Growing flowers in container gardening

Annual flowers are the bright sparks of the garden as their colorful blossoms greet us at the door or on the patio. Containers are the perfect way to grow these living bouquets!

Annuals do not need any special care and can be planted as detailed in chapters 1-3 of this guide. Many are easy to grow from seed, meaning that you can experiment with a variety of different types of flowers very economically, and even save your own seed.

Annuals are often purchased as pre-planted flowering pots. Countless varieties are available at hardware stores, supermarkets, and garden centers. These plants can add instant color to a container garden, and are an excellent way to quickly replace an under-performing plant in an otherwise stunning display. However, because they have usually begun flowering well before we buy them, they do not bloom for as long as plants grown from seed nor are they as hardy.

In order to extend the life of your flower displays, keep the spent flowers trimmed off. This is called “deadheading.” Removing the flowers before they can set seed encourages the plant to produce even more flowers.

Annual flowers make excellent displays on their own, or can be combined with herbs and vegetables for a stunning and edible display! Some flowers, like nasturtiums and pansies, are also edible and make a fantastic addition to summer salads.

Because annuals live only one season, you can choose a new look for your container each year. When you design your annual container, keep in mind these design principles:

1. Consider foliage plants with interesting shapes, colors, or textures as the “background” of your composition.

2. Keep the color wheel in mind: If you want the colors to pop, choose colors from opposite sides of the wheel—like purple and yellow. If you want a more soothing look, choose analogous colors—those that are next to each other—like shades of pink and pastel oranges.

3. Shapes of flowers add interest to the arrangement. Use a variety for best results.

4. If plants get leggy or overgrow the container, trim them back. When they are truly spent, did them up gently and replace them.

5. Plant more flowers than you would normally plant in a garden. You want to keep the bloom dramatic.

Good choices for containers in sunny spots are marigolds, geraniums, sunflowers and petunias. In part-shade, alyssum, lobelia, nemesia and nicotiana all bloom well. In very shady areas, try impatiens, pansies and violas.

Perennial foliage plants like yucca and lamb’s ear, or attractive herbs like lavender, mint and thyme, make excellent foliage plants as the “background” to a composition.

Hanging Garden Flowers:

Names	Sun, Part-Shade , Shade	Feature	Flower Color
BACOPA Satura cordata		Shade tolerant annual	white
BEGONIA,Tuberous Begonia tuberhybrida shade		Showy, large, double flowers; Illumination & Non-Stop series	pink, red, orange
CALIBRACHOA (Million bells)		Small pastel colored petunia-like blooms likes lots of water and food or white	blue, pink
COLEUS Coleus hybridus		Combo. of multi-colored leaves; Minter Rainbow cultivar	colored foliage
FUCHSIA Fuchsia hybrida		Drooping bicolored flowers; bring woody shrub indoors in fall	red, white & purple
GERANIUM, IVY Pelargonium peltatum		Hanging or climbing stems, durable plant with divided leaves	red, pink or white
IMPATIENS Garden Balsam		Popular annual hangers; Accent and Rosebud series	wide range
SCAEVOLA Scaevola aemula		Creeping herbaceous perennial; Blue Wonder variety	blue
SUPERTUNIAS Petunia hybrida		Abundant pastel flowers; lots of water and fertilizer each day!!!	wide range
VERBENA Verbena hybrida		Flower clusters; keep wet!; hairy, toothed, lanceolate leaves	various

Favourite Vines:

Names	Height, Spread	Uses	Flower Colour(s)	Features	Sun, Part Shade, Shade	Indoor/ Outdoor Seed Date	Seed / Trans-plant
ASARINA- MYSTIC PINK	7 ft. 2 m.	hangers, planters, trellis	pink	Trailing vine with large, trumpet-shaped flowers		Feb 15-28	Trans.
CANARY BIRD VINE Tropaeolum peregrinum	7 ft. 2 m.	vine coverage on fence or trellis	yellow (with cut petals)	Annual climber with 5-lobed leaves		May 10- 20	seed
COBAEA SCANDENS (Purple Climber)	12 ft. 4 m.	trellis, hanging basket	violet with green sepals	Bell-shaped flowers		n/a	Trans.
CREEPING JENNY Lysimachia nummularia	4 in. 10 cm.	planters, hanging basket	yellow	Creeping perennial or ground cover		n/a	Trans.
ECCREMOCARPUS (Chilean Glory Vine)	10 ft. 3 m.	hangers, planters, trellis screening	yellow, orange, red	2 cm. tubular blooms		Mar. 1-15	Trans.
KENILWORTH IVY Cymbalaria muralis	24 in. 60 cm.	bed, border, planter, hanging basket, pot	single, tiny pink blooms	Profusion of small leafed foliage		Feb. 15- 20	Trans.
MINA LOBATA (Spanish Flag)	12 ft. 4 m.	planters, hanging basket	red, orange, yellow	Twining climber; 3 flower colors same time		Mar.	Trans.
MOON VINE Calonyction aculeatum	10 ft. 3 m.	trellis screening	white	Large 15 cm. fragrant flowers open at night		Mar. 20- 31	Trans.

Vines:

Names	Height, Spread	Uses	Flower Colour(s)	Features	Sun, Part Shade, Shade	Indoor/ Outdoor Seed Date	Seed / Trans-plant
ASARINA- MYSTIC PINK	7 ft. 2 m.	hangers, planters, trellis	pink	Trailing vine with large, trumpet-shaped flowers		Feb 15-28	Trans.
CANARY BIRD VINE Tropaeolum peregrinum	7 ft. 2 m.	vine coverage on fence or trellis	yellow (with cut petals)	Annual climber with 5-lobed leaves		May 10- 20	seed
COBAEA SCANDENS (Purple Climber)	12 ft. 4 m.	trellis, hanging basket	violet with green sepals	Bell-shaped flowers		n/a	Trans.
CREEPING JENNY Lysimachia nummularia	4 in. 10 cm.	planters, hanging basket	yellow	Creeping perennial or ground cover		n/a	Trans.
ECCREMOCARPUS (Chilean Glory Vine)	10 ft. 3 m.	hangers, planters, trellis screening	yellow, orange, red	2 cm. tubular blooms		Mar. 1-15	Trans.
KENILWORTH IVY Cymbalaria muralis	24 in. 60 cm.	bed, border, planter, hanging basket, pot	single, tiny pink blooms	Profusion of small leafed foliage		Feb. 15- 20	Trans.
MINA LOBATA (Spanish Flag)	12 ft. 4 m.	planters, hanging basket	red, orange, yellow	Twining climber; 3 flower colors same time		Mar.	Trans.
MOON VINE Calonyction aculeatum	10 ft. 3 m.	trellis screening	white	Large 15 cm. fragrant flowers open at night		Mar. 20- 31	Trans.
MORNING GLORY (Heavenly Blue)	10 ft. 3 m.	trellis screening	blue	Large 10-15 cm. trumpet-shaped flowers		Mar. 20- 31	Trans.
PETUNIA Super cascadias, surfifinia	4 ft. 1.2 m.	planters, hanging basket	blues, pinks	6 cm. flower		n/a	Trans.
RHODOCHITON Purple Bells	7 ft. 2 m.	hanger, planter, houseplant	purple bell shaped flowers			Mar. 20- 31	Trans.
SCARLET RUN. BEAN Phaseolus coccineus	7 ft. 2 m.	screens, trellis, posts	red	Vine with flower clusters;		n/a	seed
SWEET PEA Lathyrus odoratus	10 ft. 3 m.	screens, beds	pink, white, blue, red, cream, purple	Old-fashioned favorite with fragrant flowers		n/a	seed, trans.
THUNBERGIA ALATA 3 ft. Black Eyed Susan Vine	3 ft. 1 m.	planters, hanging basket	orange or yellow with dark center	Arrow shaped leaves; individually borne flowers		April 10- 20	seed, trans.
VINCA MAJOR (Greater Periwinkle)	3 ft. 1 m.	hanger accent, planter	blue	Variegated trailing foliage; cousin to Vinca minor		n/a	Trans.

Favourite Flowers:

Names	Height, Spread	Uses	Flower Colour(s)	Features	Sun, Part Shade, Shade	Indoor/ Outdoor Seed Date	Seed / Trans-plant
AFRICAN DAISY Dimorphotheca species	12/8 in. 30/20 cm	beds, borders,mass planting	orange, yellow	Dark eyed, daisy flowers;also called cape marigold		Mar. 20-28 May 1-10	seed trans.
DAHLIA Dahlia pinnata	14/10 in. 35/25 cm	beds, pots, borders	various mixed	Late summer blooming; tuberous root		Mar. 10-20 May 10-20	seed trans.
MARIGOLD, AFRICAN Tagetes erecta	30/12 in. 75/30 cm	background of bed, cut flowers	orange, yellow	Tall plants with lacy leaves and large flowers that repel insects		Apr. 1-15 May 15-30	Trans.
DATURA Datura pinnata	4/2 ft. 1/.5 m	back of border specimen in pot	white, yellow	Exotic plant, large trumpet flowers also called thorn apple		Mar. 10-20 n/a	seed trans.
BABY’S BREATH Gysophila elegans	12/12 in. 30/30 cm	beds, borders, bouquets	white, pink	Profuse sprays of dainty delicate flowers		May 15-30 May 1-10	seed trans.
BEGONIA, WAX Begonia semperflflorens	8/6 in. 30/30 cm	beds, borders, planters	red, pink, white	Colorful clusters of flowers; fleshy leaves and fibrous roots		Feb. 1-28 n/a	seed trans.
LANTANA Lantana camara	18/18 in. 45/45 cm	specimen in container	orange, yellow	Place outside after last frost; does well in hot, dry area		n/a n/a	trans.
MIMULUS (Monkey Flower)	10/6 in. 25/15 cm	beds, borders, mass planting	red & yellow	Suitable for moist shaded area; flowers mimic monkey faces		Mar. 15 May 15-20	seed trans.

Flowers:

Names	Height, Spread	Uses	Flower Colour(s)	Features	Sun, Part Shade, Shade	Indoor/ Outdoor Seed Date	Seed / Trans-plant
AFRICAN DAISY Dimorphotheca species	12/8 in. 30/20 cm	beds, borders,mass planting	orange, yellow	Dark eyed, daisy flowers;also called cape marigold		Mar. 20-28 May 1-10	seed trans.
AGERATUM (Floss Flower)	6/10 in. 15/25 cm	borders, beds mass planting	blue,red, white	Compact mound of fluffy flower clusters		Feb. 20-28 May 1-15	seed trans.
ALYSSUM, SWEET Lobularia maritima	8/10 in. 20/25 cm	border, edging plant	purple, white	Compact mound of dainty flowers, excellent edging plant		Mar. 15-30 May 1-10	seed trans.
ASTER, CHINA Callistephus chinensis	12/8 in. 30/20 cm	beds, borders,mass planting	purple, pink	Late summer blooming; flower forms are daisy and pompom		Mar. 15-30 May 1-10	seed trans.
BABY’S BREATH Gysophila elegans	12/12 in. 30/30 cm	beds, borders, bouquets	white, pink	Profuse sprays of dainty delicate flowers		May 15-30 May 1-10	seed trans.
BEGONIA, WAX Begonia semperflflorens	8/6 in. 30/30 cm	beds, borders, planters	red, pink, white	Colorful clusters of flowers; fleshy leaves and fibrous roots		Feb. 1-28 n/a	seed trans.
BEGONIA, TUBEROUS Begonia tuberhybrida	14/12 in. 35/30 cm	planters, pots, specimen	red, pink, yellow	Large showy double flowers; plant tuberous root after last frost		n/a n/a	Trans.
BELLS OF IRELAND Moluccella laevis	24/12 in. 60/30 cm	borders, cut flowers	green, & white	Tiny white flowers in green bells;square stems, toothed leaves		Mar. 1-15 Apr. 20-30	seed
BRACHYCOME (Swan River Daisy)	10/10 in. 25/25 cm	planters, pots, hanging baskets	purple, gold eye	Daisy-like flowers are suitable in all containers		Mar. 1-15 May 1-15	seed trans.
BROWALLIA Browallia speciosa	14/12 in. 35/30 cm	planters, pots, hanging baskets	violet	Trumpet-shaped blossoms; likes sheltered, shaded situation		Feb. 20-28 May 1-15	seed trans.
CARNATION Dianthus caryophyllus	12/8 in. 30/20 cm	beds, borders, cut flowers	various mixed	Strong stemmed, fragrant flowers		Jan. 1-15 n/a	trans.
CELOSIA (Cockscomb)	12/6 in. 30/15 cm	beds, borders, planters	various mixed	Feathery, plumed, or crested, comb-like large flowers		Apr. 20-30 n/a	trans.
CENTAUREA (Bachelor’s Button)	18/10 in. 45/25 cm	beds, borders, mass planting	true blue, pink	True blue flowers readily reseed also called cornflower		Feb. 15 Apr. 15	seed
COLEUS Coleus x hybridus	18/10 in. 45/25 cm	beds, borders, planters	colored foliage	Combo. of multi-colored leaves, also called flame nettle		Mar. 1-15 n/a	seed trans.
COSMOS Cosmos bipinnatus	36/24 in. 90/60 cm	background of border	pink	Tall plant with feathery foliage, easily grown from seed		Apr. 1-10 May 10-20	seed trans.
DAHLIA Dahlia pinnata	14/10 in. 35/25 cm	beds, pots, borders	various mixed	Late summer blooming; tuberous root		Mar. 10-20 May 10-20	seed trans.
DATURA Datura pinnata	4/2 ft. 1/.5 m	back of border specimen in pot	white, yellow	Exotic plant, large trumpet flowers also called thorn apple		Mar. 10-20 n/a	seed trans.
DIANTHUS-China Pink Dianthus chinensis	12/8 in. 30/20 cm	beds, borders, mass planting	red, pink, white	Fragrant fringed flowers similar to carnations or sweet william		Mar. 1-10 n/a	seed trans.
DRACAENA SPIKES Cordyline indivisa	24/24 in. 60/60 cm	planters, pots, specimen	foliage plant	Rosette of sword shaped leaves; plant in center of container		n/a n/a	trans.

Names	Height, Spread	Uses	Flower Colour(s)	Features	Sun Part Shade Shade	Indoor/ Outdoor Seed Date	Seed / Trans-plant
DUSTY MILLER Centaurea cineraria	12/8 in. 30/20 cm	border, edging plant	silvery foliage	Colored foliage plant with hairy, divided leaves		Feb. 1-10 n/a	seed trans.
GAZANIA Gazania splendens	12/12 in. 30/30 cm	beds, borders, planters	yellow, orange	Similar to African daisy; also called treasure flower		Feb. 10-20 n/a	seed trans.
GERANIUM-Pelargonium hortor-domestic-paltatum	20/20 in. 50/50 cm	planters, beds, pots hanging baskets	red, pink, white	4 types: zonal, ivy, seed or Martha Washington		Jan. 10-15 n/a	seed trans.
GODETIA/CLARKIA Satin Flowe	18/12 in. 45/30 cm	beds, borders, mass planting	red, pink, white	Showy, satiny,cup-like blossoms		Apr. 10-20 May 10-20	seed trans.
IMPATIENS (Garden Balsam)	10/10 in. 25/25 cm	planters, borders, hanging baskets	red, pink, white	Succulent stems, spur flowers;for sheltered, shaded sites		Feb 15-20 n/a	seed trans.
KALE-Ornamental Brassica oleracea	16/16 in. 40/40 cm	beds, borders, specimen	pink &/or white	Colorful rosette of foliage; edible color shows in cool temp. in Sept.		Apr. 10-20 May 1-10	seed trans.
LANTANA Lantana camara	18/18 in. 45/45 cm	specimen in container	orange, yellow	Place outside after last frost; does well in hot, dry area		n/a n/a	trans.
LAVATERA Lavatera trimestris	36/24 in. 90/60 cm	back of border, pots	pink, white	Large, showy, cup-like flowers; resembles hibiscus & hollyhock		Apr. 1-10 May 10-20	seed trans.
LIVINGSTONE DAISY Mesembryanthemum	6/6 in. 15/15 cm	borders, planters, hanging baskets	pink, red, lavender	Daisy-like flowers; succulent; good for windy, hot, dry area		Mar. 15-30 May 1-10	seed trans.
LOBELIA Lobelia erinus	4/6 in. 10/15 cm	borders, planters, hanging baskets	true blue, red,white	Both trailing and compact forms with delicate flowers for edging		Feb. 20-28 n/a	seed trans.
MARIGOLD, AFRICAN Tagetes erecta	30/12 in. 75/30 cm	background of bed, cut flowers	orange, yellow	Tall plants with lacy leaves and large flowers that repel insects		Apr. 1-15 May 15-30	trans.
MARIGOLD, FRENCH Tagetes patula	16/6 in. 40/15 cm	borders, beds, mass planting	yellow, orange	Combos. of bicolor flowers; includes Dwarf Boy Series		Apr. 10-20 May 15-25	seed trans.
MARIGOLD, POT Calendula officinalis	12/8 in. 30/20 cm	beds, borders, cut flowers	yellow, orange	Similar looking to true marigolds; flowers reseed readily		Apr. 10-20 May 15-25	seed trans.
MIMULUS (Monkey Flower	10/6 in. 25/15 cm	beds, borders, mass planting	red & yellow	Suitable for moist shaded area; flowers mimic monkey faces		Mar. 15 May 15-20	seed trans.
NASTURTIUM Tropaeolum majus	10/10 in. 25/25 cm	beds, borders, planters	yellow, orange	Dwarf plants with edible foliage and round peltate leaves		Apr 1-10 May 1-10	seed trans.
NEMESIA Nemesia strumosa	10/6 in. 25/15 cm	beds, borders, mass planting	various mixed	Clusters of flowers with lower bearded petals		Mar. 10-20 May 10-20	seed trans.
NICOTIANA Nicotiana alata	16/10 in. 40/25 cm	beds, borders, cut flowers	red, wine, rose	Fragrant, star-shaped flowers;also called flowering tobacco		Mar. 10-20 May 10-20	seed trans.
PANSY Viola tricolor	6/6 in. 15/15 cm	border, beds, edging plant	various mixed	Hardy, frost tolerant, short plants for shaded, moist areas		Feb. 1-10 n/a
PETUNIA Petunia hybrida	16/8 in. 40/20 cm	borders, beds, planters, baskets	wide range	Most popular annual flowers; spreading or cascading growth		Feb. 15-20 May 10-20	trans.