Curiosities
Annual. Looking for a unique flower that loves the dry heat and thrives on neglect? These blue-eyed beauties are your answer. Extremely easy to grow, they thrive in poor soil that is well-draining. Once established, they are exceptionally heat and drought tolerant, being native to the windy coastline of South Africa. For our North American gardens, they are very attractive in mass plantings and perform well in containers. They require minimal care, but deadheading will encourage continuous blooms, and fortunately, they make beautiful cut flowers. Use them to fill a hot, dry, sandy space in the garden, and wait to be dazzled by their glorious blooms.
Location: Sunny border, Rock garden, Cottage garden
Bloom Period: July to October
Plant height: 18-24”
Plant spacing: 12-18”
Annual. A waterfall of cascading, coral pink tassel flowers that will draw delighted whispers throughout summer and fall. The plants are heat tolerant, huge, and require little maintenance. Bright green leaves are also edible. Plant in tall pots so the long tassels can spill over the sides. Arching branches can also be used for cut flower arrangements. Although drought tolerant once established, regular watering will produce more flowers and induce faster growth. Plants will tolerate any soil type, provided there is good drainage.
Location: Rear border, Container, Cottage garden
Bloom Period: July to October
Height: 3-5’
Plant Spacing: 18-24”
Annual. Dramtically weird and wonderful! Giant, deep burgundy flower heads resemble a trumpeting elephant. This one is sure to start a conversation in the garden. An excellent cut flower, it is ideal for late summer and fall arrangements. Plants are heat tolerant, huge, and easy to grow. Staking is recommended. They prefer moderately fertile soil, but will tolerate any soil type, provided it is well-draining.
Location: Rear border, Cut flower garden, Container
Bloom Period: July to October
Height: 4-6’
Plant Spacing: 9-12”
Annual. A dramatic show-stopper that lives up to it’s equally dramatic name! Weird, wonderful, and entirely enormous, this plant won my heart last season. The wine red tassels towered over the rest of my annual bed, blooming long after others had been killed off by frost. An old-fashioned heirloom, Love-Lies-Bleeding used to be a staple in Victorian gardens. Their blooms attract pollinators, butterflies and hummingbirds. They make a terrific companion plant for eggplants, tomatoes, and other members of the nightshade family. A few branches will add a riveting element to a cut flower or dried arrangement. And this plant is edible! Young leaves can be harvested and used like spinach. The seeds are loaded with iron, calcium, and fiber, and when allowed to mature, can be dried, cooked and eaten like oatmeal, or in a risotto. Best of all, they are incredibly easy to grow! They thrive in poor to average soil, require little maintenance, and will withstand high summer heat. Ideal along a fence or trellis, they will also grow in containers, raised beds, or hanging baskets, where strong stems will support cascading tassels as they stretch 2.. 3.. 4 feet long!
Location: Rear border, Fence, Cottage garden, Showstopping container
Bloom Period: July to October
Height: 3-5’, spreading to 2’
Plant Spacing: 18-16”
Annual. A true showstopper! Plants begin to produce gracefully arching, deep red, feathery plumes in mid-summer. As the season progresses, these plumes just grow longer and crazier! Plant in groups to stunning effect, or make it a focal point in a mixed ornamental bed. An excellent cut flower, it is ideal for late summer and fall arrangements. The plumes are easily dried and can also be used for crafts. Plants are heat tolerant, huge, and easy to grow. Staking is strongly recommended. They prefer moderately fertile soil, but will tolerate any soil type, provided it is well-draining.
Location: Rear border, Cut flower garden, Container
Bloom Period: July to October
Height: 4-6’
Plant Spacing: 9-12”
Annual. This unusual, shade-loving flower is an old relative of impatiens. The main difference is in their growth habit: balsam will grow up rather than out, and the flowers form in clusters along the stalk. Plant as you would impatiens, in a shady spot looking for a burst of colour. They are heat tolerant, but keep them well-watered to ensure profuse blooming. Plants prefer rich, well-draining soil.
Location: Shady border, Mixed container, Woodland garden
Bloom Period: July to September
Height: 12-24”
Plant Spacing: 12-18”
Perennial. Unique, pagoda-style blooms are a heavy favourite for both people and pollinators! These flowers will leave you marveling at their complex beauty, colours and textures. As an added bonus - the bees go crazy for them, making them a staple for the vegetable garden. When dried, the leaves and flowers have great medicinal value. These are one of the toughest plants in the garden. During both flooding and drought conditions, they continue to thrive. They are deer-resistant and require little maintenance - ideal for the lazy gardener. Plant in hot, dry areas of the garden with slightly sandy soil.
Location: Mid-border, Vegetable companion, Wildflower garden
Bloom Period: August to September
Height: 2’, spreading to 3’
Plant Spacing: 12”
Annual. A statement piece for any garden! These well-branched plants will reach an eye-watering size, forming hedges in the landscape or billowing mounds in containers. They are low maintenance and self-cleaning. Plants tolerate heat, drought, and rain. For best results, plant in moist, well-drained soil and fertilize monthly.
Location: Shade garden, Annual hedge, Large container
Blooming Period: June to September
Height: 40-48”
Plant Spacing: 10-12”
Annual. A true alien of the plant world. These tall, green-flowering spikes make for an interesting addition to the garden, and double as excellent cut flowers. They will often self-seed, but are not invasive. For straight stems, stake plants early. Plant in rich, well-draining soil for best performance.
Location: Mid-border, Cut flower garden
Bloom Period: July to September
Height: 2-3’
Plant Spacing: 12”
Annual. Billy buttons are a textural treasure for any garden. Brilliant yellow, 1” globes float over a mound of silvery foliage. Expect a beautiful show of colour from early summer all the way to the first fall frost. An excellent cut flower, blooms retain their golden colour even when dried. Plants are incredibly easy to grow. They tolerate heat, drought, and poor soil. For best results, plant in average soil with good drainage.
Location: Mid-border, Mass planting, Cut flower garden
Bloom Period: June to October
Height: 24-30”
Plant Spacing: 12”
Annual. Striking colour on short plants! These stunners can produce very large heads, sometimes as large as 8” across. They are a perfect bedding plant that will add vibrant colour in summer and fall. A few can be tucked into even the smallest garden spaces. They thrive in rich, nutrient dense soil. Good drainage is essential. Water regularly and fertilize monthly for best results.
Location: Front of border, Mixed container, Mass planting
Bloom Period: July to September
Height: 10-12”
Plant Spacing: 10”
Annual. These workhorses produce an abundance of 2-6” heads on well-branched, lush plants. The dense combs are iridescent rose, shimmering at the back of borders or creating a unique focal point in arrangements. Dried combs will last so long they can be used in Christmas wreaths! Plants thrive in rich, nutrient-dense soil. Good drainage is essential. Water regularly and fertilize monthly for best results.
Location: Mid to rear border, Cut flower garden
Bloom Period: June to September
Height: 30-36”
Plant Spacing: 10”
Annual. A sensational garden standout! Huge, 7” feathery blooms are a delicate pale yellow with rose-flushed tips.
Dahlias attract plenty of bees and butterflies. Long, strong stems make them superb cut flowers. Plant in average, well-drained soil and maintain even moisture throughout the season. Apply either granular fertilizer at planting time, or apply a liquid fertilizer monthly.
Location: Rear border, Cut flower garden
Bloom Period: July to October
Height: 5’
Plant Spacing: 12-18”
Annual. A heavily scented dianthus that has been beloved by gardeners since the 1920s. Stunning, spidery blooms boast an array of soft pastel pinks, purples and whites. Plants are compact, and versatile in the garden. Fill a room with fragrance by snipping a few stems to bring inside. Stop passersby in their tracks by planting a border at the edge of the garden. These plants are small but mighty, and once you take in their intoxicating perfume, you’ll never want to be without them again! For best results, plant in rich, well-draining soil.
Location: Mixed container, Cottage garden, Cut flower garden
Bloom Period: June to September
Height: 12-18”
Plant Spacing: 6-8”
Perennial. A unique twist on a garden classic! This variety boasts two tiers of flowers, one above and one below its cone. These two-tiered blooms will appear in the plant’s second year.
Plants are low maintenance and easy to grow. They tolerate heat, drought and poor soil. They are excellent cut flowers and highly attractive to pollinators. They also attract beneficial insects, making them a great companion for the vegetable garden.
Location: Border, Butterfly garden, Vegetable garden
Bloom Period: July to October
Height: 36-48”
Plant Spacing: 18-24”
Annual. Incredibly popular as a cut flower, Baby Blue is a small, sprawling evergreen with gorgeous blue-gray rounded leaves. They are long-lasting in a vase, and can also be added to dried arrangements. Leaves have a minty fragrance - even after cutting and drying. Plants are easy to grow, tolerating both drought and neglect. Plant in well-draining, fertile soil and fertilize monthly. Harvest branches after leaves start to feel leathery. Maintain a tidier shape by harvesting frequently.
Location: Cut flower garden, Container
Height: 2-3’
Plant Spacing: 12-24”
Annual. Who’s that peeking at you from across the patio? These unusual, olive-shaped flowers put on a terrific show in the garden or the vase. They are quite showy when massed, and combine well with other annuals in a patio container. They have a mounding, spreading growth habit, producing blooms over a long summer season. Eyeball plant is also known as ‘toothache plant’ because leaves and flowers contain spilanthol, a natural analgesic that can be used to numb a toothache. Plant in rich, well-draining soil and avoid overwatering.
Location: Container, Hanging basket, Landscape planting
Bloom Period: July to September
Height: 12-15”, spreading to 30”
Plant Spacing: 12-18”
Annual. Fun and unusual! This plant gets its name from the fibre optic lamps it resembles. Small flower spikes grow on the tips of bright green, grass-like leaves. Plants will bloom year-round, so they can be brought indoors as a houseplant over the winter. Easy to grow and low maintenance, they are best grown in full sun with plenty of moisture. Do not let them dry out. If they get too long or lanky, give them a haircut and they will grow right back.
Location: Container, Water garden, Houseplant
Height: 10-12”
Plant Spacing: 10”
Annual. A mix of purple, lavender, rose, and white hues, whose flowers are known to open earlier in the day than other varieties.
Flowering Tobacco puts on a stunning display in the garden. Heavy bloomers, their 2” star-shaped flowers will fill your summer evenings with intoxicating fragrance and attract an array of hummingbirds and spectacular moths. Plants are low maintenance, easy to grow, and tolerate heat and humidity. Prefers rich, well-draining soil. Feed monthly for even more blooms.
Location: Rear border, Patio container, Landscape planting
Bloom Period: July to September
Height: 36”
Plant Spacing: 12-18”
Perennial. Unusual, dramatic, and an absolute pollinator magnet! Large, 3” blooms attract bees, butterflies, and birds. Long, straight silver stems provide a splendid contrast to any perennial bed, but the glowing blue orbs create a particularly ethereal effect over white and green hues. They are long-living perennials, living 10 years or more, and are not invasive. They make beautiful, unique additions to fresh cut or dried arrangements. Globe Thistles are an extremely low maintenance addition to the garden. They thrive in poor, sandy, dry soil. Average water will bring the most flowers.
Location: Sunny border, Perennial bed, Cut flower garden
Bloom Period: July/August
Height: 3-4’
Plant Spacing: 18-24”
Annual. An old-fashioned Victorian favourite, Heliotrope is as known for drawing in butterflies as it is for its magnificent fragrance. Heavy clusters of deep violet blooms stand out over bushy, dark green foliage. The flowers, with their sweet almond and vanilla scent, are still cultivated for perfume-making in Europe. Enhance this fragrance by planting en masse. They also perform well in containers. Grow in rich, well-draining soil and feed monthly. Plants are drought and heat tolerant once established. Note that all parts of the plant are poisonous.
Location: Landscape planting, Container, Butterfly garden
Bloom Period: July to September
Height: 12-18”
Plant Spacing: 10-12”
Annual. A unique an interesting variety. Arching stems produce nodding blooms in blue-purple hues. An excellent cut flower, and positively adored by bees!
Plants tolerate both heat and drought. They will grow in any soil type, provided it is well-draining.
Location: Border, Container, Vegetable garden
Bloom Period: July to September
Height: 24-36”
Plant Spacing: 12”
Annual. Delicate ruffled flowers bloom in an array of lilac and pale blue hues.
Lisianthus are as famous for their stunning flowers as their impressive vase life, with cut flowers lasting for two weeks or more. Often mistaken for roses, their elegant, ruffled blooms add a touch of elegance to any arrangement. With protection from wind and rain, garden blooms will last for weeks. They perform exceptionally well in greenhouses. Tall plants require staking. Remove spent flowers to encourage more blooms. Plant in moist, well-draining soil and fertilize every two weeks.
Location: Mixed container, Cut flower garden
Bloom Period: July to October
Height: 2-3’
Plant Spacing: 6-8”
Annual. A knockout variety with ruffled white petals dusted with a soft pink blush. Huge, 4” blooms are lush and abundant.
Lisianthus are as famous for their stunning flowers as their impressive vase life, with cut flowers lasting for two weeks or more. Often mistaken for roses, their elegant, ruffled blooms add a touch of elegance to any arrangement. With protection from wind and rain, garden blooms will last for weeks. They perform exceptionally well in greenhouses. Tall plants require staking. Remove spent flowers to encourage more blooms. Plant in moist, well-draining soil and fertilize every two weeks.
Location: Mixed container, Cut flower garden
Bloom Period: July to October
Height: 2-3’
Plant Spacing: 6-8”
Annual. These stunning, striped blooms are sure to be a highlight in any garden!
As their name implies, Morning Glories open fresh each morning. While single blooms last for only one day, faded flowers will not be missed as the vines produce an abundance of new blooms in their place. Most important for excellent blooms is a full day - 8 hours - of unfiltered sunlight. Flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds. An easy to grow climber, plants can be grown in 10-12” pots, and trained up a trellis or around a tomato cage. They thrive in hot weather and tolerate drought. Plant in fertile, well-draining soil and feed monthly with a low nitrogen fertilizer.
Location: Patio container, Trellis
Bloom Period: July to September
Height: vines up to 10’
Plant Spacing: 8-10”
Annual. Dark, rich, mahogany blooms and light green leaves form a spectacular contrast in the garden.
Nasturtiums are an excellent companion for the vegetable garden, attracting pollinators and beneficial insects. They draw pests away from tomato and squash, deter cucumber beetles, and are also particularly beneficial to Brassicas, dill, melons and radishes. They make great underplantings for daylilies and roses. The flowers are entirely edible, with a peppery taste that makes them a unique addition to a summer salad. Plants thrive on neglect. Plant in average, well-draining soil and watch them produce an abundance of cheerful blooms.
Location: Vegetable garden, Trellis, Patio container
Bloom Period: July to September
Height: 12”
Plant Spacing: 8-12”
Annual. Soft, fluffy, white powder-puff flowers are a whimsical delight in any garden or container. They are an ideal cut flower, lasting for weeks in a vase, or seemingly forever when dried. Easy to grow, they thrive in sunny locations, and are drought tolerant once established.
Location: Cutflower garden, Border, Container
Height: 12-18”
Plant Spacing: 8-10”
Annual. Airy plumes that will add sparkled to any bouquet or landscape. These plants are extremely productive, and the more stems you harvest, the more will regrow! An excellent cut flower with a long vase life. They can also be used for dried arrangements. Plants are low maintenance, easy to grow, and heat and drought tolerant.
Location: Cutflower garden, Border, Container
Height: 24-32”
Plant Spacing: 10-12”
Annual. Flamboyant pigments and vivid veins add a thrilling element to any border or container. Group multiple plants together and watch each open to reveal a unique kaleidoscope of colours.
An old-fashioned flower, Painted Tongues are one of modern gardening’s best-kept secrets. Underappreciated and overlooked for far too long in favour of their more popular cousin, the petunia, once you discover these mesmerizing blooms you’ll never be want to be without them again! A Chilean native, their upright growth habit and large, trumpet flowers makes them a striking feature in borders and containers. Low-growing annuals make excellent companions to both cool their roots and surround their rather untidy feet. Plants benefit from staking. Deadheading spent blooms will ensure highest flower production. They do not like hot, dry conditions, making them ideal for our cool summers on the maritime coast. Plant in fertile, well-draining soil and fertilize every two weeks.
Location: Mid-border, Mixed container, Cut flower garden
Bloom Period: June to September
Height: 2-3’
Plant Spacing: 12”
Annual. Ruffled blooms in a mix of pastel shades with unusual striped and veined faces. A truly unique variety with a delicate, antique feel.
Pansies are an excellent cool season flower to brighten spring gardens and bulb beds. They thrive in areas with morning sun and protection from the afternoon heat, often producing a second flush of blooms in the fall. Flowers are edible, and are a popular option for a fresh garnish or candied in desserts. Plant in moist, fertile, well-draining soil and water regularly.
Location: Front of border, Mixed container, Spring bulb bed
Bloom Period: May/June, September
Height: 10-12”
Plant Spacing: 4-6”
Annual. A breathtaking blend of five outstanding ‘Double Cascade’ shades. You’ll be thrilled with these fountains of enormous, heavily ruffled double flowers. Easy to grow and bred for weather resistance, your planters will be overflowing with an abundance of showy blooms.
Petunias are a popular summer annual, prized for their beautiful blooms and versatility in the garden. Attracting pollinators and repelling harmful insects, they are an excellent companion for the vegetable garden. Mounding varieties put on a thrilling display in the landscape, and trailing varieties form a graceful ground cover or hanging basket. Plant in light, fertile, well-draining soil. Water regularly and feed container plants every 1-2 weeks.
Location: Landscape planting, Mixed container, Hanging basket
Bloom Period: June to September
Height: 10-15”, spreading to 12”
Plant Spacing: 10”
Annual. A stunning contrast between white borders and soft red centers makes these huge, double-flowered blooms a truly unique addition to any garden. Flowers measure 3.5” in diameter!
Petunias are a popular summer annual, prized for their beautiful blooms and versatility in the garden. Attracting pollinators and repelling harmful insects, they are an excellent companion for the vegetable garden. Mounding varieties put on a thrilling display in the landscape, and trailing varieties form a graceful ground cover or hanging basket. Plant in light, fertile, well-draining soil. Water regularly and feed container plants every 1-2 weeks.
Location: Landscape planting, Mixed container, Hanging basket
Bloom Period: June to September
Height: 12”, spreading to 12-16”
Plant Spacing: 12”
Annual. A vining petunia! Fragrant, 2” flowers are bright rose-purple. Amazingly, plants have a climbing growth habit when grown along vertical supports like strings, trellises or a tomato cage. These vines can easily be used to carpet a landscape, or create a curtain of colour by planting them in a large hanging basket.
Petunias are a popular summer annual, prized for their beautiful blooms and versatility in the garden. Attracting pollinators and repelling harmful insects, they are an excellent companion for the vegetable garden. Mounding varieties put on a thrilling display in the landscape, and trailing varieties form a graceful ground cover or hanging basket. Plant in light, fertile, well-draining soil. Water regularly and feed container plants every 1-2 weeks.
Location: Trellis, Ground cover, Hanging basket
Bloom Period: June to September
Height: vines of 6‘
Plant Spacing: 12-18”
Perennial. A striking, blue beauty that happens to be a pollinator magnet! Bees and butterflies will swarm the huge, 4” flowers over a long blooming season. Ruffled petals will open around a pale central disc. As the bloom matures, this disc becomes studded with dark stamens to give the characteristic “pincushion” appearance. Plants tolerate a variety of soil types, but will thrive in rich, well-draining soil. Drought tolerant once established, they will benefit from regular watering and fertilization in their first year.
Location: Mid-border, Cut flower garden, Rock garden
Bloom Period: July/August
Height: 28”
Plant Spacing: 12-18”
Annual. Brush past this plant and you’ll quickly discover where it got its name! Boasting adorable, yellow pom-pom flowers, plants release a sweet pineapple fragrance when moved. They are very low maintenance and easy to grow. They are also very attractive to pollinators and make great cut flowers. Ideally suited for containers. For best results, plant in light, rich, well-draining soil.
Location: Container, Cottage garden
Bloom Period: June to September
Height: 12-18”
Plant Spacing: 12”
Annual. A garden curiosity in every sense of the word! This wacky cousin of the eggplant family is truly one of the strangest plants you can grow. Not only does it become loaded with 1.5-2” miniature pumpkins in the fall, but the leaves are huge, beautiful and equally strange - their veins and stems are lined with 1/4” spikes! The towering plants produce long, sturdy stems that often benefit from staking, especially as the fruit begins to form. In the fall, leaves can be stripped, producing the eponymous “Pumpkin-on-a-Stick” appearance that makes them such a unique standout in floral arrangements. Plants thrive in 12-14” containers or raised beds, and are especially productive in greenhouses as they love heat and will have protection from the wind. Plant in rich, well-draining soil and fertilize every 2 weeks. Regular watering is key, as the plant prefers moist soil, but dislikes wet feet.
Harvest: Fruit will appear in August, and ripen to brilliant orange in September/October
Height: 3’
Plant Spacing: 18-24”
Annual. These spectacular spikes of pink, pipe cleaner-like shoots twist and turn like a Dr. Seuss illustration. Spires are attractive to bees and butterflies. They are an excellent cut flower, adding great interest to any vase or dried arrangement. Plants are salt tolerant, and not particular about soil type so long as it is well-draining. Drought tolerant once established, take care not to overwater. No fertilization necessary.
Location: Mid-border, Cottage garden, Coastal garden
Bloom Period: July to September
Height: 24”
Plant Spacing: 12-14”
Annual. A short, ground-hugging beauty with profuse, bicolour blooms. Ideal for containers or the edge of a shade border. Plants are self-cleaning and low maintenance. Plant in rich, moist soil that is well-draining. Fertilize biweekly in containers.
Location: Shade garden, Mixed container, Houseplant
Bloom Period: June to September
Height: 8-12”
Plant Spacing: 6”
Annual. A marvelous mixture of Queeny zinnias, blooming in a blend of rose, orange, peach, lemon or lime. With dreamy bicolour blooms reaching 3-3.5” in size, Queeny zinnias are a dramatic focal point for containers or a splendid landscape addition.
Zinnias will attract an abundance of butterflies and hummingbirds to the garden! Dwarf varieties are beautiful in the landscape or mixed containers, providing a flush of cheerful colour all season. Intermediate and tall varieties are outstanding cut flowers. Give the vegetable garden a boost by planting zinnias near tomatoes, potatoes and beans. Plants are very easy to grow, tolerating both heat and drought once established. For best performance, plant in rich, well-draining soil and water regularly.
Location: Rear border, Cut flower garden, Landscape planting
Bloom Period: June to September
Height: 2-3’
Plant Spacing: 9-12”
Perennial. Beautiful, billowy clouds of white pompom flowers. Popular as a Victorian era cut flower and medicinal plant, Pearl yarrow is a versatile addition to any garden. It is also a pollinator magnet!
Yarrow grows tall and wide, with fine, feathery foliage and long stems that are excellent for cutting. They are a good choice near the vegetable garden, as they attract beneficial insects, pollinators and butterflies, and repel harmful pests. As an added bonus, they are one of the best companions for roses, serving similar pest control duties, without drawing undue resources from the soil. Plants are very easy to grow, tolerating heat, drought, salt and poor soil conditions. They will easily naturalize into the garden, provided soil is well-draining and they receive adequate light.
Location: Sunny border, Wildflower meadow, Coastal garden, Rose garden
Bloom Period: June to September
Height: 24”
Plant Spacing: 12-24”