Plant, Gifting, Lifestyle & Flower Blog by 1-800-Flowers.com
Author: Nancy Maffia
Nancy Maffia has a bachelor’s in biology and a master’s in horticulture and communications. She has worked in plant taxonomy, has written and edited gardening books and plant articles, and currently works at a garden center helping customers with plant and gardening questions. She has been published in the Encyclopedia of Indoor Gardening, Getting the Most from Your Garden, and others.
The temperate woodlands and meadows throughout the northern and southern hemispheres are home to more than 120 wild species of anemone, or windflower. The anemone hybrids treasured in bouquets and home gardens are derived from these charming wildflowers and have been specially cultivated for the size and color of their bright blooms.
Anemones are all perennial members of the buttercup family, growing 6 to 36 inches high. Their colorful flowers range from 2 to 5 inches in diameter and are made up of tepals, which are petal-like bracts (leaf-like structures located just below the flower or flower head).
Many types are for sale, but two hybridized species are especially popular with florists and home gardeners: Poppy windflower (A. coronaria) and Japanese anemone (A. hupehensis).
Anemone coronaria
Anemone coronaria – Poppy windflower
Poppy windflowers top the list of anemones that are beautiful as cut flowers and in a garden. They are a favorite in the floral trade and are frequently used in arrangements because of their strong stems and long vase life.
These bright flowers come in white, red, hot pink, purple, blue, and white, with six to eight tepals apiece. Their dark, central buttons give them a poppy-like appearance. They grow 9 to 18 inches high, and are native to southern Europe, the eastern Mediterranean, western Asia, and northern Africa.
Poppy windflower cultivars
Mistral
A lovely series of cultivars that was developed recently in Italy is called mistral, or Italian anemones. These long-lasting, 3- to 4-inch wide flowers come in various colors and grow 8 to 12 inches high, making them an excellent choice for cut flower arrangements.
Mistral Azzurro – Bright purple at the base, fading upward to white
Mistral Bianco Centro Nero – Pure white contrasting with the dark center
Mistral Blue – Blue flowers
Mistral Bordeaux – Dark burgundy flowers
Mistral Fucsia – Hot pink flowers
Mistral Rarity – Light lavender-pink flowers
Mistral Rosa Chiaro – Delicate light pink flowers
St. Brigid
Another A. coronaria series is St. Brigid, developed in Ireland in the early 1900s. These have semi-double flowers and are perfect for cut flowers or a partially shady garden. They are typically sold as a mixed-color assortment of red, pink, light pink, lavender, purple, white, and bicolor. Certain cultivars are also available separately, including:
The Governor – Red double flowers, 8 to 12 inches high
Mt. Everest – White double flowers, 12 to 15 inches high
De Caen
De Caen cultivars originated in France in the mid-1800s. They have single flowers that come in a rainbow of colors.
De Caen Blue Poppy – Blue-violet flowers, 8 to 10 inches high
De Caen Hollandia – Scarlet flowers with a ring of white at the base, 10 to 24 inches high
De Caen Sylphide – Hot pink flowers, 10 to 12 inches high
De Caen The Bride – White flowers with a white central button, 10 to 24 inches high
Anemone hupehensis
Anemone hupehensis – Japanese windflower
In the 1600s, European explorers collected anemones from Japan that had naturalized from China. The original name of these flowers was Anemone hupehensis, and now they are called Eriocapitella hupehensis. Hybridized descendants of these plants are called Eriocapitella × hybrida, or sometimes Anemone × hybrida, and you will see any of these names used for Japanese windflowers.
They excel as border plants, in wildflower or cottage gardens, or as cut flowers.
Japanese anemone cultivars
Anemone hupehensis ‘Hadspen Abundance’ – Single pale rose flowers with yellow centers, 2 to 3 feet high
Anemone hupehensis ‘Praecox’ – Single bowl-shaped pink flowers with yellow centers, 4 to 5 feet high
Anemone × hybrida ‘Honorine Jobert’ – Semi-double white flowers with green and orange centers, 3 to 4 feet high
Anemone × hybrida ‘Pamina’ – Double rose-colored flowers with yellow centers, 2 to 3 feet high
Uses of anemones
Anemones are loved for their sweet, colorful blooms that are beautiful in the garden, in containers, and for cut flowers. Poppy and Japanese anemones are the best types for cut flowers because of their long stems and two- to three-week vase life, and are outstanding in arrangements and bridal bouquets.
A bridal bouquet with white anemomes.
Caring for cut anemones
When your box of anemones arrives, follow these simple steps, and they should stay fresh in a vase for two or more weeks.
Unpack the box and carefully remove the wrapping from the flowers.
Cut 1 inch from the bottom of each anemone stem and filler foliage at an angle with clean scissors or a knife.
Fill a vase three-fourths full with clean, tepid water and add the flower food and preservative. If you didn’t receive a packet, you can make your own, with three-fourths teaspoon bleach, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, and 1 tablespoon of sugar in 1 quart of water.
Arrange the flowers in the vase, removing any leaves below the water line to avoid their decaying and shortening the life of your anemones.
Change the water every two to four days to keep it fresh, and add more flower food with each change. If you need additional flower food, make more of your own with the recipe above.
Clip the ends of the stems again when changing the water.
You can extend the life of your anemones by keeping them out of direct sunlight in a cool environment (65 to 72 degrees). At night, put them in a cool room away from drafty heating or cooling vents.
Anemone coronaria growing in a garden.
How to grow anemones
Anemones are easy to grow, and give back a hundredfold. Plant them in either the fall or spring, depending on the species and climate.
When to plant
Poppy anemones are not winter hardy and, as such, should be planted in the fall for late winter or early spring blooms in mild climates (zones 7 to 10), where their corms can winter over. In cold climates (zone 6 and below), plant the corms in the spring for summer blooms or in the summer for early fall flowering.
Japanese anemones (A. hupehensis) are fibrous rooted, winter hardy in zones 4 to 8, and bloom in the late summer and fall. Plant them in the spring in any climate after all danger of frost has passed.
Where to plant
All anemone species do best in light shade, especially in mild climates, but they will grow well in full sun if there is enough moisture and the weather is cool. They prefer loose, moist, well-draining soil rich in organic matter with neutral to slightly acidic pH.
How to plant
Poppy anemones
Poppy anemones grow from hard, knobby corms. To prepare them for planting, soak the corms in room temperature water for four to six hours until they plump up.
Some gardeners like to pre-sprout their anemones after soaking the corms to give the flowers an advantage when planting. To do this, put the corms in shallow trays on a layer of light potting mix or peat moss. Cover them with the mix and set them in a cool, dark place. In two weeks, they will sprout roots and be ready for planting.
Plant the corms 2 inches deep and about 3 inches apart with their pointed ends down, and they should begin to bloom in 12 to 15 weeks.
Japanese anemones
Dig a wide, deep hole and fill it part way up with rich, well-draining soil amended with compost. Set the plant into the hole, and backfill with the amended soil. Tamp it down, water it well, and you should see blooms in 12 to 15 weeks.
Caring for garden anemones
Water your anemones regularly to keep the soil moist. Overwatering can cause root rot, so only water when the soil is dry half an inch to an inch down from the top. If you are growing anemones in pots, water them more frequently than garden-grown flowers since the soil will dry out faster.
Deadheading anemones improves their look when some of the blooms go by. At season’s end, when all the flowers are spent, cut the plants down to a half or third of their size.
Even though Japanese varieties are cold hardy down to zone 4, they will be better protected in winter with a layer of mulch. Poppy anemones and their corms can be brought in for the winter in zones 4 to 6, or can be treated as annuals.
Meaning and symbolism of anemones
In ancient Egypt, China, and during the Middle Ages in Europe, anemones symbolized illness and death. In ancient Rome, however, the flower was considered a good luck charm against fever. And in the floriography of Victorian England, anemones symbolized forsaken love and affection.
6 awesome anemone facts
A Swedish children’s song, “Blue Anemone,” honors the beginning of spring.
In Greek, “anemone” means “daughter of the wind,” hence the name “windflower.”
In Greek mythology, Aphrodite’s mortal lover, Adonis, was killed by a wild boar. Anemones grew where her tears fell, mixed with his blood.
During the day, anemone flowers open wide for pollination; at night, however, the flowers close their tepals and “nod” their heads.
Anemones do not have any fragrance, but they do attract bees and butterflies.
As beautiful as anemones are, all parts of them are poisonous.
Ranunculus are not only delightful to receive as cut flowers in a bouquet but also make an enchanting addition outdoors in your garden or as container plants. Once you know your USDA hardiness zone for the time of planting and a little know-how, you’ll soon be able to enjoy these beautiful flowers year after year.
Where ranunculus grow
Ranunculus are herbaceous perennials that thrive in mild winters, long, cool springs, and balmy summers. They don’t do well in hot, humid conditions or tolerate prolonged freezing temperatures. Ranunculus are hardy in USDA zones 8 to 10 and can be grown as perennials where temperatures typically don’t plunge below 25 degrees. In colder zones, however, they are grown as annuals.
When to plant ranunculus
In warm areas, zones 8 to 10, it’s best to plant ranunculus in the fall, when there is no danger of prolonged freezing temperatures. Ranunculus planted in the fall will bloom continuously for six to seven weeks in the springtime. In the colder zones, 4 to 7, plant them in the winter or early spring; they are not entirely hardy in freezing temperatures and will not survive the winter. Spring-planted ranunculus will bloom for four to six weeks in the late spring and summer.
Where to plant ranunculus
Locating your ranunculus in the right spot is essential to their growth. In most cases, they will need full sun for six to eight hours a day. However, in areas where temperatures soar and the sun is harsh, it’s best to grow them in a place that gets bright shade rather than direct sun during the hottest part of the day.
They will also need light, well-draining soil to prevent root rot. If your soil is heavy, dense, and doesn’t drain well, amend it with some compost or peat moss to give it better drainage and maintain a slightly acidic pH at about 6.0 to 6.5. Stay away from planting in low areas with soggy soil and pooling water.
Air circulation around the plants is essential, too, since they are susceptible to powdery mildew that thrives in close, humid conditions. Choose an open spot that gets a breeze, and don’t crowd the plants together.
Ranunculus do very well in containers. Use a light organic potting mix amended with perlite or peat (to increase the drainage) and make sure the pot has one drainage hole at minimum to keep the roots from sitting in water.
How to plant ranunculus
You can grow ranunculus from seeds, tubers, or plants from a nursery. Most gardeners prefer to start them from tubers, but it is also possible from seed.
Starting from seed
Ranunculus are “half hardy,” meaning they can withstand short bouts of cold but not prolonged freezing temperatures. In warmer areas, plant the seeds in the garden and cover them with a thin blanket of soil after all danger of frost has passed. If cold weather is predicted, you can cover them with a protective cloth, especially at nighttime.
In either warm or cool zones, you can start seeds indoors during the winter in a light, well-draining, seed-starting mix 12 to 16 weeks before your zone’s last frost date in the spring. Spread a light covering of soil over the seeds, and keep them moist and at about 60 degrees Fahrenheit. They should sprout in 10 to 15 days, and after 60 days, when four or five true leaves appear, they should be ready to transplant into the garden or a container. Ranunculus will bloom four to six months after sowing the seeds.
Starting from tubers
When you buy tubers, make sure they are dry, firm, and whole, without breaks or splits. They come in different sizes or grades, and bigger tubers will grow more vigorous plants that produce more flowers.
Some gardeners like to soak the tubers in tepid water for one to three hours (no more!) before planting. They absorb the water and puff up, becoming more flexible and less likely to break. Soaking the tubers wakes them from dormancy and gives them a head-start on growing roots. At this point, it is optional to “pre-sprout” the tubers before planting them in the garden or a container. Plant them with the claws facing downward in a moist seed-starting mix in a shallow tray and cover them with a quarter-inch of soil. Keep the tray cool, and they should begin to develop small roots after one to two weeks. Then, they’re ready to plant.
One way to grow ranunculus is soaking the tubers in water and then “pre-sprouting” them in a seed tray before planting them in the ground.
You can easily fertilize the tubers by mixing some compost with the soil before planting them. This gives the plants a boost of nutrition, and also ensures good drainage. Fertilize container-grown plants once a month with a high phosphorus, water-soluble fertilizer, and dilute it to half-strength to protect the roots.
When planting, orient the ranunculus tubers with the claws pointing downward — three to four per square foot for small tubers and up to 8 inches apart for larger ones — and cover them with 1 to 2 inches of soil. For container planting, space them no closer than 6 inches apart so there will be enough air circulation between them. Water them well after planting, and keep the soil slightly moist. This is important since ranunculus will not tolerate overly wet soil and may develop root rot. You should see sprouts after 10 to 15 days and blooms 90 days after planting.
Caring for garden ranunculus
While your ranunculus is actively growing and blooming, deadhead the spent flowers to encourage more flowering. Keep the soil cool, moist, and weed-free with a layer of mulch.
The plants will bloom from spring into the summer, but when the flowers fade and the plants begin to yellow, stop watering and let them die down naturally. This will allow them to absorb more nutrients and become stronger for next year’s growth.
If you want to overwinter the tubers in the ground and live in zones 8 to 10, cut the plants down in the fall and spread a layer of mulch near the plants to protect them from the cold.
If you live in zones 7 or colder, dig the tubers up in the fall and allow them to dry out. Then, keep them cool and dry in the winter or early spring until planting time next year.
Exquisite ranunculus blooms aren’t only attractive to humans — bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies love the blossoms, making the flowers an excellent choice for a pollinator garden. But deer and rabbits will stay away since all parts of ranunculus are toxic to animals.
Familiar yellow buttercups pop up in the spring and summer on lawns and along roadsides, streambanks, and meadows. Their scientific name is ranunculus, an ancient genus of about 600 species, thought to be over 5 million years old. The cousins of these humble wildflowers are the elegant, refined ranunculus we see today in gardens, arrangements, and wedding bouquets that look like blooms from a fairy tale.
They are hybrids of a species called Ranunculus asiaticus, or Persian buttercup, sometimes known as turban buttercup or rose of spring. The parent of these beauties is a little wildflower native to the eastern Mediterranean region, from the island of Cyprus through Turkey and east to Iran. It grows low to the ground, with five red or yellow petals and a black center.
Ranunculus flowers have been cultivated in Europe for millennia and were all the rage in Victorian times. Over the past hundred years, however, Italian, French, Israeli, and American breeders created hybrids of this species. They are prized for their wide array of colors, curly stems, and large, exquisite flowers that are reliable bloomers.
These lovely plants grow to be 1 to 2 feet in height, with one to several cupped blossoms on fuzzy stems atop a rosette of finely cut, dissected leaves. They have distinctive black anthers and come in a rainbow of bright and pastel colors: white, yellow, apricot, orange, pink, red, fuchsia, burgundy, and picotee (bicolor). Depending on the variety, the flowers are single, like poppies, or double, with paper-thin, overlapping petals that resemble peonies or roses. Some popular cultivars have an impressive 100 to 130 petals in each flower and can be 2 to 5 inches in diameter.
Popular varieties of ranunculus flowers
Here are six of the most beautiful varieties of ranunculus seen today.
Accolade – This compact variety grows 8 inches high, with creamy yellow double petals edged in light pink, similar to a peace rose.
Amandine – The ruffled petals of these double flowers, along with their higher heat tolerance, make this a standout variety. Amandine grows from 10 to 14 inches at maturity and comes in various colors.
Aviv – This impressive variety is excellent for cut flowers due to its tall, 12-to-14-inch stems and large double blooms that are 4 to 5 inches across. It comes in mixed colors, including picotee.
Cloni – The top-rated, Italian-bred Cloni series includes three groups of varieties: Cloni Success, Cloni Pon-pon, and Elegance. The flowers are larger than most other ranunculus varieties, and come in elegant blushing pink, cream, coral, red, and vivid orange. Cloni grows between 1 and 2 feet tall.
Telecote – The acclaimed Telecote series features peony-like double flowers with both pastel and bright colors. It is a prolific bloomer and excellent for cut flowers due to its 24-inch stems, with eight to 10 stems per plant.
Tomer – This little beauty is a dwarf ranunculus, growing only 10 inches high, making it perfect for pots and low borders. It is wind and rain tolerant, and comes in white, pink, red, yellow, orange, and purple.
Uses of ranunculus flowers
Ranunculus are beloved for their vibrant colors, whimsical stems, voluminous paper-thin petals, and sweet nature. Their big, bright blooms, with a vase life of eight days to two weeks, make them an excellent choice as cut flowers for arrangements, centerpieces, and wedding bouquets. The wide array of vibrant colors makes ranunculus arrangements versatile and appropriate for all occasions, including birthdays, engagements, weddings, anniversaries, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, or just because.
In the home, a ranunculus arrangement can grace a dining table or desk, or serve as an accent anywhere a splash of color is needed. In the garden, ranunculus are beautiful in mass plantings as a spring border or in a pollinator garden. In containers, they are a cheerful addition to a porch, a patio, or an entryway, or around a pool.
Caring for cut ranunculus flowers
Your 20-stem box of multicolored ranunculus will arrive with the flowers in the bud stage. These should fully bloom within 24 to 36 hours. They may be droopy at first but will perk up when you put them in water.
First, remove the flowers from the box. The stems should be firm, but they will bruise easily, so you’ll need patience and a gentle hand when holding them. Snip half an inch off the bottom of each stem at an angle with clean scissors or a knife.
Next, fill a clean vase with water and pour in the flower food from one of the included packets. Arrange the flowers in the vase by first putting in the filler plants, such as ferns, to give it a structure to build from, and then add the flowers one at a time.
Keep the arrangement in a cool place out of the sun and away from any drafts. Replace the water in the vase every two or three days to keep algae from growing, mixing in half of the second flower food packet. If the bottoms of the stems become soft and begin to decay, cut them off at an angle again to keep the flowers as fresh as possible.
Occasionally, a stem will bend or collapse under the weight of a bloom. If this happens, cut the stem off just above the bend and put it in a bud vase or small container that will support the flower.
By keeping the ends of the stems freshly cut and providing clean water every few days, you can extend the vase time of ranunculus to two weeks.
(Interested in planting ranunculus in the ground but don’t know where to start? Our helpful guide will teach you everything you need to know about growing ranunculus in a garden.)
Meaning and symbolism of ranunculus
In floriography, the ancient language spoken through flowers, ranunculus blossoms symbolize charm and attractiveness. When you find yourself drawn to someone because of their beauty and allure, and want to show them how you feel, your gift of ranunculus flowers will tell the story.
8 fun facts about ranunculus
The genus name Ranunculus means “little frog.” It comes from Rana, the Latin word for frog, and unculus, meaning “little.”
Crowfoot is another name for ranunculus because of its claw-shaped tubers.
Ranunculus flowers are lovely to look at, but they are not fragrant. In fact, most varieties have no scent at all!
1-800-Flowers.com gets its ranunculus flowers from Ecuador. The warm sunshine and cool nights of the Andes Mountains make this an ideal setting for the blossoms to thrive.
Fossilized ranunculus seeds dating back 5 million years, from the Pliocene Era, have been found in the mountains of Germany and China.
The shiny, yellow buttercup flower you held under your chin as a child doesn’t mean you like butter. The petals have special reflective cells that attract pollinators from far away.
A Persian legend tells of a young prince who fell desperately in love with a beautiful nymph. She spurned his declarations of love time and again, so he died of a broken heart and turned into a ranunculus flower.
As beautiful as these flowers are, all parts of them are toxic.
The warm, sunny weather of summer signals prime flower season. Throughout these months, loads of colorful annuals and perennials put their splendor on full display to brighten up your property and public spaces.
8 summer flowers that add vibrancy to their environment
These eight time-honored favorites can be used to beautify the area around your home as well as in arrangements.
1. Alstroemeria
Alstroemerias, with their soft colors and striped throats, are used extensively in mixed flower bouquets. Also known as lily of the Incas or Peruvian lilies, they can also be grown in a garden and come in numerous hybrid varieties, including yellow, orange, pink, lavender, salmon, and white.
Growth habits
These beautiful plants are tuberous perennials, native to South America, that grow 2 to 3 inches high, with clusters of blooms atop deep green leaves and stems. They are sold as tubers or potted flowers and can be planted in the garden when all chance of frost has passed. They are healthiest when grown in rich, moist, well-draining soil. Some varieties can grow in partial shade, but all alstroemerias put on their best show during the summer, with five or six hours of full sun per day.
How to care for them
Alstroemerias are perfect as container plants and will do well in any sunny location. Remember to use a well-draining potting mix in a container that has drainage holes; plants in containers will dry out faster than ones in the garden, so keep watch of the moisture level and water accordingly.
If you want to use them in a bouquet, gently pull them up from the soil instead of cutting the stems. This will encourage new growth from the roots, allowing you to keep new blooms coming all summer.
2. Carnation
Familiar, pretty carnations, with their spicy fragrance, are herbaceous perennials that are often grown as annuals. They are native to the Mediterranean area and have been grown and bred for millennia. Their fragrant flowers have been used medicinally and as flavorings, as well as ornamentally. Today, carnations, aka clove pinks, are among the most popular flowers for corsages, boutonnieres, and arrangements.
Growth habits
Carnation flowers are naturally red, pink, white, or pinkish-purple, but beautiful variegated hybrids have been bred, and white carnations are often dyed green or blue for special occasions. The flowers grow singly or in clusters at the top of blue-green stalks that reach 1 to 3 inches high. They are deer resistant and are attractive to bees and butterflies, making them excellent candidates for pollinator gardens. Carnations also do well in containers but will require more watering than those in the garden.
How to care for them
Plant carnations in an area with sun or partial shade, and make sure the soil is slightly alkaline and well draining. If the soil in your garden is acidic, add some lime to increase the pH and make it more alkaline. Water the plants when they are establishing and getting ready to bloom, and also during dry periods. You can encourage reblooming later in the summer if you deadhead the spent flowers after the first bloom.
3. Daisy
The perky little flowers with white petals and yellow centers are beloved the world over. Several plants are called “daisies,” but the three most familiar are English daisy, oxeye daisy, and Shasta daisy. The English daisy is native to Europe, the oxeye daisy to Europe and Asia, and the Shasta daisy is a horticultural hybrid, named for Mount Shasta in California.
Growth habits
English daisies are biennial, meaning they bloom every two years, and oxeyes and Shastas are herbaceous perennials that bloom annually. They all have naturalized in the United States and even become invasive in some parts of the country, but they are still grown as charming favorites in the garden, containers, and floral arrangements.
English daisies are often used as bedding plants, as they grow only 3 inches to a foot high on short, leafless stems. Their petals are usually white, but some varieties are pink or red. Oxeye daisies grow to 3 feet high on stems with toothed leaves and 2-inch flowers; Shasta daisies are more similar to oxeyes, but their flowers can grow up to 4 inches across.
How to care for them
Daisies like full sun and can grow in a variety of soil types as long as they are kept moist. The English daisy, in particular, cannot tolerate drought, so it must be watered during dry periods.
4. Delphinium
Tall, elegant delphiniums are traditional flowers found in cottage gardens and are excellent for attracting hummingbirds and butterflies. Their height and striking colors also make them a favorite accent in floral arrangements. But as beautiful as they are, delphiniums are highly toxic and should not be grown on a property with small children and pets.
Growth habits
The various species are native to the Northern Hemisphere, and many horticultural varieties on the market are considered short-lived perennials. Their purple, blue, pink, or lavender flowers grow closely along the tall stems, which can be anywhere from 3 to 7 feet high.
How to care for them
Delphiniums are happiest in the morning sun with afternoon shade. They need rich, organic, well-draining soil that is kept moist, since they cannot tolerate drought. At the same time, if the humidity is too high or they are growing too close to other plantings, they are prone to fungal diseases. Make sure to give them enough air circulation to keep them healthy.
5. Dianthus
Old-fashioned dianthus, aka pinks, are miniature versions of carnations and are excellent as bedding plants, since they grow low to the ground and are prolific bloomers. The name “pinks” comes not only from the color of the flowers but also from the fringed edges of the petals that look as though they have been trimmed with pinking shears. They are native to Europe, Africa, and Asia.
Growth habits
Dianthus flowers are a half-inch to three-fourths inch in diameter and sit in groups on top of blue-green stems that grow to between 6 inches and 2 feet high. They come in annual, biennial, and perennial varieties, but the traditional pinks of cottage gardens and floral arrangements are perennial. Since they are compact and bloom from spring until fall, they also do well as container plants and brighten a porch, a patio, or the area around a pool.
How to care for them
Pinks are closely related to carnations, and need similar care and growing conditions. They do best in full sun or partial shade and in neutral to alkaline soil that is moist and well draining. To keep them blooming all summer, be sure to deadhead the spent flowers and only water the soil at the base of the plant. This prevents fungus diseases from forming on the foliage.
6. Gerbera daisy
Gerbera, or Transvaal daisies, are brightly colored flowers native to South Africa. Their petals can be pink, white, yellow, salmon, or orange, and encircle a central disk. Single flowers sit atop long stalks among gracefully arching toothed leaves that grow up individually from the soil.
Growth habits
The vivid single or double flowers of gerbera daisies can be anywhere from 2 to 5 inches across. These highly hybridized blooms grow best in full sun but not high heat.
Gerberas are bright additions to a garden bed, and compact varieties are excellent for containers and hanging pots. Their long stems and large, colorful blooms also make them outstanding cut flowers for arrangements.
How to care for them
In areas with hot summers, gerbera daisies need morning sun and then afternoon dappled shade. The soil should be rich, well draining, and slightly acidic, with a good amount of organic matter. They like to be kept moist and should be watered during dry periods, especially those in containers.
7. Lily
Lilies are some of the most popular flowers grown for gardens, containers, and floral arrangements. These beautiful plants — most of which are native to temperate areas of Asia, India, Europe, Canada, and the United States — have numerous species. Three of the most commonly grown are the Asiatic, Easter, and Oriental lilies. Several trumpet-shaped flowers, each with six petals, grow atop tall, leafy stalks. Depending on the variety, the flowers face either outward, downward, or up. A word of caution: All parts of lilies are highly toxic to cats and can cause kidney failure in animals.
Growth habits of Asiatic lilies
Asiatic lilies are native to several areas in Asia. They usually grow about 2 to 3 feet high, although mature plants can grow to 6 feet under optimal conditions. Their 4-to-6-inch, upward-facing, unscented flowers range in colors from white, pastel pink, and plum to vivid red and orange. Asiatic lilies are beloved for their beauty and ease of care, but, unfortunately for some growers, deer and rabbits love them, too. Asiatics are the earliest bloomers among the three lilies and the best choice for containers because of their compact habit.
Growth habits of Easter lilies
Easter lilies are white, outward-facing flowers that grow 2 to 8 inches high. They naturally bloom in the summer when planted in the garden, but growers force them to bloom by Easter for holiday sales. Multiple, lightly fragrant flowers bloom on top of the tall stems. Easter lilies are native to Japan and were cultivated in Bermuda during the 1880s, and their popularity skyrocketed in the United States around World War II. Similar to Asiatic lilies, Easter lilies are enjoyed by rabbits and deer.
Growth habits of Oriental lilies
Oriental lilies are hybrids of species that are native to Japan. They are summer-to-late-fall bloomers and grow taller every year — up to 8 feet high. Multiple fragrant, white, yellow, or pink flowers grow at the top of the stems and are either upward- or outward-facing. Unlike Asiatic and Easter lilies, Oriental lilies are deer and rabbit resistant.
How to care for them
All lilies grow from bulbs that are usually planted in the fall; they can, however, be planted during the spring and summer after the plants have flowered. The bulbs are fragile and should be set 4 to 6 inches deep in the soil and 12 to 18 inches apart soon after purchasing. They grow best in full to partial sun in slightly acidic, well-draining soil that should be kept evenly moist. Deadhead the spent flowers to allow the plant to focus its energy on current blooms and not on producing seeds.
8. Sunflower
Cheerful sunflowers, native to North America and Mexico, come in many sizes and colors. Dwarf varieties are perfect for containers, and other varieties have white, red-orange, or red petals, but the most common are the tall annuals. These sport large, heart-shaped leaves and bright yellow petals circling the flat disk of small flowers that develop into those seeds that make for good snacking. They are the state flower of Kansas, where fields of these beautiful plants grow in abundance.
Growth habits
Sunflowers are usually grown as annuals, but some can be perennial in the warmer areas of the country. Small sunflowers in containers can brighten a porch or patio. Cut flowers are perfect for sunny summer arrangements, while full-sized plants are a cheerful addition against a wall or fence.
How to care for them
Sunflowers can be started from seeds or small, potted plants. Sow seeds 2 to 3 feet apart in the spring after all danger of frost has passed, or set small plants 2 to 3 feet apart in the garden in the late spring or summer. Sunflowers grow best in full sun and in moist, well-draining, neutral-to-slightly-acidic soil.
5 most popular summer plants
In addition to the colorful flowers above, here are five charming plants to liven up your summer garden.
1. Gardenia
Exquisitely fragrant gardenias are native to the tropical and subtropical areas of Asia and the Pacific Islands. The creamy white, waxy flowers and glossy, dark green leaves make them outstanding ornamentals.
Growth habits
Gardenia grow outside in the garden in warm regions of the United States, and are also popular as container plants that can be grown year-round as houseplants.
How to care for them
Gardenias do well in full morning sun with partial shade in the afternoon. Their preferred temperature is 70 to 80 degrees during the day, with plenty of humidity, and not below 60 degrees at night. Gardenias need their soil to be acidic, rich with organic matter, and moist but well draining.
Container-grown plants need a loose, peat-based potting mix, and should be watered when the soil is dry 1 to 2 inches down from the top. Gardenias grown indoors will need some help to keep the humidity high. Set them on a pebble tray of water and mist them regularly so they retain their buds and flowers; low humidity will cause them to drop their flower buds.
2. Hydrangea
A familiar sight in the summer across the country, hydrangeas are native to the countries of East Asia and the Americas. In the U.S., we know them mainly as deciduous, ornamental shrubs with large clusters of showy flowers.
The commonly grown kinds of Hydrangea are Mophead, Lacecap, Oakleaf, PeeGee, and Smooth. Their large round (Mophead and Smooth), conical (Oakleaf and PeeGee), or flat (Lacecap) flower heads are the distinctive characteristics of these handsome plants. Most varieties of Hydrangea are white, but some varieties, such as Mophead and Lacecap, will turn blue with a soil acidifier and pink with garden lime.
Growth habits
In cooler, northern areas, hydrangeas can grow in full sun all day but will need afternoon shade in the hot South. They can tolerate almost any soil type as long as it is loose and well draining with plenty of organic matter.
How to care for them
Hydrangeas need moist soil and can be fertilized once a year during the spring. The varieties that bloom on the previous year’s wood (Mophead, Lacecap, and Oakleaf) will need to be pruned in the summer after flowering. Plants that bloom on this year’s wood (PeeGee and Smooth) should be pruned in the late winter, before the new spring growth.
They can be grown as container plants outdoors, and will need a large enough container with a drainage hole and loose, well-draining soil. Since container potting mix dries out more quickly than garden soil, you will need to water the plant more frequently.
3. Azalea
Azaleas blaze with color in the spring, lighting up the landscape with white, pink, lavender, orange, or red flowers. They are native to Asia, Europe, and North America, and are the state flower of Georgia. Most azaleas are deciduous shrubs, and some heat-tolerant varieties are evergreen.
Growth habits
Azaleas thrive in bright shade, which produces the most vibrant blooms. They are beautiful as foundation plantings, as accent plants to brighten up a shady corner of a yard, at the edge of a woodland garden, or as container shrubs.
How to care for them
Acidic, well-drained soil that can be amended with peat moss or compost is best for azaleas. You can fertilize your bush in the late spring or early fall and prune it back after flowering to maintain its size.
Azaleas do very well as container-grown shrubs. Use a large enough planter that has at least one drainage hole in the bottom to prevent root rot and a loose, well-draining potting mix. Water it when the soil is dry, about an inch down from the top, and remember that container-grown plants will dry out more quickly than plants in the garden. To keep your azalea in shape, prune it after it flowers.
4. Tropical hibiscus
These spectacular Asia natives will give your property a tropical flair with their shiny, dark green leaves and 3- to 8-inch-wide flowers in brilliant red, pink, purple, white, orange, yellow, or peach.
Growth habits
In the southernmost areas of the U.S., tropical hibiscus, otherwise known as Chinese hibiscus or China rose, are tender perennials with evergreen leaves. North of that, they are annuals and can be grown in the garden during the summer or in containers. Hibiscus plants bloom continuously from summer through fall and produce new flowers that only last a day.
How to care for them
These tropicals do best in bright light but not full sun. They thrive in temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees, so you will need to bring a potted hibiscus indoors when temperatures dip below 50. They can easily be overwintered in a warm room with bright, indirect light and some added humidity.
Both in the garden and in a container, their soil needs to be loose and well draining, with added organic matter. They are thirsty plants, but the frequency of watering will vary with environmental conditions like wind, temperature, and humidity. Container-grown plants may even need to be watered daily under dry conditions.
Hibiscus plants should be pruned in the fall in the garden or in a pot. Take out any dead or crowded branches to allow enough light and air to circulate. They bloom on new wood, so don’t be afraid to prune out some of the old.
5. Lavender
Over 40 species of lavender come from areas around the Mediterranean and east to India. The three most popular types of lavender used as garden ornamentals are English, Spanish, and Lavandin.
Lavender plants are attractive to pollinators, especially bees. Fortunately, they are not attractive to deer and can be grown among other plants to ward these animals off.
Growth habits
Lavender is beautiful in rock gardens, herb gardens, perennial borders, or as short hedges in formal knot gardens. Many varieties have fragrant foliage and light purple, pink, or white flowers.
How to care for them
Lavender plants need excellent draining, slightly alkaline soil, and full sun. They are fairly drought resistant but will need to be watered in dry weather. Container-grown lavender will need more frequent watering than garden-grown plants and require a pot with a drainage hole since it does not tolerate its roots sitting in soggy soil.
Spring is the time when early-blooming bulbs begin to appear in garden centers and stores. The exquisite and highly fragrant Easter lily is royalty among them and carries a rich cultural and spiritual history.
This white lily often symbolized the purity of motherhood in pagan religions and was mentioned many times in the Bible, where it represented purity, rebirth, hope, and the resurrection of Christ. It has become a traditional Easter and springtime flower, seen in churches and homes to celebrate the season.
Easter lilies are native to the Ryukyu Islands of Japan. They were brought to the United States in 1880 and, at that time, were produced for sale in the southern U.S. and Japan. Their value increased during World War II when the supply of bulbs from Japan came to a halt and their production moved to the West Coast. Today, most of the world’s potted Easter lilies are produced in an area near the border of California and Oregon.
How to choose an Easter lily
Easter lilies are 2 to 3 inches tall with pure white to pinkish, trumpet-shaped flowers atop stiff stems adorned with dark green, lance-shaped leaves. When shopping for a lily, you will have many to choose from, often with colorful foil around their pots. Picking a good one takes a trained eye, so you’ll want to follow this guide to make the best selection.
Choose a plant that has:
A strong, dark green stem
Foliage that extends down the stalk
Lots of tight, green buds, and at least one open flower
Don’t choose a plant if it has:
Drooping or brown buds
Holes or spots on the leaves
Signs of insect pests: stippling on the leaves, webbing
Crinkled, folded, or distorted leaves
A soft, spongy, or yellowed stem
How to care for a potted Easter lily indoors
Now that you’ve picked out a beautiful Easter lily, you’ll want to help it thrive so it can enhance your home for as long as possible. That means making sure it gets the right light, temperature, humidity, and amount of water to keep it happy and healthy.
Light
Give your plant plenty of bright, indirect light, but do not keep it in the direct sun — that can scorch its flowers and foliage, and shorten its lifespan.
Temperature and humidity
Cool temperatures will extend the life of your plant. An Easter lily does best in 60-to-70-degree temperatures during the day and temps of 55 to 60 degrees at night. Also, keep it away from hot or cold drafts, which could damage the plant. Average household humidity — 30 to 50 percent — is perfect for Easter lilies, as they do not do well in humid conditions.
Water
Water your Easter lily about once a week to keep it evenly moist. Before you water it, remove the decorative foil to prevent it from trapping any excess water, and then let the water run through the pot and out the drainage holes. After the water thoroughly drains, put the foil back on the pot and only water it again when the top of the soil is dry. Continue watering the plant to keep the bulb alive after the flowers have gone by and the stem and leaves are still green.
Aftercare
Once the flowers are spent, remove them to keep the plant looking fresh. Allow the plant to die naturally and cut the dead stem down to soil level.
How to get an Easter lily to rebloom
Easter lilies bloom once a year, typically in June or July, for 2 to 3 weeks but will not rebloom as houseplants. They must be planted outside in the garden to rebloom.
Transferring your Easter lily outdoors
After your lily has died indoors, you can plant the bulb in the garden and enjoy its fragrant flowers for years to come. First, take the bulb out of the potting mix. Then, pick a planting location that gets either bright shade or direct morning sun and plenty of air circulation (again, you do not want to expose the plants to high humidity). When all danger of frost is passed, plant the bulb 4 to 6 inches down in rich, well-draining soil with the pointed end up. You can add some slow-release 5-10-5 fertilizer to the soil to boost the bulb’s growth. Water it thoroughly. As an added benefit, you can mulch to keep the soil cool. Easter lilies are hardy to USDA zones 4 through 8.
How to care for an Easter lily planted outdoors
When your bulb begins to grow again the following spring, fertilize it every 2 to 3 weeks with a weak, high-phosphorus fertilizer to encourage blooming. Growing naturally in the garden, Easter lilies will bloom in the late spring to early summer. After the plant has died by midsummer, cut it down to soil level and mulch it to keep it cool in the summer and protect the bulb from freezing during the winter.
Easter lilies are susceptible to aphids, spider mites, and thrips. If you have an infestation, treat the plants with an insecticidal soap and/or neem oil. In overly wet conditions, they are also susceptible to botrytis, and root and stem rot, so make sure there is enough air circulation around the plant to prevent these fungal infections.
Toxicity
Easter lilies are highly toxic to cats.
Easter lily season is here!
Ready to start caring for your own Easter lily? Here are some options to get for yourself or a loved one this season.
Here are 10 popular spring flowers that you can grow in your garden, in containers, or, in some cases, indoors as houseplants.
1. Daffodils
Nothing says “spring” more than jaunty daffodils. These bulbs bloom up to six weeks in the early spring, and come in white, yellow, orange, bicolor, and pink. Most of the 32,000 cultivars have a short, protruding cup in the center of the flower, surrounded by six flat petals. They have strap-like leaves that grow from the bulb, and the plants stand between six and 30 inches high. Daffodils are beautiful in the garden, as cut flowers, and in containers indoors and out.
Daffodil growing tips
The best time to plant daffodils is in the fall. Locate them in the sun to partial shade in holes five inches deep. Plant the bulbs with the pointed end up, six inches away from one another. Cover them with soil, and water the plants in the spring. Give container-grown daffodils plenty of light, and water when the soil is dry an inch down from the top. They are hardy to USDA zones 4 to 8, and are deer resistant but toxic to humans and pets. Most of the hybridized varieties are not good pollinator plants, but native species will attract bees.
These pretty spring bulbs have been hybridized extensively, with nearly 4,000 cultivars. The cup- or star-shaped flowers sit individually atop blue-green stems with two to six leaves, and their petals are every color except blue, in solid colors or stripes. Tulips can grow from anywhere from four to 30 inches tall and are categorized as early-blooming, mid-season, or late-blooming types. They can be grown in containers, in the garden, or as beautiful cut flowers.
Tulip growing tips
Plant tulips in the fall in a sunny spot in well-draining soil. Set them with the pointed end up four to eight inches down in the soil and four to six inches away from one another. Cover the bulbs with soil, and water them thoroughly. Container-grown tulips are planted in the fall, but they will need eight to 12 weeks of cold before they will flower in the spring. Tulips are hardy in USDA zones 3 to 8, but in cold, northern areas, they need to be kept in a garage or basement until they can be set outside when the weather warms. Tulips are toxic to both humans and pets, and, like daffodils, species tulips (meaning ones that are un-hybridized)are better pollinator plants than the highly bred cultivars.
3. Hyacinth
Cheery pink, blue, or white hyacinths lend a spot of color to a spring garden and are often sold as potted indoor plants around Easter. Their highly fragrant, star-shaped flowers grow in clusters along a short stem, with upward-growing leaves.
Hyacinth growing tips
Plant the bulbs outside in the fall, four to six inches deep with their pointed ends up, three to six inches apart. Cover the bulbs with soil, and water thoroughly. Indoors, hyacinths delight with their sweet fragrance. After they bloom, you can plant them outside, and they should bloom the following spring. Hyacinths are hardy in USDA zones 4 to 8, deer resistant, and toxic to both humans and pets. They are good pollinator plants for bees and butterflies.
4. Crocus
The spring-blooming crocus is one of the earliest flowers to bloom. Delicate cup-shaped flowers with pointed petals come in pink, blue, purple, yellow, orange, and white, and grass-like leaves grow from the base of their six-inch stems.
Crocus growing tips
Plant crocus corms in the fall, setting them four inches deep in a sunny spot with well-draining soil and four inches apart from one another. Cover them with soil, and water them well. Crocuses are hardy to USDA zones 3 to 8 and are generally left alone by deer, but are toxic to pets. They are loved by bees and butterflies waking up from their winter nap.
5. Lily of the valley
Beautiful, shade-loving wildflowers, lily of the valley grow six to 12 inches high with small, white, fragrant flowers hanging down like bells in a line up a bare stalk. The flowers bloom for about three weeks in the spring and develop into small reddish berries. One or two broad leaves grow from the bottom of the stalk, and the plant spreads by underground rhizomes.
Lily of the valley growing tips
Locate lily of the valley in a shady spot with good drainage. Plant the rhizomes in the spring or fall with the growing tips pointing upwards about half an inch down in the soil, and water them while they’re getting established. Their rhizomes can be planted in containers in rich potting soil with excellent drainage and watered when the soil is dry an inch down from the top. Lily of the valley is hardy in USDA zones 3 to 8, deer resistant, pollinated by bees, and highly toxic to people and pets.
6. Iris
These elegant flowers are named for Iris, the Greek goddess of the rainbow. About 300 species of iris exist, and thousands of cultivars that bloom from spring into summer exhibit every color of the spectrum. They range in height from six inches to four feet and grow from either rhizomes or bulbs. The stems are either single or branched with sword-shaped leaves and unique-looking flowers. Three petals curl upward — these are called standards — and three petal-like sepals bend down; these are known as falls.
Iris growing tips
Locate irises in a spot that gets at least six hours of sun a day. Iris rhizomes should be planted on the surface of the soil with the roots extending down, and bulbs are planted four to six inches deep in the soil. Most iris are deer resistant and hardy to USDA zones 3 to 8. They attract bees and hummingbirds, and are toxic to humans and pets.
7. Forsythia
The most frequently seen variety of forsythia is the bright, cheerful hybrid Forsythia × intermedia, aka border forsythia, that is hardy to USDA zones 3 to 8. They are deciduous shrubs with four-petalled yellow flowers blooming in the early spring, before the leaves appear. The arching stems can grow up to 10 feet long and root wherever they touch the ground. Forsythia plants grown in a row can be pruned into a hedge or grown as graceful individual bushes. Cut flower stems are beautiful in arrangements as well.
Forsythia growing tips
Forsythia plants are easy to grow and are best planted in the fall. Choose a spot with full sun or partial shade that has well-draining soil. Dig a hole that is two times the size of the root ball, and center the plant, filling in the hole. Water it thoroughly until it’s established. Deer tend to leave it alone, and it is only a modest pollinator plant.
Azaleas blaze with color in late spring throughout the Northern Hemisphere. There are about 800 species of these shade-loving bushes, with more than 10,000 registered varieties. Most are deciduous, but some are evergreen, and they range in height from two to eight feet. Their flowers cover the bushes with lavender, white, pink, salmon, or red blooms, and they are hardy in USDA zones 6 to 9.
Azalea growing tips
Plant your azalea in the spring or fall in dappled shade or a spot that gets only morning sun, in well-draining, acidic soil. Azaleas grow easily in containers and are an attractive addition to a porch or patio in bright shade. Choose a pot big enough for good root growth, use a well-draining potting mix formulated for acid-loving plants, and be sure to water it during dry spells. It is an excellent pollinator plant for butterflies and hummingbirds, but, unfortunately, deer find azaleas tasty, too. All parts of the plant are toxic to humans, and dogs, cats, and horses.
9. Lilac
Familiar, fragrant lilacs comprise 12 species of charming shrubs or small trees. The most frequently grown kind in the United States is the common lilac, along with its 400 cultivars. The four-petalled flowers are one-third of an inch across and grow in cone-shaped clusters, or panicles, at the ends of the branches. They range in color from purple to pink or white, bicolor, and even yellow. The blue-green leaves are heart shaped, and the tree is between four and 15 feet tall.
Lilac growing tips
Lilacs are best planted in the fall, in a spot with full sun and rich, well-draining soil. Most varieties are hardy in USDA zones 3 to 7 and do not do well in the hot, humid areas of the country. They are susceptible to powdery mildew, so it is important to prune them after flowering to allow for good air circulation. Lilacs are fairly deer resistant, and are excellent pollinator flowers for bees in spring.
10. Magnolia
These ancient trees are often seen as a symbol of the Deep South. Magnolias are deciduous or evergreen, and they range in size from eight to 100 feet tall. Their large, fragrant, cup- or star-like flowers come in white, pink, purple, or yellow, and distinctive cones with red berries develop in the fall. Their flowers bloom in the spring before the leaves appear on deciduous species, and in the late spring to summer on evergreen trees.
Magnolia growing tips
Magnolias are wide spreading, often reaching 40 feet, so choose a spot with enough space. Plant evergreen varieties in the early spring in full sun, and deciduous varieties in the shade during the fall for southern locations and in the spring in the north. Magnolias are tolerant of various soil types as long as they are acidic and well draining. They are hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9, and are a favorite food of deer. They are considered non-toxic to humans and pets.
When the winter chill sets in and outside plants are dormant or faded, decorating with houseplants is a cheerful way to brighten your home. Keeping them healthy and happy in the reduced sunlight and low household humidity during the winter months, however, can be challenging. But don’t despair: Some plants will do well in spite of the dry, lower-light conditions in the house.
Why do some plants thrive in the house and others do not? It comes down to adaptability. Each plant is unique in its needs, and the most adaptable ones will grow in a wide range of conditions. If you can just supply the basics of light, warmth, good watering practices, and increased humidity, you should be able to grow beautiful plants over the winter months.
Here are 13 flowering and foliage plants that do well in most households even when the weather outdoors turns cold.
Flowering plants
1. Poinsettia
The handsome poinsettia is a perennial shrub native to Mexico and Central America, where it blooms in the winter along stream banks and moist hillsides. It was introduced to the United States floral industry in the early 1800s and has become a popular decorative and gift plant during the Christmas season. Poinsettia’s original colors are red bracts and dark green leaves, but it has been hybridized to have other colors as well, such as white, salmon, pink, and yellow.
Indoors, they do best in six to eight hours a day of bright, indirect light and in average household temperatures, from 65 to 75 degrees. Poinsettias also appreciate some humidity, and they should be watered when the surface of the soil becomes dry.
2. Cyclamen
Cyclamen’s pretty heart-shaped, patterned leaves and white, violet, pink, or red nodding flowers make them popular houseplants during the winter and gifts for Valentine’s Day. They bloom from November through March and are native to Europe and the eastern Mediterranean.
Like many houseplants, cyclamen do best in bright, indirect light and average household temperatures that are on the cool side, between 60 and 70 degrees. They don’t do well in drafts or low humidity, so it’s important to boost the humidity with a pebble tray or humidifier. Water when the soil is dry an inch down from the top, making sure to keep the leaves and crown of the plant dry. In the late spring and summer, when cyclamen go dormant, water sparingly, and move the plant to a darker location until it revives in the fall.
3. Christmas cactus
Natives of the Brazilian rainforests, Christmas cacti have flattened, segmented leaves that grow in an arching shape, making them excellent hanging pot plants. The late fall and winter flowers are usually red but can be pink, white, purple, or shades of yellow. They are the quintessential winter holiday plant.
Christmas cacti are usually in bloom when they’re for sale; to rebloom, they need diffused light for 11 hours a day and 13 hours of total darkness starting in September. They will be fine in average household temperatures, but may suffer if exposed to hot or cold drafts, and may drop their buds and flowers. Since Christmas cacti are rainforest plants, they love humidity and would do well on a pebble tray with daily misting, or with a humidifier. Water them thoroughly, then allow the soil to dry before watering again.
4. Kalanchoe (Flaming Katy)
Kalanchoe, or flaming Katy, is a succulent native to Madagascar and tropical Africa. It is a cheerful indoor plant for the winter, with the shortening daylight hours triggering it to bloom in clusters of red, salmon, or pink against its scalloped leaves.
Kalanchoe is easygoing, and will grow and bloom well in very bright, indirect light and in average household temperatures and humidity. Since it is a succulent, water it only when the soil is dry.
5. Bromeliads
There are many types of bromeliads, native to tropical America, that make unique additions to a winter houseplant collection. Their exotic flowers come in all shapes and colors, including red, yellow, orange, and sometimes blue, and they have interesting foliage, too, with solid green, gray, striped, banded, or rainbow-colored leaves.
Bromeliads are easy to grow indoors. Give them bright to moderate indirect light, warm temperatures of 60 to 85 degrees, and 60% humidity, if possible. A pebble tray or humidifier would be helpful for these plants. Water them in their “cups,” which are formed from the overlapping leaves. Tiny air plants like bromeliads should be soaked upside-down for an hour in water once a week.
6. Orchids
The orchid, the 2023 Flower of the Year, is an elegant member of the flower kingdom and is native to every continent but Antarctica. The species most often available for sale in Europe and the U.S. are phalaenopsis and dendrobium, both of which come in a range of colors. Given their striking beauty, one might assume that orchids would be difficult plants to grow, but they are actually quite easy and can be excellent indoor plants for the winter.
For orchids to thrive and bloom, give them plenty of bright, indirect light and temperatures between 50 and 90 degrees. They do need a chunky potting mix that provides good air circulation around their roots and require water only once a week. It is well to boost your room’s humidity to between 40% and 70% with pebble trays or a humidifier.
7. Anthuriums
The anthurium‘s vivid red flower head shining against heart-shaped dark green leaves makes it a bright addition to a sunny winter room. Native to Central America, South America, and the Caribbean, anthurium has become a beloved holiday and Valentine’s Day plant.
As with so many other tropical houseplants, anthuriums love bright, indirect light, warm temperatures (65 to 85 degrees), and above-average household humidity that can be increased with a pebble tray. Water when the top of the soil is dry.
Foliage plants
8. Snake plant
The handsome snake plant, with its sword-like, patterned leaves, is a native of tropical West Africa. Its many varieties range from short to tall, with different combinations of stripes and mottling of white, cream, green, and yellow on the leaves. It is an excellent houseplant because it requires very little care and is tolerant of household conditions any time of year.
A snake plant will happily grow in almost any amount of light, in 70- to 90-degree temperatures, and needs only infrequent watering. Although it’s nearly indestructible, a snake plant does not like hot or cold drafts, or being over-watered.
9. Jade plant
The jade plant is a perfect indoor plant for the winter. A succulent shrub native to Africa, it can grow up to six feet tall. Jade’s oval, fleshy leaves and branching habit resembling a small tree make it an attractive addition to a room.
For this plant to develop a pleasing shape, it needs at least six hours of bright light out of the direct sun’s rays. Normal household temperatures of 65 to 75 degrees and 30% to 50% humidity are fine. Jade likes its soil to be consistently moist but never soggy. Be sure to supply an excellent-draining potting mix so that it will not retain excess water.
10. Succulents
Cute, curious succulents are all the rage, and for good reason. They are easy to grow, given the right conditions, and are usually quite small. They come in a variety of shapes and colors, and can be displayed in a delightful array of pots, terrariums, and planters. Succulents come from arid and semi-arid areas of the world, such as Africa, Mexico, and Central America, and they are resilient, drought-resistant plants.
They do need enough light, though. In their natural habitats, they live at the base of taller plants, so they get bright light but not direct sun. Position your succulents so that they get maximum light away from the sun’s scorching rays. They are tolerant of average household temperatures and humidity, and only need to be watered when their soil is dry, or about once a month. Make sure the water drains out of the pot so that the roots are not sitting in moisture, and use a potting mix that is light and well draining.
11. ZZ plant
The odd name of the ZZ plant comes from its scientific name, Zamioculcas zamiifolia. It is native to the dry grasslands and forests of East Africa, and has a distinctive, prehistoric look, with dark green, leathery, compound leaves growing up from its rhizomes (stems that grow underground).
Although it is tolerant of various amounts of light, the low-maintenance ZZ plant does best in bright but not direct light, the former of which could scorch its leaves. It will grow well in average household temperatures and humidity, and only needs water when the soil has completely dried out.
12. Pothos
Beautiful, trailing pothos is one of the easiest plants to grow in the house any season of the year. It comes in many variegated forms, with yellow, white, or light green patterns decorating its heart-shaped, pointed leaves. Native to the Solomon Islands of the South Pacific, pothos will naturally grow up to 40 feet long in the wild. With support, it will reach 20 to 30 feet in length indoors, although a hanging pot will usually keep it much shorter.
The beautiful variegation that is so prized in pothos will revert to all green if not given enough light. Medium to bright indirect light and average household temperatures are best. Water when the soil is dry. Although tolerant of low household humidity, pothos prefer a more humid environment, so rooms like the kitchen or bathroom are good places to put your plant.
13. Aglaonema
Also known as Chinese evergreens, aglaonemas come in a large number of delightful colors that have made them popular low-maintenance indoor plants. Their oval leaves shine with green, red, pink, silver, or white patterns that brighten up a room. Aglaonemas are native to warm forest floors of the Philippines and northeastern Sulawesi, an Indonesian island.
As with other variegated plants, the lighter the leaf, the more sun is required. Light-colored aglaonemas need bright, indirect light, but darker-leaved ones can grow happily in moderate light away from the window. They do like warmth, 70 degrees or above, and high humidity. Locate them in a room with higher humidity, like the kitchen or bathroom, or set them on a pebble tray or near a humidifier. Water thoroughly when the soil has dried out, making sure the water drains completely out of the pot.
There’s something very special about this plant. It brings a lot of joy and positivity to your well-being.
alfred palomares
Vice president of merchandising and Resident Plant Dad
1-800-Flowers.com
Interest in houseplants and indoor gardening spiked during the pandemic as people sought creative and nurturing ways to spend their time that bring them a sense of peace and joy.
1-800-Flowers.com believes that trend will continue in the upcoming year, even as our lives return to normal. The brand’s choice for the 2023 Plant of the Year, the calathea rattlesnake, embodies that hopeful outlook and the feeling that a brighter future awaits us.
The calathea rattlesnake (scientific name: Goeppertia insignis) is a fascinating plant with interesting attributes that indoor gardeners would enjoy. Its pointed, lance-shaped leaves undulate slightly with green-on-green ellipses, giving it a reptilian look. In the evening, when the sun goes down, the calathea folds its leaves upward, revealing its rich burgundy undersides, and then folds them back down in the morning light.
“The calathea rattlesnake symbolizes turning over a new leaf and a new beginning in 2023,” says Alfred Palomares, vice president of merchandising and Resident Plant Dad at 1-800-Flowers.com. “Because of its nature, its movement, and its unique sort of language, there’s something very special about this plant. It brings a lot of joy and positivity to your well-being.”
Calathea rattlesnake plant facts
This beautiful calathea is native to the rainforests of Brazil and is a tropical evergreen perennial that spreads by underground runners. Its long, wavy-edged leaves with light and dark patterns and reddish-purple undersurfaces are reminiscent of a rattlesnake, hence its common name.
Calathea rattlesnake plants, like prayer plants, close their leaves at night and open them in the morning to maximize their exposure to available sunlight. They do this by changing the water pressure in nodes at the base of their leaves and in their stems. Growing outdoors in tropical and subtropical areas, they will produce clusters of small, yellow flowers, but as houseplants, they rarely bloom.
The calathea rattlesnake is a lovely plant for the home or office due to its eye-catching looks and compact stature; it rarely grows higher than 20 inches.
Calathea rattlesnake in décor
Despite what its name connotes, the calathea rattlesnake gives off quite the pleasing aura. The plant, a new addition to the 1-800-Flowers.com Plant Shop, represents good luck and positivity, and it brings a refreshing, natural vibe into a room — especially one with a lot of neutrals in it. “It really adds a pop of color,” Palomares says.
Plants that have a mossy green hue, like the calathea, are trending in the marketplace, according to Palomares, with people looking to fill their homes with fewer synthetic-looking pieces and more with elements that look like they come from the earth. “This is a plant that feels very fresh and organic,” he says.
Between the neutral container and the plant’s combination of soft greens, rich striping on the variegated leaves, and burgundy coloring on its undersides, the calathea rattlesnake is a true conversation starter.
“It’s one of those decor elements that your guests are going to come over and talk to you about,” Palomares says.
Caring for a rattlesnake calathea
In its native Brazilian rainforests, the calathea rattlesnake is an understory plant that needs moderate indirect or filtered light. Strong, direct sunlight will burn its sensitive leaves, so position your plant near a window that does not get direct sun, or in the interior of a room that gets some bright light.
It also needs warm temperatures and plenty of humidity to thrive. The ideal environment for a calathea rattlesnake is between 65 and 75° F. Be sure to keep the plant away from hot or cold drafts emanating from heaters, fireplaces, or air conditioner vents, or cold, drafty windows. As they prefer humid conditions, you should mist your calathea daily, and set it on a pebble tray near other plants or use a humidifier if you have one. Another option is to keep your plant in an area of the house with high humidity, such as the bathroom or kitchen, if there is enough light.
Water your calathea rattlesnake to keep it evenly moist but not so much that it gets soggy and waterlogged. When it is actively growing in spring and summer, water it when the very top of the soil is dry. When its growth slows in the winter, water it when the soil is dry down half an inch from the top. Allow the water to run out of the drainage holes and then discard the excess water. Fertilize your plant every month during the spring and summer with an all-purpose, balanced fertilizer per instructions.
A calathea rattlesnake is not a plant you can neglect — and that is part of its charm. The more love you give it, the more love it will give you back. As a plant parent, the calathea rewards your efforts in helping it grow and spread its beautiful leaves, and, in turn, fills you with a feeling of happiness and fulfillment.
The events of the past couple of years have caused many of us to be separated from loved ones. But now, people are once again gathering for various activities and celebrating special occasions in person. As we head into 2023, we strive for greater connection with others and to find deeper, more engaging relationships.
One way to do that is to rally around things that bring us together. The elegant orchid is one such thing. This timeless flower — with its richly hued blooms; unusual-looking sepals, which are often mistaken for petals; long, wiry stems; and provocatively shaped and interestingly colored lips — is distinctive, alluring, and special. The qualities of unity, beauty, and love that the orchid embodies are much needed in today’s world, and they permeate any household that this unmistakable flower inhabits.
For those reasons and others, the experts at 1-800-Flowers.com chose the orchid as the 2023 Flower of the Year. They came to this decision after considering factors including the history of the flower, its popularity in the current climate, and its symbolism as it relates to what they expect the new year to hold.
Orchids are exotic, very luxurious tropicals that surprise and delight, and ultimately deliver a smile to the customer.
alfred palomares
Vice president of merchandising
1-800-Flowers.com
Orchids in history
Orchid blooms have been prized since ancient times in many parts of the world for their exotic beauty, symbolism, medicinal powers, and flavoring. The first-known mention of orchids was around 2,600 BC in China, which valued the flower for its medicinal properties, including the ability to heal coughs, lungs, eyes, kidneys, and stomach problems.
The ancient Greeks connected orchids with fertility, and friezes with orchid representations have been found in architecture from ancient Rome. In the Aztec civilization, orchids were prized not only for their beauty but for the strength they imparted. In fact, Aztec warriors drank a concoction mixed with the flavoring of the vanilla orchid and cocoa.
In Japan, orchids have long been symbols of peace, respect, and good fortune, and are often given as business gifts to show admiration. Throughout Asia, they are frequently displayed during New Year’s celebrations to symbolize happiness.
During the age of colonization, exotic tropical orchids were brought to Europe and opened a booming business in orchid exploration and trade. These flowers became coveted symbols of culture, refinement, elegance, and luxury. Orchid hunting and collecting — or “orchid delirium” — became an obsession of the wealthy, especially in Victorian England.
Today, orchid blooms are cherished for their horticultural value and are seen for sale everywhere. The vanilla orchid’s seeds and pods are used for vanilla extract flavoring, perfume, and aromatherapy.
Orchid facts
Orchids are a highly diverse group of plants, native to the tropics but also to the cold latitudes of both the northern and southern hemispheres. Temperate and cold-climate orchids tend to be small, terrestrial plants that grow on the ground. But most species of tropical and subtropical orchids are epiphytes, aka air plants, growing on trees or other supports that get their nourishment from rainwater and humidity.
Scientists believe these ancient plants had their origins between 76 million and 84 million years ago. They are one of the oldest families of flowering plants on Earth and are also the largest, with over 26,000 species.
These remarkable flowers are symmetrical — one side is an exact copy of the other. They have three petals, two at the top and one below, called the labellum, that acts as a landing pad for pollinating insects. Behind the petals are three sepals that can be petal-like, or differently shaped and brightly colored or patterned, and their stamens and pistil are fused into one distinctive organ called a column.
A special gift
When someone receives an arrangement of orchid blooms, that person knows that their friend or loved one went out of their way to send something different and unique. There is that unexpected “wow” moment that brings the sender and recipient together.
“Orchids are exotic, very luxurious tropicals that surprise and delight, and ultimately deliver a smile to the customer,” says Alfred Palomares, vice president of merchandising at 1-800-Flowers.com. “The gift of orchids goes above and beyond what they were expecting.”
Orchids bring an element of exotic, elegant beauty into any space. Whether they are used as a gorgeous accessory that brightens a living room or an exquisite centerpiece that enhances a gracious dining table, orchids never fail to lift the mood in a home or office.
Orchid care
All the orchids that 1-800-Flowers.com sells are grown in Thailand and preserved carefully throughout their journey from the farm to the door. Once they reach your house, though, it is important that you continue that care.
First, cut the stems at an angle and set them in water with the flower food as soon as you can. They will stay fresher longer if you display them in the coolest part of a room, away from heaters or the hot sun.
(Those are just the basics, though. If you want to learn all the ins and outs of caring for an orchid — both the cut variety and flowering plant — read our post titled “Learning to Care for Your First Orchid.“)
An orchid bloom is as unique as it is radiant. Giving a bouquet or arrangement of orchids shows that the sender carefully considered what kind of gift to get, and that the object of that person’s affection holds a special place in their heart. In short, an orchid makes the recipient feel as special as the flower itself.
When is the best time to send an orchid? According to Palomares, it is when you want to let someone know that you are thinking about them and want to bring a smile to their day.
