Flowers for Flowerbeds

Flowerbeds are dense sections of the garden that are used primarily to create rich areas of color. Gardeners have many choices when it comes to flowers for flowerbeds, and it depends on whether one is looking for short-lived, brightly colored annuals or longer-lasting perennials, which will bloom again the following year. Flowerbeds allow gardeners to really get creative with texture and color, and choosing plants for a flowerbed should be a fun process.

Verbena

Verbena hybrids are colorful flowering perennials that are usually cultivated as annuals. These man-made cultivars boast clusters of crisp blooms in shades ranging from pale lilac or pink to deep purple or blue. These lively plants have a long bloom period and are excellent in naturalized flower bed. Verbenas should be grown in full sunlight (with partial shade in hot climates) in USDA hardiness zones 8 to 10. The plant grows best in a fertile, well-drained soil that is kept consistently moist to the touch. Deadheading the flowers will help extend the bloom period of this sweetly fragrant flower.

Shasta Daisy

Shasta daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum) is a bushy perennial notable for its lush green foliage and small white daisy blooms. Excellent for attracting butterflies to the garden, shasta daisy can be planted with other showier flowers for a natural-looking flower bed. The plant grows best in full sun or partial sun in USDA zones 5B to 9A. Shasta daisy will tolerate a range of soils, from acidic to neutral, well-drained soils and heavier clays. The plant should be watered as needed; more in the summer, less in the fall and winter.

Petunias

Petunias (Petunia x hybrida) are low-growing, easy to maintain flowering plants that are almost always grown as annuals. Commonly used in containers, flower beds or in hanging planters, petunias are notable for their floppy, colorful flowers, which are available in a range of bright, often patterned or striped, colors. The plant can be grown in just about every gardening zone, though they will only live as perennials in USDA zones 9 and 10. The plant should be grown in well-drained soil in a sunny location. Water as needed to keep the plant looking fresh.