Growing, Sowing and Arranging Flowers by Jane Wrigglesworth
English daisies (Bellis perennis) can be sown from February to April and again from June to September. These hardy herbaceous perennials are lovely in a garden setting and super cute in small posies. The common lawn daisy is also Bellis perennis, but these cultivated double forms are something else, don’t you think? While they prefer full sun, they will tolerate some shade. Available from Kings Seeds and Egmont Seeds.
The top image comes from here.
These cute little English daisies (Bellis perennis) are only about 15cm high but their colourful blooms make a big impact. They come in white, cream, pink and red shades, or a mix of two, and flower in winter in mild areas and spring in colder areas. They look quite lovely planted among spring bulbs, or grow them along a path edge or in containers. Seeds can be sown from February to April and again from June to September. They prefer full sun but they’ll tolerate some shade. Although they have short stems, they’re great for small posies. Seeds are available from Kings Seeds and Egmont Seeds.
What to plant this week? Pure white shasta daisies, large round-headed hydrangeas (or try the cone-shaped Hydrangea paniculata) and gold and chocolate-coloured cosmidium.
Shasta daisies
Shasta daisies (Leucanthemum x superbum) produce pure white blooms with yellow centres on tall stems. They flower profusely over summer and are excellent cut flowers. Drought tolerant once established, they like full sun and free-draining soil. Look for plants at your local garden centre.
Hydrangeas
Hydrangeas are currently being shipped into garden centres in huge quantities, so if you haven’t already, get one in the ground now. They like a rich, free-draining soil and plenty of moisture, so make sure you provide ample water while their root systems are developing. Flowers and foliage will wilt if water is lacking but they’ll soon perk up once given a drink. Part shade is best, although Hydrangea paniculata tolerates more sun. The mophead hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla, shown here) are the most commonly grown hydrangeas, with their big fluffy balls of pink, blue or white, but Hydrangea paniculata is worth growing too, with its pyramid-shaped clusters of white flowers that mature to pink.
Cosmidium
Cosmidium burridgeanum looks like a refined coreopsis with its chocolate centres and gold tips. It’s an easy-to-grow annual, excellent for both the border and the container, and makes a great cut flower. Available from Egmont Seeds.
There are some lovely summer blooms out and about right now, ready for picking – purple geranium, roses, hydrangeas, astilbe, dahlias, gaillardia, Shasta daisies and lisianthus (or eustoma – these are very hard to grow from seed), with eucalyptus and coleus for foliage fillers.
What’s ready for picking in your garden?
Dahlias, zinnias and rudbeckias flower throughout summer and autumn, right up to the first frosts. Plant seedlings or plants from your local garden centre for a non-stop floral display.
Shasta daisies (Leucanthemum x superbum – pictured on the left) are great for the summer and autumn garden too – and, like dahlias, zinnias and rudbeckias – make great cut flowers. All enjoy full sun and free-draining soil.
Cornflowers (Centaurea cyanus) are old faithfuls in the cut flower garden, producing blue, white or pink flowers in spring and summer. They’re hardy annuals, so seeds can be sown now (autumn) to grow on through winter, or early spring. Plants sown now will have time to establish before the cold weather sets in and be bigger and taller when it comes to flowering. They will also flower weeks earlier than if you sow seeds in spring, though don’t dismiss spring sowing; I do both.
You can either sow your seeds directly into the ground in a sunny spot or sow them in trays for transplanting later. Keep them watered while growing. You may like to insert stakes as well. A heavy downpour will flatten the tall stems.
When it comes to flowering, pick regularly to ensure the blooms keep coming.
The image second from bottom comes from Chocolate Bowls blog. The bottom image comes from here.
A quick summer posy. Virtually anything looks good in a vase with daisies or roses – and a posy of both looks divine. So country chic.
How could you not like dianthus? They’re so pretty in small posies, in vases or baskets.
There are different types of dianthus. Sweet Williams (Dianthus barbatus) are hardy plants, typically biennials though if you sow them now in summer they should flower for you next summer. Typical flowering time is from late spring through early summer. They often self-sow, so one planting can last a few years in the garden.
Dianthus barbatus nigrescens ‘Sooty’ has the darkest leaves with equally dark chocolate-maroon flowers on 30-40cm high stems. They’re excellent cut flowers, lasting two weeks in a vase. Grow in rich, evenly moist but well-drained soil in full sun or light shade. These plants self-sow in my garden.
Dianthus chinensis are annuals that bloom from spring to autumn and reach about 30cm high. Dianthus chinensis ‘Black & White Minstrels’ is a very showy chinensis with scented purple-violet blooms laced with white.
Carnations (there are annual and perennial carnations) grow much taller and flower in summer. Dianthus ‘Raspberry Ripples’, for example, is a hardy annual with double white flowers and raspberry-pink fringed rims. This fragrant carnation can grow up to 60cm high, which makes it perfect for picking.
The old-fashioned pinks are perennials and becoming popular again, with gorgeous new hybrids coming onto the market. Pinks are drought tolerant and retain their foliage year-round. They tolerate temperatures from 35°C to as low as -20°C. You’ll find these in garden centres now because the newer forms, such as the Magnifi-Scent series, flower from spring until first frosts.
Dianthus are best in full sun and well-drained soil. Sow seeds in trays and cover with no more than 5mm soil. Don’t overwater or plants may rot. Grow on in a lightly shaded area until big enough to pot up or plant out. Dianthus will benefit from some food, but too much will produce more foliage than flowers.
Osteospermum, or African daisies, are low-maintenance evergreen plants that flower consistently from spring until autumn. In warmer areas they grow as tender perennials; in cooler spots they’re treated as annuals. Wherever they grow, the flowers open in full sun and close when days are overcast and at night. Colours range from pastels to vibrant hues.
Plant in a sunny spot in the garden or in containers. Prune to shape after flowering.
Plants are available from garden centres, or you can buy seeds to sow in spring and summer. There’s a lovely seed mix available from Egmont Seeds called Akila Mix.
You may have heard that the Pantone Color of the Year 2013 is emerald green, so we’re likely to see this colour everywhere, from fashion to floral bouquets, this year. Check out this gorgeous bouquet, with bobbly berzelia buds, pretty daisies and the leaves of the king protea. So elegant.
Image from Caplan Miller Events.
