These native American wildflowers produce tall stalks of delicate flowers. Plant them in full sun. Hardy to zone 4.
Geranium: Common geraniums are most often grown as annuals north of zone 7, although they overwinter well in a sunny, indoor location. The flowers come in a variety of colors and the plants have a peppery smell. Grow them in full sun.

This perennial (meaning it grows back year after year) has mauve, bottlebrush-like flowers in midsummer on plants that grow to about 3 feet.

Instructions
Planting Gay Feather

1
Plant gay feather in full sun and well-drained soil.

2
Add a light application of organic fertilizer to the planting hole.

3
Place the plants no deeper than they were growing in the containers.

4
Set the plants 1 foot apart.

5
Mulch around but not on top of the plants with 3 inches of organic compost.

6
Water well until soil is completely moist.

Choosing Gay Feather
7
Look for plants at nurseries in spring and summer.

8
Buy gay feather in 4-inch to 1-gallon containers.

9
Choose healthy-looking plants with signs of new growth in leaf and flower bud.

Caring for Gay Feather
10
Cut off any remaining stems from the previous year in early spring using bypass pruners.

11
Apply a light application of organic fertilizer on top of the soil; follow package directions.

12
Mulch around but not on top of the plants with 3 inches of organic compost.

13
Water well weekly until soil is completely moist in summers with no rainfall.

The gas plant grows slowly, but rewards the patient gardener with pink or white flower spikes in early spring. This plant prefers full sun to partial shade. The plants produce a gas on humid summer nights. Lore says the gas can be ignited by a match.

Gas plant, or burning bush, is the only species in its genus. Rumor has it that its leaves, if lighted with a match on a breathless summer evening, will produce a gas and burn with a faint glow. Many have tried, but few have reported success. The genus is named in honor of plants that grew on Mount Dicte in Crete.: A handsome plant resembling a small bush, gas plants grow between 2 and 3 feet high with glossy, compound leaves and attractive white flowers. The leaves have a faint, lemony scent. Ease of care: Easy.
: The location of a gas plant must be chosen with care. Once planted it will persist for decades, although it cannot be moved as its roots resent any disturbance. A spot in full sun with good, humus-rich, moist, and well-drained soil is needed. Plants are usually purchased as 2-year-old seedlings. Allow 3 feet between plants if grouped.
: By seed.
: In flower or out, this is an attractive plant for the border since, even after flowering has passed, the seed heads provide visual interest.
Gas plant, burning bush related varieties: Purpureus bears pink flowers, and Rubra has flowers of a rosy-purple.
Scientific name of gas plant, burning bush: Dictamnus albus

This old-fashioned plant is a bit hard to grow and may not reliably come back in cold climates. Plant it in partial shade. Foxglove prefers well-drained, moist, fertile soil. Foxglove is toxic.
Foxglove bears tall, dramatic spikes of tubular flowers with speckled throats. Foxglove blooms in midsummer and adds elegance to a perennial border, woodland area, or shade garden.
About This Plant
Foxglove’s low-growing foliage is topped by 2- to 5-foot-tall flower spikes, depending on the variety. Flower colors include pink, red, purple, white, and yellow. Foxgloves are biennials or short-lived perennials. However, although individual plants may be short-lived, foxglove readily self-sows and multiplies. Foxglove leaves contain digitalis, a potent heart medicine, and are considered poisonous.
Special Features
Easy care/low maintenance
Multiplies readily
Good for cut flowers
Deer resistant
Site Selection
Select a site with full sun to light shade and moist yet well-drained soil.
Planting Instructions
Set plants out in spring or fall, spacing plants 1 to 2 feet apart, depending on the variety; sow seeds in early summer. Prepare the garden bed by using a garden fork or tiller to loosen the soil to a depth of 12 to 15 inches, then mix in a 2- to 4-inch layer of compost. Dig a hole twice the diameter of the pot the plant is in. Carefully remove the plant from its container and place it in the hole so the top of the root ball is level with the soil surface. Carefully fill in around the root ball and firm the soil gently. Water thoroughly.
Care
Apply a thin layer of compost each spring, followed by a 2-inch layer of mulch to retain moisture and control weeds. Water plants during the summer if rainfall is less than 1 inch per week. Stake tall varieties to keep them upright. Remove the central flower spike after flowering to encourage other side shoots to form and produce more flowers. However, if you want the plant to self-sow and multiply, leave the flower spike intact on the plant so seeds can mature and disperse.

These majestic plants are a bit finicky, but earn their keep in beautiful spikes of blooms. They prefer cool summers, rich alkaline soil and moist conditions. Stake tall delphiniums to keep them from toppling.

Delphiniums are perennials grown for their showy spikes of colorful summer flowers in gorgeous shades of blue, pink, white, and purple. They are popular in cottage-style gardens and cutting gardens.

Delphiniums are a favorite of many gardeners and sometimes a challenge. They prefer moist, cool summers and do not fare well in hot, dry summers. The plants also dislike sudden wind or rain.

Except for the dwarf perennials, most delphiniums need staking.

Planting
Grow in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun to light shade, with shelter from strong winds.
Plant in the spring. Prepare the soil, mixing in 2 to 4 inches of compost.
Delphiniums are very difficult to grow from seed. Buy as a potted plant at the nursery.
Dig a hole twice the diameter of the plant’s container. When planting, ensure that the top of the root ball is level with the soil.
In the spring, broadcast lime, wood ashes, or a mixture of the two over this alkaline-loving perennial.
Care
Insert supports no later than midspring or when the plants reach 12 inches high. Stake the low-growing perennials with twiggy, brushwood support. The taller, large-flowered delphiniums need sturdy stakes.
Soil should not dry out. Water plants during the summer if rainfall is less than 1 inch per week.
For good-quality flower spikes, thin shoots when 3 inches high; leave a minimum of 2 or 3 shoots on young plants, and 5 to 7 shoots on well-established ones.
In growth, water all plants freely, applying a balanced liquid fertilizer every 2 to 3 weeks.
Deadhead by cutting spent flower spikes back to small, flowering side shoots.
After delphiniums have finished blooming, cut flower stalks to the ground, and new, though smaller, flower stalks will develop. The flowers will survive the coming cold days and even light frosts.
If delphiniums need to be divided in the spring, remove and replant the new little plants growing around the outside of the clump. Discard the hard old heart.
Pests
Susceptible to slugs and snails as well as cyclamen mites.
Powdery mildew, Southern blight, bacterial and fungal spots, gray mold, crown and root rot, white rot, rust, white smut, leaf smut, and damping off occur.
Harvest/Storage
This elegant flower is good for a cutting garden. If you take the blooms into the house as soon as they open, they will bloom again.
Add sugar to arrangements of delphinium.
Recommended Varieties
There are dwarf-sized delphiniums and medium-sized as well as tall ones (growing up to 6 feet and higher).
Belladonna Group: Upright, loose and branching perennials with single flowers that grow 3 to 4 feet tall. ‘Blue Bees’ is a Belladonna producing clear blue flowers with white centers.
Elatum Group: These are the tallest spiked hybrids growing to 6 feet or more. ‘Blue Nile’ is a medium plant bearing semi-double, bright, and mid-blue flowers with white centers (called bees). ‘Bruce’ is a tall Elatum bearing semi-double, violet-purple flowers, paler towards the center, with brown bees.
Pacific Hybrids: Similar to Elatum Group, although not as tall, this hybrid is short-lived and often grown as annuals or biennials. ‘King Arthur’ bears plum flowers with white bees with 5- to 6-foot tall flower spikes.

Day lilies are often found growing along ditches and in fields, a testament to their low-maintenance style. Plant day lilies in full sun or partial shade. Divide them every two to three years.
Daylilies are rugged, adaptable, vigorous perennials that endure in a garden for many years with little or no care. Daylilies adapt to a wide range of soil and light conditions. They establish quickly, grow vigorously, and survive winters with little or no injury.

Daylilies belong to the genus Hemerocallis and are not true lilies. This Greek word is made up of two parts: hemera meaning day and kallos meaning beauty. The name is appropriate, since each flower lasts only one day. Some of the newer varieties have flowers that open in the evening and remain open until the evening of the following day. Many of these night blooming plants are delightfully fragrant.

Each daylily plant produces an abundance of flower buds that open over a long period of time. There are many varieties, a wide range of flower colors, and the flowers continue during the heat of the summer.

Daylilies are useful in the perennial flower border, planted in large masses, or as a ground cover on slopes, where they form a dense mat in just a few years.

Site and Soil
Daylilies grow best in full sun. They will tolerate light shade, but flower best with a minimum of six hours of direct sun. Light shade during the hottest part of the day keeps the flowers fresh. Daylilies should not be planted near trees and shrubs that are likely to compete for moisture and nutrients.

Although daylilies are adaptable to most soils, they do best in a slightly acidic, moist soil that is high in organic matter and well drained.

Planting
Daylilies can be planted almost any time the soil can be worked. Till the soil deeply before planting. Work in well-rooted manure or compost to increase organic matter. Apply fertilizer based on a soil test. Contact your local Extension office for soil test information. Dig a hole large enough for the roots without bending or crowding them.

The best time to transplant or divide plants is early spring or immediately after flowering. Plants divided in the spring may not bloom the same summer. Divisions should have two to three stems or fans of leaves with all roots attached. Make divisions by digging the entire plant and gently pulling the fans apart. Cut the foliage back, leaving only five or six inches. Place the plant in the soil so the crown (the portion where the stem and root meets) is one inch below the ground line. Water thoroughly after planting. A winter mulch of straw or shredded leaves helps ensure against winter injury for unestablished plants.

Daylilies are vigorous growers and can be divided every three to four years.

A properly planted daylily.

Culture
In early spring, before growth starts, remove the dead foliage from the previous year’s growth and any weeds. A summer mulch helps eliminate or ease the unpleasant task of weeding. Perennial grasses can be difficult to eradicate if they become established within the clumps.

Although daylilies tolerate drought, they perform best in moist, but well-drained soils. One inch of water weekly is ideal, more frequent watering may be necessary on sandy soils.

Remove seed pods after bloom to prevent seed production. Plants producing seed are likely to have fewer flowers the following year.

Insect control measures usually are not necessary. Aphids and thrips sometimes feed on the flower buds. These pests can be controlled with insecticidal soaps or a repeated strong spray of water.

Annual fertilization may be helpful in producing more flowers. A spring application of manure or compost is beneficial each year.

Cultivars
More than 35,000 daylilies have been named, officially registered, and marketed. Many newly developed plants are introduced annually. Because of their scarcity, some of these new varieties sell for $100 or more, but there are many beautiful, modern cultivars available at reasonable prices. Specialty nurseries often carry thousands of different cultivars. The great majority of new cultivars are developed in southern regions of the United States. Minnesota’s short growing season requires cultivars that are adapted to grow quickly and still survive the long, cold winter.

Daylilies were traditionally plants that stopped growing and became dormant throughout the winter, but today there are semi-evergreen and evergreen cultivars. The first evergreen types were not hardy in the north, but with new introductions there are evergreen and semi-evergreen cultivars that are hardy and will grow and bloom well in Minnesota.

Another new characteristic is the ability to rebloom, or to bear more than one blooming scape per fan of leaves. To date, these reblooming cultivars are not successful in Minnesota due to the short growing season. Another guide to flower number is the bud count per scape or flowering stem. Stella de Oro is a cultivar known for numerous buds or flowers per scape.

Established daylily clumps often produce 200–400 flowers in a season. Bloom time extends from early to late summer. Each plant blooms for 30–40 days. With the large number of cultivars available, it is possible to have continuous bloom throughout the summer.

Daylily flowers come in many colors, shades, and color combinations. Some are very full and round, others have wide petals with ruffled edges and borders. Others, called spiders, are spidery in shape; doubles have double the number of petals and sepals. Many are nocturnal and very fragrant and other cultivars have branched flower scapes.

Daylilies are regional performers which means they grow well only in certain parts of the country, usually over three hardiness zones. For this reason, you should purchase daylilies from a local nursery, a nursery within the state, or a nursery in a neighboring state. If possible, visit a private or public garden such as the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum or a nursery that features daylilies to see which varieties grow in this area and select the ones you like.

The following daylilies are just a few of those that do well in Minnesota, but there are many new cultivars that are equally good.

Apricot or
Peach-colored Bertie Ferris
Calumet
Doll House Dress Circle
Little Rainbow Naomi Ruth
Ruffled Apricot
Bicolor Addie Branch Smith
Becky Lynn
Bold One
Chicago Picotee Queen
Close Up Frans Hals
Karen Sue
Painted Lady
Sea Warrior Shady Lady
Siloam Bo Peep
Siloam Virginia Henson
Toma
Gold Golden Chimes
Golden Gift
Golden Milestone Golden Prize
Golden Trinkets Ringlets
Stella de Oro
Lavender to
Purple Chicago Knobby
Little Grapette
Little Lassie
Mountain Violet Prairie Blue Eyes
Russian Rhapsody
Sebastian
Summer Wine Two Bits
Velvet Shadows
Weathermaster
Orange Bertie Ferris
By Myself
Carrot Top Condilla
Leprechauns Wealth
Pixie Parasol Rocket City
Sombrero Way
Pink Barbara Mitchell, sev*
Cathrine Woodbury
Chicago Candy Cane
Evelyn Claar Fairy Tale Pink, sev*
Halls Pink
Lullaby Baby, sev*
Mariska Siloam Double Classic
Wind Frills, ev**
Windsor Castle
Red Carey Quinn
Chicago Blackout
Hearts Afire Oriental Ruby
Premier
Red Mittens Riley Barron
Sigudilla
White and
Near White Crispin
Ice Carnival Joan Senior, ev**
May, May, sev* Serene Madonna
So Lovely
Yellow Bitsy
Brocaded Gown, sev*
Golden Prize
Happy Returns
Hortensia Hyperion
Jay
Lemon Lollypop
Mary Todd
Mini Stella Paradise Prince
Prairie Moonlight
Raindrop
So Sweet, ev**
Winning Ways
sev* = semi-evergreen; ev** = evergreen

Most people think of the exotic florists’ cyclamen that produce large, magnolia-like blooms, but alas, they are only hardy to zone 9. If you live in a northern climate, try hardy cyclamen, hardy to zone 5. The flowers are slightly smaller, but just as beautiful. Plant cyclamen corms in mid-summer.

Basic Cyclamen Plant Care
Cyclamen care starts with the correct temperature. In nature, cyclamens grow in cool, humid environments. If the temperature of your house is over 68F during the day and 50F at night, your cyclamen will start to die slowly. Temperatures that are too high will cause the plant to begin to yellow and the flowers will fade rapidly.

Cyclamen that are sold as houseplants are tropical and cannot tolerate temperatures below 40F. Hardy cyclamen, which are sold in garden nurseries for outside use, are typically hardy to zone 5, but check the plant’s label to see the specific hardiness of the hardy cyclamen variety you are buying.

The next essential part of taking care of a cyclamen is to make sure that it is properly watered. Cyclamen are sensitive to both over and under watering. Make sure the plant has excellent drainage with a potting medium that holds water well.

Water your cyclamen plant only when the soil is dry to the touch, but to not leave the plant in this dry state so long that it shows visible signs of not being watered, such as droopy leaves and flowers. When you water the plant, water from below the leaves so that the water does not touch the stems or leaves. Water on the stems and leaves can cause them to rot.

Be sure that when you water the plant, you thoroughly soak the soil and let any excess water drain away.

This spring-blooming bulb pokes its head up long before other plants appear. The flowers come in a variety of colors and resemble small, delicate tulips. Plant crocus in sun or shade. If you have the room, plant them in several locations to extend bloom time.

Crocus flowers are among the first flowers of Spring, often emerging long before the danger of snow and freezing weather has passed. Once a bud is mature, the flower will open on warm sunny days. The growth of epidermal cells of the inner and outer tepal (or petals) surfaces of flowers like the crocus and tulip are differentilly responsive to temperature. When warm, cells on the inside surface grow faster than cells on the outside surface, which causes the tepals to spread outward and thus opens the flower. When cold, like at night, cells on the inner surface slow their growth and cells on the outer surface grow relatively faster causing the flower to close. The flowers in this movie were filmed outdoors on a sunny spring morning. As the air temperature warmed, the flowers began opening. The elapsed time in depicted in this movie was about 70 min from the time the camera was activated (frames were captured at ten second intervals).

Cosmos grow easily, producing light airy flowers most of the summer. They grow as much as 4 feet high and may require staking. Plant them in full sun or part shade. They prefer slightly dry, infertile soil.

Genus Cosmos has about 20 species of annual and perennial plants in the Asteraceae family, the family of sunflowers, Daisies and Asters. Cosmos genus includes, Cosmos bipinnatus, commonly known as Mexican Aster and Cosmos sulphureus, Yellow Cosmos , and Cosmos atrosanguineus Chocolate Cosmos.
Kingdom
Plantae
Division
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Order
Asterales
Family
Asteraceae
Tribe
Heliantheae
Genus
Cosmos
Cosmos flowers are produced in a capitulum. Cosmos flower Capitulum is surrounded by a ring of broad ray florets and a center of disc florets. There is a lot of color variation in between the species. Cosmos flowers are 2-4 inches in diameter. Cosmos flowers come in brightly colored single or double flowers which include white, pink, orange, yellow, and scarlet colors.
Facts about Cosmos flower
Cosmos are herbaceous perennial flowering plants.
Cosmos flower plants grow to 3-6 feet tall.
The leaves of Cosmos plant are simple, pinnate, or bipinnate, and are arranged in opposite pairs.
The word Cosmos is derived from the Greek, which means a balanced universe.
Cosmos flower blooms twice a year and only once in the season.
Cosmos flowers blooms heavily, but dies with first frost.
Cosmos flowers can regrow in the following spring if seed falls on bare ground.
Cosmos flowers occurs in Solid pink, white, maroon, and pink with deep pink flares.
Cosmos flowering plants can be grown quickly and successfully in all regions.
Cosmos seeds are miniature pine needles.
Cosmos seeds are one of the easiest seeds in the world to grow.
Chocolate cosmos or Cosmos atrosanguinea, fills the air with its sweet scent of vanilla tinged chocolate.
Lace cosmos have more rows of petals, and have ferny foliage of a very delicate texture. Cosmos sulphureus plant leaves resemble those of marigolds (member of the Compositae, to which Cosmos belongs).

These cheery yellow or orange flowers resemble daisies and grow in almost any conditions. They are short-lived, but self-sow. Deadhead the flowers to keep the plant looking tidy.

Several coreopsis species are perennials popular in the garden, all of them sporting bright daisylike flowers on wiry stems. Height varies with species and cultivar, ranging between nine inches and three feet. These perennial flowers bloom in shades of yellow, orange, and pink, with lance-shaped, oval, or threadlike leaves.
How to grow: Coreopsis species are happy in almost any well-drained garden soil in full sun. They are drought-resistant and an outstanding choice for hot, difficult places. Deadheading and frequent division keep plants going strong.
Propagation: By division in spring or from seed.
Uses: Excellent for wild gardens, containers, and in garden beds, these flowers are also popular for cutting. The smaller types look great in hanging baskets and as edging plants.
Related species: Coreopsis grandiflora Sunray bears double golden-yellow flowers on two-foot stems. C. lanceolata Brown Eyes has big yellow daisies with brown splotches on plants over two feet tall. C. verticillata Moonbeam has primrose yellow daisies in low-growing carpet and is a landscaping favorite. C. rosea is similar in form to Moonbeam but has pink flowers. It is not as strong a grower.
Scientific name: Coreopsis species
Want more information? Try these:
Perennial Flowers. Fill your garden with beautiful perennial flowers. They are organized by height, soil type, sunlight, and color.
Perennials. There’s more to a perennials garden than gorgeous flowers. Learn about all of the perennials that can complete your garden.
Annual Flowers. Complement your perennials with these great annual flowers. We’ve organized them by color, sunlight, soil type, and height to make it easy to plan your garden.