Here are 42 of the world’s prettiest flowering plants to consider growing in your garden beds or containers.
The list includes spring-blooming bulbs, annuals, perennials, andnative wildflowers.
Birds of paradise, tulips, and wisteria are also known to have toxic properties.
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Dahlias require full sun and plenty of fertilizer and water.
Peony (Paeonia)
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The name says it all.
The large circumference of fuchsia guard petals surrounds a frilly lemon center of petals, which creates the bowl.
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They resemble the colorful feathers of the tropical bird they are named for.
Parrot tulips are not long-lived bulbs, so many gardeners treat them as annuals.
Hydrangea
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Hydrangeasare fast-growing shrubs with resplendent colorful blooms.
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Plant these deciduous shrubs in the fall or early spring.
Plants must overwinter indoors north of zone 10.
You will recognize one of the dozen or so species of theZygopetalumgenus of orchids.
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Unlikemany orchids, the zygopetalum is also very fragrant.
Grow in partial shade in humid conditions, and protect from hot summer temperatures and freezing temperatures.
These ornamental deciduous trees grow quickly, making them an ideal choice to fill your garden with color.
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Thesetrue liliesneed a sheltered spot where they won’t be subjected to wind and require excellent drainage.
The variety ‘R.O.
Backhouse’ pictured here features pink buds that open to gold flowers dusted with purple freckles.
The Spruce / Letícia Almeida
These plants have very particular growing conditions in zones 3 to 7 and bloom for about two weeks.
These eye-catching mountain-grown plants have silky blooms; they are prized for their beauty.
They are only recommended for mountain rock gardens and best in the pacific northwest.
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Delphinium comes in covetedshades of bluefrom wispy powder puff blue to robust violet and purple.
Delphiniums do well in areas with cool or mild summers in zones 3 to 7.
They need rich soil, staking, and regular moisture.
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Delphiniums are extremely cold hardy, but they will not grow well in high humidity climates.
These plants are biennial in zones 4-8, meaning they produce foliage their first year and flower the next.
Try ‘Mountains Mixed,’ which has upright-facing flowers.
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Be aware that all parts of this plant are toxic to humans and animals.
Cockscomb flowers are annuals that are easy to grow from seed, and plants may even self-sow.
In addition to magenta-red, these sun lovers come in orange, pink, yellow, and purple hues.
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Protea plants are ancient flowers that developed more than 100,000 years ago.
Grow protea in full sun and water sparingly.
Love-Lies-Bleeding (Amaranthus caudatus)
Love-lies-bleeding plants are easy to grow as annuals in all growing zones.
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Theedible, nutritious seedsare a bonus.
Also known as the tassel flower,Amaranthus caudatusmakes a stunning hanging basket specimen.
Cut edible flowers early in the morning when the flavors are most intense.
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To store them, put the flowers in a plastic bag in the refrigerator.
They should last for a couple of days.
Vines are hardy to zone 5.
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Passionflowers are rapid growers and are best planted in spring or early fall.
The flowers are usually simple single blossoms, though some types feature double flowers.
They vary in size, but most flowers are two to five inches in diameter.
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These flowers are attractive to butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds.
There are more than 3,000 types of camellias; most are slow-growing.
The delicately layered petals are used in perfumes for their sweet fragrance.
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The blooms are popular with pollinating visitors.
Deer don’t seem to favor the flower, but young buds interest the grazers.
These pretty flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies with many colors and contrasting veining, giving them vibrant visual interest.
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It’s aspiller plantperfect for hanging baskets and containers.
This plant will flower in its first year and summer with intense blue-violet flowers.
Some cultivars have white and pink blooms.
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Columbine (Aquilegia spp.)
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Columbine (Aquilegia spp.)
blooms look exotic, like ornate works of art with spurs and delicate petals that attract hummingbirds.
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Thisherbaceous perennialcomes in many colors and is generally planted in early spring, blooming for four weeks about mid-spring.
If you allow the plant to go to seed, it will easily self-sow.
It’s a tough, cold-hardy plant for your gardenalthough short-lived.
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It has large, heart-shaped foliage and long-blooming flowers in many colors.
The rounded lily-pad-looking leaves frame the funnel shape of the flowers with a little spur on the underside.
It’s a low-maintenance beauty that grows in poor soil and can withstand drought.
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This edible plant is safe to have around children and pets.
It’s not a favorite deer food, but a hungry deer will eat anything.
Zinnia
Zinnias are very easy to grow from seed or from nursery transplants.
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They tolerate drought, heat, and deer.
They bloom easily with bold-colored rounded blooms.
Flower forms vary from daisy-like, double, or cactus-flowered.
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They come in tall and dwarf varieties and are loved by pollinators.
These fragrant flowers have a long bloom timeall the way from June to October.
Ideally, these bulbs should be planted in the fall.
The Spruce / Gyscha Rendy
They can bloom throughout the season, spreading happily as they go.
But their vibrant color and easy-to-grow nature are their biggest appeal.
They bloom abundantly, producing even more flowers if you have the time to deadhead.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Hydrangeas in the Garden.Rutgers.Edu, https://njaes.rutgers.edu/fs1152/.
Papaver Betonicifolium.Ncsu.Edu, https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/papaver-betonicifolium/.
Foxglove.Poison.Org, https://www.poison.org/articles/foxglove
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Bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis) is most heart-shaped before fully opening.Topic Images / Getty Images
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