| Begonia | Flowering Cabbage, Kale |
| Celosia | Geranium |
| Crape Myrtlettes | Hibiscus |
| Dahlia | Hollyhock |
| Delphinium | Impatiens |
back to the Gardener's Handbook Index
Achimenes
| Will it grow and bloom in my yard? | Warm summer, shade, rich, well-drained soil |
| Direct Sow | no |
| Annual or Perennial (Hardy) | Annual |
| Plant Spacing | 12 in. |
| Best Uses (Provided by varieties Park offers) | Patio containers and hanging baskets |
Ageratum
Remove spent blooms to prolong flowering. Keep well-watered in hot, dry weather.
| Will it grow and bloom in my yard? | Warm summer, full sun, quick to bloom |
| Direct Sow | no |
| Annual or Perennial (Hardy) | Annual |
| Plant Spacing | 10 in. |
| Best Uses (Provided by varieties Park offers) | Low beds |
Alyssum, Sweet
Shear plants back lightly to promote longer blooming period.
| Will it grow and bloom in my yard? | Cool spring, full sun, quick to bloom |
| Direct Sow | yes |
| Annual or Perennial (Hardy) | Annual |
| Plant Spacing | 8 in. |
| Best Uses (Provided by varieties Park offers) | Low beds |
Asclepias
| Will it grow and bloom in my yard? | Warm summer, sun, sow outdoors spring or fall |
| Direct Sow | yes |
| Annual or Perennial (Hardy) | Hardy |
| Plant Spacing | 12 in. |
| Best Uses (Provided by varieties Park offers) | Perennial border, cut flower |
Aster
To minimize the possibility of Aster Wilt, plant in a different part of your garden each year.
| Will it grow and bloom in my yard? | Cool spring, full sun |
| Direct Sow | yes |
| Annual or Perennial (Hardy) | Annual |
| Plant Spacing | 12 in. |
| Best Uses (Provided by varieties Park offers) | Bedding, tall cutting border |
Begonia
Bronze-leaved varieties do particularly well in sun. Keep foliage dry, provide good air circulation around plants.
| Will it grow and bloom in my yard? | Warm summer, partial shade, sow early |
| Direct Sow | no |
| Annual or Perennial (Hardy) | Annual |
| Plant Spacing | 10 in. |
| Best Uses (Provided by varieties Park offers) | Low beds, patio containers, hanging baskets |
Celosia
| Will it grow and bloom in my yard? | Warm summer, full sun, quick to bloom |
| Direct Sow | yes |
| Annual or Perennial (Hardy) | Annual |
| Plant Spacing | 12 in. |
| Best Uses (Provided by varieties Park offers) | Bedding, cut flower |
Chrysanthemum
Can also be set out as plants or rooted cuttings. Fertilize heavily. To promote bushy growth and more flowers, pinch out tips several times, up to July 15. Divide in spring.
| Will it grow and bloom in my yard? | Sow in spring for fall bloom, full sun |
| Direct Sow | no |
| Annual or Perennial (Hardy) | Hardy |
| Plant Spacing | 12 in. |
| Best Uses (Provided by varieties Park offers) | Beds, perennial border, patio, cut flower |
Coleus
Pinch off flower spikes to promote growth and attractive appearance.
| Will it grow and bloom in my yard? | Warm summer, likes moist shade |
| Direct Sow | no |
| Annual or Perennial (Hardy) | Annual |
| Plant Spacing | 12 in. |
| Best Uses (Provided by varieties Park offers) | Beds, patio containers, hanging baskets |
Coreopsis
| Will it grow and bloom in my yard? | Hot summer sun, blooms through drought, sow early |
| Direct Sow | yes |
| Annual or Perennial (Hardy) | Hardy |
| Plant Spacing | 12 in. |
| Best Uses (Provided by varieties Park offers) | Bedding, perennial border, cut flower |
Crape Myrtle
Started indoors in March from seeds, will bloom in late July. Also available as plants. Hardy in South; in North, bring plants indoors over winter.
| Will it grow and bloom in my yard? | Sow early for midsummer bloom, full sun |
| Direct Sow | no |
| Annual or Perennial (Hardy) | Hardy |
| Plant Spacing | 24 in. |
| Best Uses (Provided by varieties Park offers) | Perennial border, patio containers |
Dahlia
Blooms first year from seed. Also available as tuberous roots that should be planted 6 inches deep after danger of spring frost. Taller varieties may need staking.
| Will it grow and bloom in my yard? | Warm summer, full sun, rich soil |
| Direct Sow | yes |
| Annual or Perennial (Hardy) | Hardy South |
| Plant Spacing | 12 in. |
| Best Uses (Provided by varieties Park offers) | Bedding, perennial border, cut flower |
Daylily
In South, seed sown in late summer will bloom following year - takes longer in the North. Most commonly grown from plants. Exceptionally easy to grow, weedproof and trouble free.
| Will it grow and bloom in my yard? | Sow early for summer bloom, thrives anywhere |
| Direct Sow | no |
| Annual or Perennial (Hardy) | Hardy |
| Plant Spacing | 12 in. |
| Best Uses (Provided by varieties Park offers) | Bedding perennial border, cut flower |
Delphinium
Feed heavily. After blooming, cut back flowering stalks at base to induce rebloom in fall.
| Will it grow and bloom in my yard? | Cool spring, full sun, sow early |
| Direct Sow | no |
| Annual or Perennial (Hardy) | Hardy |
| Plant Spacing | 15 in. |
| Best Uses (Provided by varieties Park offers) | Perennial border, cut flower |
Dusty Miller
| Will it grow and bloom in my yard? | Cool spring, full sun |
| Direct Sow | no |
| Annual or Perennial (Hardy) | Hardy |
| Plant Spacing | 12 in. |
| Best Uses (Provided by varieties Park offers) | Low beds, perennial border |
Flowering Cabbage, Kale
| Will it grow and bloom in my yard? | Cool, fall or spring, full sun, tolerates frost |
| Direct Sow | no |
| Annual or Perennial (Hardy) | Annual |
| Plant Spacing | 12 in. |
| Best Uses (Provided by varieties Park offers) | Spring or fall bedding |
Gazania
| Will it grow and bloom in my yard? | Warm summer, full sun, tolerates drought |
| Direct Sow | no |
| Annual or Perennial (Hardy) | Annual |
| Plant Spacing | 12 in. |
| Best Uses (Provided by varieties Park offers) | Bedding, patio containers |
Gerbera
Seed started in January will bloom in June. Grow in full sun, providing ample moisture. North of Washington, D.C., pot up in fall and grow in a cool sunny window over winter.
| Will it grow and bloom in my yard? | Sow early for summer bloom, sun |
| Direct Sow | no |
| Annual or Perennial (Hardy) | Hardy South |
| Plant Spacing | 12 in. |
| Best Uses (Provided by varieties Park offers) | Bedding, patio, cut flower |
Geranium
Geranium seeds may germinate irregularly, so do not transplant from tray until germination is complete. Drench seedlings with approved fungicide.
| Will it grow and bloom in my yard? | Warm summer, full sun, well-drained soil |
| Direct Sow | no |
| Annual or Perennial (Hardy) | Annual |
| Plant Spacing | 12 in. |
| Best Uses (Provided by varieties Park offers) | Bedding, patio containers |
Hibiscus
| Will it grow and bloom in my yard? | Warm summer, full sun, moist soil |
| Direct Sow | no |
| Annual or Perennial (Hardy) | Hardy |
| Plant Spacing | 18 in. |
| Best Uses (Provided by varieties Park offers) | Tall border, perennial border |
Hollyhock
Some bloom from seed the first year, others should be started in August for bloom the following season. Young plants perform best; keep a new supply coming from seed.
| Will it grow and bloom in my yard? | Warm summer, full sun, sow early |
| Direct Sow | no |
| Annual or Perennial (Hardy) | Hardy |
| Plant Spacing | 18 in. |
| Best Uses (Provided by varieties Park offers) | Tall border, perennial border |
Impatiens
One of the best of all annuals for shade. Starts blooming in 3 months from seed. Pinch back once or twice before setting out, thus promoting compact, bushy growth.
| Will it grow and bloom in my yard? | Warm summer, some shade, moist soil |
| Direct Sow | no |
| Annual or Perennial (Hardy) | Annual |
| Plant Spacing | 12 in. |
| Best Uses (Provided by varieties Park offers) | Bedding, patio containers, baskets |
