tapien. We usually think of Verbena Tapien as a wonderful trailing plant for hanging baskets and containers, but here we see it used in a great swath of colorful ground cover.
Though a perennial, it is often grown as an annual, which will flower from early summer right through to late autumn. The rounded clusters of flowers can be found in a range of colors including violet, sky blue, salmon and white.
Though a perennial, it is often grown as an annual, which will flower from early summer right through to late autumn. The rounded clusters of flowers can be found in a range of colors including violet, sky blue, salmon and white.
Nemesia 'Myrtille'. An alternative to verbena is to use one of the new varieties of nemesia, which is also often treated as an annual, though it can live through mild winters outside.
The new varieties of nemesia, including nemesia 'Myrtille,' shown here, have a compact habit and flower for months. They prefer a sunny position in well-drained soil to perform at their best.
The new varieties of nemesia, including nemesia 'Myrtille,' shown here, have a compact habit and flower for months. They prefer a sunny position in well-drained soil to perform at their best.
Cyclamen 'Miracle'. Blocks of single colors are brilliant at bringing to life even the most of sterile landscape schemes. These beds at Canary Wharf in London are massed with bright red cyclamen 'Miracle'.
Canary Wharf is a major business and financial center built in the 1990s on the Isle of Dogs in London. Among the tall modern buildings are wonderful landscaped areas of trees and grass, but the jewel in the crown of this landscaping is the seasonal bedding.
Large beds throughout Canary Wharf are planted with blocks of bedding throughout the year in bright, straight colors, and one favorite is the cyclamen 'Miracle' that thrives in the sheltered, shady conditions.
We can see here how they have been planted in a formal manner, with straight lines in the beds. Staggering the planting, however, gives a better and more natural coverage.
Canary Wharf is a major business and financial center built in the 1990s on the Isle of Dogs in London. Among the tall modern buildings are wonderful landscaped areas of trees and grass, but the jewel in the crown of this landscaping is the seasonal bedding.
Large beds throughout Canary Wharf are planted with blocks of bedding throughout the year in bright, straight colors, and one favorite is the cyclamen 'Miracle' that thrives in the sheltered, shady conditions.
We can see here how they have been planted in a formal manner, with straight lines in the beds. Staggering the planting, however, gives a better and more natural coverage.
Cyclamen ‘Miracle’ are beautiful miniature plants that have been bred from the more commonly known houseplant Cyclamen persicum. The color range is large, including salmon, pink, lilac, purple, red and white. They have strong scented flowers, which are held above mounds of heart shaped leaves, many of which are marbled green and silver. They will flower throughout the autumn and midwinter.
Planting note: Cyclamen 'Miracle' can survive low temperatures, but protect them from the hardest frosts. Plant in well-drained soil and keep the plants on the dry side, which will help them through the winter months and ensure flowers from the end of September through January.
Planting note: Cyclamen 'Miracle' can survive low temperatures, but protect them from the hardest frosts. Plant in well-drained soil and keep the plants on the dry side, which will help them through the winter months and ensure flowers from the end of September through January.
Using perennials in mass plantings: Shasta daisies. To achieve a mass planting wow factor, you don't always have to use annuals. This wonderful planting of Shasta daisies (Leucanthemum x superbum) shows how perennials can be used in a mass planting to give the same sort of effect.
This variety 'Snowcap' is perfect for using in this type of mass planting as it is more compact than the more traditional varieties, yet holds more flowers.
Using perennials in this way can lead to winter gaps in the garden once the foliage dies down. One solution: Underplant with naturalized spring bulbs such as a daffodils — suitable varieties include 'Tete a Tete', 'Cheerfulness', 'Carlton' and 'Ice Follies'.
This variety 'Snowcap' is perfect for using in this type of mass planting as it is more compact than the more traditional varieties, yet holds more flowers.
Using perennials in this way can lead to winter gaps in the garden once the foliage dies down. One solution: Underplant with naturalized spring bulbs such as a daffodils — suitable varieties include 'Tete a Tete', 'Cheerfulness', 'Carlton' and 'Ice Follies'.
Other Shasta daisies can be used to give the same effect. Leucanthemum 'Goldrush' features huge, cream, daisy-like ruffled flower heads with yellow centers on tall, upright stems. It is ideal in a sunny border. It also makes a great cut flower.
Other lower-growing varieties that are perfect for mass planting:
Other lower-growing varieties that are perfect for mass planting:
- Leucanthemum 'Victoria Secret': Only grows to 20 inches tall and has large white blooms with bright yellow centers.
- Leucanthemum 'Esther Reed': Only grows to 24 inches tall, with pure white double flowers.
Red-hot poker. This native of South Africa may seem an odd choice as a perennial to use for mass effect, but it gives great ground cover, with its sword-shaped leaves creating meandering mounds.
The fiery torch-like flowers of red-hot poker vertically accent the border and work well where you want a hot color scheme.
Not all red-hot pokers are actually red, though. Shown here is Kniphofia uvaria 'Malibu Yellow', an evergreen perennial that likes full sun. The flowers on the lower portion of the dense spikes are bright yellow and bloom from spring right through summer, which makes it a great bedding plant substitute. Kniphofia 'Malibu Yellow' can grow to 3 feet tall and 4 feet wide.
The fiery torch-like flowers of red-hot poker vertically accent the border and work well where you want a hot color scheme.
Not all red-hot pokers are actually red, though. Shown here is Kniphofia uvaria 'Malibu Yellow', an evergreen perennial that likes full sun. The flowers on the lower portion of the dense spikes are bright yellow and bloom from spring right through summer, which makes it a great bedding plant substitute. Kniphofia 'Malibu Yellow' can grow to 3 feet tall and 4 feet wide.
Kniphofia. Tall, bright and imposing, kniphofias lend height, vibrancy and drama to any garden. This variety, Kniphofia 'Ember Glow', produces tall spikes of red flower buds that open to orange and fade to yellow above clumps of evergreen, strap-like leaves. They also look great against a background of ornamental grasses.
Planting note: Kniphofia is an easy and undemanding plant to grow. It prefers a position in full sun and though it will survive with a low rainfall, it flowers better when watered regularly.
Planting note: Kniphofia is an easy and undemanding plant to grow. It prefers a position in full sun and though it will survive with a low rainfall, it flowers better when watered regularly.
Grasses. A wide range of ornamental grasses can make a superb impact when massed. These blocks planted close to the building are composed of the Japanese blood grass (Imperata cylindrica 'Rubra').
When grown in full sun, this grass develops the brightest blood-red coloring, but it needs to grow in a moist, humus rich soil.
More: Bathe Your Garden in a River of Color
When grown in full sun, this grass develops the brightest blood-red coloring, but it needs to grow in a moist, humus rich soil.
More: Bathe Your Garden in a River of Color
New Guinea impatiens form compact, succulent plants growing 1-2 feet tall by the summer's end. Leaves are long and narrow in green, bronze or purple.