Sick of seeing your garden plots turn brown and crispy in spring while your neighbors’ bloom with color and life? There’s no reason to resign yourself to being the “brown thumb” of the neighborhood when all you really need is to plant the right flowers. That’s right, not all flowers bloom the same. Some are more resilient and require less upkeep — perfect for the time-pressed or beginning gardener. Read on to discover 10 different varieties of easy-to-grow flowers to plant this spring.
1. Cosmos
These tall, frilly flowers blossom through midsummer to the first frost. Cosmos should be planted in full sun and grow best in well-drained soil, but they can also grow in dry or sandy gardens.
2. Sweet Peas
Sweet peas are well known for their gorgeous scent and variety of dainty shades. They grow best in cool temperatures with their heads in the sun and like to have a trellis or fence to grow up.
3. Pansies
Pansies are widely available at nurseries in six-packs that are easy to transfer directly into your garden. They will bloom in sun or partial shade and prefer rich, well-drained soil.
4. Love-in-a-Mist
Love-in-a-Mist appear dainty with lace-like petals, but they are actually quite durable. Seeds should be sown directly onto soil 2 to 3 times throughout the summer to prolong their bloom.
5. Sunflowers
Hardy sunflowers tend to be drought and heat tolerant and can thrive in most soil types (except water-logged). Their thick stems can grow between 3-16 feet tall and may require staking for support.
6. California Poppies
California poppies are ideal for dry, even rocky gardens in direct sunlight. They don’t require much watering and are also self-seeding, so they’ll likely pop up year after year.
7. Fuchsias
Bright, hardy fuchsias are a great option for hanging baskets or adding bulk to shady areas. They prefer moist but well-drained soil and should be occasionally pruned to encourage growth.
8. Geraniums
Geraniums, which come in a wide range of colors, are good for providing color to flower boxes, baskets, and plots that will last from spring to fall. While they require frequent watering, they are pest and disease resistant.
9. Snapdragons
These unique flowers bloom heavily from spring to fall and will attract butterflies to your garden. Snapdragons come in just about any color you could want and are best when grown in full sunlight.
10. Morning Glories
Morning glories are late bloomers that don’t tend to flower until August or early September. Their fast-growing vines quickly cover walls or trellises and will self-seed for yearly growth.
