By Arricca Elin SanSone and Terri Robertson
You know the old saying, “It takes all kinds.” At Country Living, we find that it’s as true for garden flowers as it is for people. Planting many different types of flowers in your garden guarantees a good show with a range of colors, textures, and heights. With a mix spring, summer, fall, and even winter bloomers, you’ll have something pretty to enjoy in the garden all year long.
Every type of flower plays its part. Flowering shrubs and long-lived perennials form a low-maintenance foundation, while annuals sure are a delight even though we know we’ll have to replace them every year. Flowering vines can take a garden to dazzling heights, but we need humble ground covers too to cover the bald spots. And, finally, the differing light needs of full-sun flowers and shade-loving gems ensure no spot in your garden goes without color. Just don’t forget your pollinator friends—there are so many options that will attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds to your garden haven.
Read on to learn about some of the most popular types of flowers, including birthday flowers, complete with names and pictures, that will inspire you to get your hands in the dirt, whether your garden is big or small, cottage-style or formal. Before you buy any flowers, though, be sure to read the plant tag or description and check which perennials or shrubs are a good fit for your USDA Hardiness Zone (find yours here).
62 Best Types of Flowers to Plant
Astrantia
Tom Meaker / EyeEm
When it blooms: Late spring
Why we love it: Tall, globe-shaped flowers (some are as big as your hand!) are a striking addition to the spring garden. Rodents won’t bother these bulbs.
Related: 28 Types of Purple Flowers to Beautify Your Garden
Angelonia
Pinrath Phanpradith / EyeEm
When it blooms: Spring to fall
Why we love it: The bright colors, cascading or upright forms and flowers that bloom non-stop are all reasons to plant this annual in your beds, window boxes, and pots. It’s sometimes called summer snapdragon.
Aster
Getty Images
When they bloom: Mid-summer to fall
Why we love them: It’s one of our favorite perennials for a reason! Aster blooms for a long period, adding color just as all the other flowers are winding down for the season.
Azalea
Russell Wong / EyeEm
When they bloom: Spring
Why we love them: These pretty shrubs tell you spring is in full swing. They’re gorgeous planted in masses with other spring-flowering perennials. Some types rebloom later in the season.
Related: 20 Popular Flowering Shrubs for Every Kind of Garden
Balloon Flower
Masahiro Makino
When it blooms: Midsummer
Why we love it: This perennial has brilliant blue, purple or pink blooms last for weeks. Plus, the tiny balloon-shaped buds make it even more fun to admire in your garden!
Begonia
wawdao
When they bloom: Spring through summer (though some types bloom year-round)
Why we love them: Begonias come in a staggering array of shapes and colors and bloom continually without any deadheading (pinching off spent blooms). They’re the perfect low-maintenance annual for any garden!
Black-eyed Susan
Ghiringhelli Ausrey / EyeEm
When it blooms: Late summer to early fall
Why we love it: This sunny flower will make you smile, plus it doesn’t need babied because it’s drought tolerant and blooms for weeks and weeks. These are all the reasons you need this late season bloomer in your garden. Be sure to choose a perennial type.
Related: 25 Types of Yellow Flowers for the Happiest Garden in the Neighborhood
Butterfly Bush
When it blooms: Early summer to late summer
Why we love it: Tons of spikey flowers in pink, purple or white cover this fast-growing shrub. Plus, you’ll love seeing all the butterflies that visit! Newer varieties are not invasive.
Caladium
DigiPub
When it blooms: As pretty as any flower’s bloom, the leaves keep their color from spring to frost
Why we love it: Gorgeous heart-shaped leaves add style to any garden, especially in shaded areas where many flowers won’t bloom.
Calendula
fotolinchen
When it blooms: Spring to mid-summer
Why we love it: These old-fashioned favorites are easy to grow from seed, and their bright orange or yellow petals make a gorgeous contrast to flowers that are blue or purple.
Calibrachoa
TopherBerg
When they bloom: Spring to fall
Why we love them: These adorable annuals, which also go by the common name million bells, look like petunias but actually are a different plant. They bloom abundantly until a hard frost—and come in any color (including multi-colored pinwheels) you can imagine! This type of flower has a spilling habitat, which makes it ideal for hanging baskets.
Related: 22 Best Outdoor Hanging Plants and Flowers to Add Garden Charm
Catmint
When it blooms: Early summer to fall
Why we love it: If you want a perennial that requires almost no work, this is the plant for you! The silvery spicy-sweet foliage and the long-lasting blooms of catmint keep tons of pollinators buzzing for weeks and weeks. It’s also drought-tolerant and grows well on slopes.
Chrysanthemums
Kemjira Hesuksawad / EyeEm
When they bloom: Late summer to late fall
Why we love them: Mums come in ton of different types and colors ranging from hot pink to pumpkin orange. Plant these perennials in the spring so their roots can get established and survive winter; if you wait to fall to plant, they’ll give a good show but likely won’t return next year because they’re putting their energy into blooming, not putting down roots.
Clematis
Photos from Japan, Asia and othe of the world
When it blooms: Spring to late summer
Why we love it: Clematis is a beautiful vine for fences, arbors and lamp posts. But be patient; it often takes perennials such as clematis several years to get established and take off.
Related: 20 Gorgeous Flowering Vines to Add Vertical Color to Your Garden
Columbine
When they bloom: Spring
Why we love them: The delicate flowers are so exotic-looking, yet these perennials are tough and very cold-hardy. Plant them with other spring perennials and annuals for best effect. They’re also sometimes called Granny’s bonnet (how cute is that!).
Coneflower
When it blooms: Early to late summer
Why we love it: These perennials are super-tough and drought-tolerant. Coneflower (a common name for echinacea) comes in an array of bright and beautiful colors from lime green to hot pink and deep red.
Related: 20 Types of Drought-Resistant Plants and Flowers for Dry Climates
Crocus
Cora Niele
When it blooms: Spring
Why we love it: These tiny flowers pop up in early spring, often when snow still is on the ground. Plant in the fall for spring blooms that return year after year.
Daffodil
Vicki Gardner
When they bloom: Early spring
Why we love them: Their bobbing heads are one of the earliest signs of spring–plus, rodents won’t bother these bulbs (unlike tulips and crocuses). Plant in the fall for spring flowers, which should return for many years.
Related: 13 Types of Spring Flowering Bulbs for the Prettiest Garden on the Block
Dead Nettle
DEA / R. SACCO
When it blooms: Late spring to mid-summer
Why we love it: We promise this shade plant is way better than its strange name! Also called lamium, it has pretty foliage and pink or purple flowers. It makes an incredibly low-maintenance perennial ground cover because it’s drought tolerant and not fussy about soil types.
Related: 25 Best Shade Perennials That Thrive Out of the Sun
Arricca Elin SanSone has written about health and lifestyle topics for Prevention, Country Living, Woman’s Day, and more. She’s passionate about gardening, baking, reading, and spending time with the people and dogs she loves.
Terri Robertson is the Senior Editor, Digital, at Country Living, where she shares her lifelong love of homes, gardens, down-home cooking, and antiques.
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62 Best Types of Flowers (With Pictures!) You Should Have in Your Garden
What are the different types of flowers?
There are countless types of flowers, each with its own unique beauty. Some popular types include roses, tulips, sunflowers, daisies, lilies, orchids, carnations, and hydrangeas. With such a wide variety to choose from, you can create a stunning garden full of color and fragrance.
It’s time to take your flower beds to the next level.
By Arricca Elin SanSone and Terri Robertson
You know the old saying, “It takes all kinds.” At Country Living, we find that it’s as true for garden flowers as it is for people. Planting many different types of flowers in your garden guarantees a good show with a range of colors, textures, and heights. With a mix spring, summer, fall, and even winter bloomers, you’ll have something pretty to enjoy in the garden all year long.
Every type of flower plays its part. Flowering shrubs and long-lived perennials form a low-maintenance foundation, while annuals sure are a delight even though we know we’ll have to replace them every year. Flowering vines can take a garden to dazzling heights, but we need humble ground covers too to cover the bald spots. And, finally, the differing light needs of full-sun flowers and shade-loving gems ensure no spot in your garden goes without color. Just don’t forget your pollinator friends—there are so many options that will attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds to your garden haven.
Read on to learn about some of the most popular types of flowers, including birthday flowers, complete with names and pictures, that will inspire you to get your hands in the dirt, whether your garden is big or small, cottage-style or formal. Before you buy any flowers, though, be sure to read the plant tag or description and check which perennials or shrubs are a good fit for your USDA Hardiness Zone (find yours here).
62 Best Types of Flowers to Plant
Astrantia
Jacky Parker Photography//Getty Images
When it blooms: Spring to summer
Why we love it: This lesser-known perennial actually is an old-fashioned cottage garden favorite. Its pretty blooms last a long time and attract tons of pollinators.
Allium
Tom Meaker / EyeEm
When it blooms: Late spring
Why we love it: Tall, globe-shaped flowers (some are as big as your hand!) are a striking addition to the spring garden. Rodents won’t bother these bulbs.
Related: 28 Types of Purple Flowers to Beautify Your Garden
Angelonia
Pinrath Phanpradith / EyeEm
When it blooms: Spring to fall
Why we love it: The bright colors, cascading or upright forms and flowers that bloom non-stop are all reasons to plant this annual in your beds, window boxes, and pots. It’s sometimes called summer snapdragon.
Aster
Getty Images
When they bloom: Mid-summer to fall
Why we love them: It’s one of our favorite perennials for a reason! Aster blooms for a long period, adding color just as all the other flowers are winding down for the season.
Azalea
Russell Wong / EyeEm
When they bloom: Spring
Why we love them: These pretty shrubs tell you spring is in full swing. They’re gorgeous planted in masses with other spring-flowering perennials. Some types rebloom later in the season.
Related: 20 Popular Flowering Shrubs for Every Kind of Garden
Balloon Flower
Masahiro Makino
When it blooms: Midsummer
Why we love it: This perennial has brilliant blue, purple or pink blooms last for weeks. Plus, the tiny balloon-shaped buds make it even more fun to admire in your garden!
Begonia
wawdao
When they bloom: Spring through summer (though some types bloom year-round)
Why we love them: Begonias come in a staggering array of shapes and colors and bloom continually without any deadheading (pinching off spent blooms). They’re the perfect low-maintenance annual for any garden!
Black-eyed Susan
Ghiringhelli Ausrey / EyeEm
When it blooms: Late summer to early fall
Why we love it: This sunny flower will make you smile, plus it doesn’t need babied because it’s drought tolerant and blooms for weeks and weeks. These are all the reasons you need this late season bloomer in your garden. Be sure to choose a perennial type.
Related: 25 Types of Yellow Flowers for the Happiest Garden in the Neighborhood
Butterfly Bush
When it blooms: Early summer to late summer
Why we love it: Tons of spikey flowers in pink, purple or white cover this fast-growing shrub. Plus, you’ll love seeing all the butterflies that visit! Newer varieties are not invasive.
Caladium
DigiPub
When it blooms: As pretty as any flower’s bloom, the leaves keep their color from spring to frost
Why we love it: Gorgeous heart-shaped leaves add style to any garden, especially in shaded areas where many flowers won’t bloom.
Calendula
fotolinchen
When it blooms: Spring to mid-summer
Why we love it: These old-fashioned favorites are easy to grow from seed, and their bright orange or yellow petals make a gorgeous contrast to flowers that are blue or purple.
Calibrachoa
TopherBerg
When they bloom: Spring to fall
Why we love them: These adorable annuals, which also go by the common name million bells, look like petunias but actually are a different plant. They bloom abundantly until a hard frost—and come in any color (including multi-colored pinwheels) you can imagine! This type of flower has a spilling habitat, which makes it ideal for hanging baskets.
Related: 22 Best Outdoor Hanging Plants and Flowers to Add Garden Charm
Catmint
When it blooms: Early summer to fall
Why we love it: If you want a perennial that requires almost no work, this is the plant for you! The silvery spicy-sweet foliage and the long-lasting blooms of catmint keep tons of pollinators buzzing for weeks and weeks. It’s also drought-tolerant and grows well on slopes.
Chrysanthemums
Kemjira Hesuksawad / EyeEm
When they bloom: Late summer to late fall
Why we love them: Mums come in ton of different types and colors ranging from hot pink to pumpkin orange. Plant these perennials in the spring so their roots can get established and survive winter; if you wait to fall to plant, they’ll give a good show but likely won’t return next year because they’re putting their energy into blooming, not putting down roots.
Clematis
Photos from Japan, Asia and othe of the world
When it blooms: Spring to late summer
Why we love it: Clematis is a beautiful vine for fences, arbors and lamp posts. But be patient; it often takes perennials such as clematis several years to get established and take off.
Related: 20 Gorgeous Flowering Vines to Add Vertical Color to Your Garden
Columbine
When they bloom: Spring
Why we love them: The delicate flowers are so exotic-looking, yet these perennials are tough and very cold-hardy. Plant them with other spring perennials and annuals for best effect. They’re also sometimes called Granny’s bonnet (how cute is that!).
Coneflower
When it blooms: Early to late summer
Why we love it: These perennials are super-tough and drought-tolerant. Coneflower (a common name for echinacea) comes in an array of bright and beautiful colors from lime green to hot pink and deep red.
Related: 20 Types of Drought-Resistant Plants and Flowers for Dry Climates
Crocus
Cora Niele
When it blooms: Spring
Why we love it: These tiny flowers pop up in early spring, often when snow still is on the ground. Plant in the fall for spring blooms that return year after year.
Daffodil
Vicki Gardner
When they bloom: Early spring
Why we love them: Their bobbing heads are one of the earliest signs of spring–plus, rodents won’t bother these bulbs (unlike tulips and crocuses). Plant in the fall for spring flowers, which should return for many years.
Related: 13 Types of Spring Flowering Bulbs for the Prettiest Garden on the Block
Dead Nettle
DEA / R. SACCO
When it blooms: Late spring to mid-summer
Why we love it: We promise this shade plant is way better than its strange name! Also called lamium, it has pretty foliage and pink or purple flowers. It makes an incredibly low-maintenance perennial ground cover because it’s drought tolerant and not fussy about soil types.
Related: 25 Best Shade Perennials That Thrive Out of the Sun
Arricca Elin SanSone has written about health and lifestyle topics for Prevention, Country Living, Woman’s Day, and more. She’s passionate about gardening, baking, reading, and spending time with the people and dogs she loves.
Terri Robertson is the Senior Editor, Digital, at Country Living, where she shares her lifelong love of homes, gardens, down-home cooking, and antiques.