Begoniaceae, native to the tropics and subtropics.

Germination: Sow seeds indoors at a temperature of 68-75° and with no cover as light aids in germination. Expect the small, dust-like seeds to germinate in 15-20 days. For indoors use, sow the seeds at any time. For outdoor use, sow wax begonias 12 weeks before planting out and tuberous begonias 12-16 weeks before planting out.

Growth: Space wax begonias 8-10 inches apart in part shade to full sun (hybrids can take sun where the temperatures rarely exceed 90°). Site in a rich, well-drained soil. Allow the soil to dry out between waterings. Fertilize frequently. Space tuberous begonias 8-10 inches apart in part shade. Site in a light, rich, moist, but well-drained soil. They prefer climates with cool summers and high humidity. After the first light frost, lift the tubers, wash them, and store in a cool, dark, dry area until replanting in the spring. For conservatory culture of all begonias: provide 65° nights and 70-80° days, allow to dry out between waterings, and fertilize when in growth and when in flower.

Appearance and Use: This genus is ubiquitous in bedding plantings, borders, hanging baskets, and as house and conservatory plants. It is divided into three groups: fibrous rooted, rhizomatous rooted, and tuberous rooted. The well-known wax begonias (B. x semperflorens-cultorum) are fibrous rooted. They grow 6-12 inches tall with green, bronze, or mahogany leaves. The flowers are singles or doubles and in shades of pink, red, or white. Rex begonias, with highly ornamental foliage in rich colors and variegated designs, represent the rhizomatous types. The tuberous begonias form 8 inch, hanging clusters of solid or bi-colored, white, yellow, orange, red, or pink flowers.

*Grown as annuals outdoors, but will overwinter in frost-free climates.

Asteraceae; native to Southern U.S., Mexico, and Guatemala.

Germination: For best results, sow indoors, covering the seed and maintaining a temperature of 68-70° F. Or sow outdoors, in spring, covering the seed. Germination takes 5-10 days; plants bloom three months from sowing.

Growth: In spring, when danger of frost is past, space seedlings 12 inches apart in full sun in well-drained garden soil. Keep the soil evenly moist and feed plants moderately. Best in 70-75° F. days, 60° F nights; tolerates deer, drought, exposure, low fertility, wind and a wide range of soil conditions.

Appearance and Use: Tickseed is an easy-to-grow, maintenance-free annual for borders, baskets, naturalized areas, containers, beds, or combination plantings. Mounded, bushy plants, sometimes trailing, reach 9-36 inches tall and 16-18 inches wide. From June till frost, daisy-like 1 inch blooms of golden yellow are borne in masses of solitary or clustered flowers. Bright green, 3 inch-long foliage is deeply cut, lacy, and fern-like.

Asteraceae, native to Australia.

Germination: Best sown indoors, 4-6 weeks before last frost, at a temperature of 68-70°. Sow with no cover as light aids in germination and expect germination in 10-15 days. Seeds can also be sown outdoors after all danger of frost is past and when the soil is warm in late spring. Outdoors sow with barely any cover and look for germination in 15-20 days.

Growth: Best sown indoors, 4-6 weeks before last frost, at a temperature of 68-70°. Sow with no cover as light aids in germination and expect germination in 10-15 days. Seeds can also be sown outdoors after all danger of frost is past and when the soil is warm in late spring. Outdoors sow with barely any cover and look for germination in 15-20 days.

Appearance and Use: Employ this annual in borders and planters, as edging and a greenhouse plant, and cut the flowers for fresh use. The plants grow 12-18 inches tall by 14 inches wide and have 5 1/2 inch long, feather-like foliage. It will be covered in fragrant, 1 1/2 inch, blue, rose, white, or violet, daisy-like flowers in the summer.

Brassicaceae; native to Europe.

Germination: Sow indoors, covering the seeds with 4 times their thickness in soil, and maintaining 68-70° F during germination, which takes 3-10 days. For early spring color, sow in late winter.

Growth: Space seedlings 12 inches apart in rich, well-drained soil and full sun. Keep the soil evenly moist and fertilize moderately. In zones 8-10, discourage weeds and protect the roots in winter. It is easy to transplant and shows the best color if fertilizer is withheld during the last month of production and is grown cool (60°F). Plants are hardy to 25° F.

Appearance and Use: Decorative, ornamental plants for beds, borders, and edging. Brassica is beautiful in containers. Ornamental Kale can also be eaten or used as a garnish. Plants display thick green leaves held in rosettes 12 inches across with centers of white, rose, or purple in fall and winter.

Asteraceae; native to southen Europe.

Germination: Sow outdoors in spring in any climate. Or, in cool climates, sow indoors in spring for summer use; in warm climates, sow indoors in summer for fall and winter use. Cover the seed with 4 times its thickness in soil and maintaining a temperature of 68-70° F. Germination takes 10-14 days.

Growth: Space seedlings 12-15 inches apart in rich, well-drained soil enriched with organic matter. Plants thrive in sunny, cool climates and should be kept evenly moist and fertilized moderately. To encourage a spring-blooming plant to re-bloom in fall, cut back to a third of its size and fertilize during summer. If growing Calendula in a greenhouse, sow in January for spring blooms or in mid-August for mid-winter blooms. For best performance, grow 40-45° F nights.

Appearance and Use: Long-lasting daisy-like blooms for cutting are borne on an easy-to-grow plant used for edging, borders, containers, and greenhouses. Some blooms may have medicinal value. Upright, busy plants reach 8-24 inches tall and 8-12 inches wide. Daisy-like 3-5 inch blooms of orange, yellow, or apricot arise from early summer till frost, in single or double-flowered forms. Oblong dark green foliage, 4-6 inches long, has a sticky texture.

Other: The petals may be used to produce a gentile antiseptic for cuts and abrasions or for soothing chapped skin.

Asteraceae; native to China.

Germination: Sow outdoors after all danger of frost is past, or sow indoors 6-8 weeks before planting outside. Sow indoors in fall and winter for greenhouse flowers in late winter and spring. Cover the seed with 4 times their thickness in soil and maintain a temperature within the medium of 70° F during germination which takes 10-14 days. Blooms appear 3-4 months from sowing.

Growth: In spring after danger of frost is past, space 6-15 inches apart in full sun in a rich, well-drained soil. Keep the soil evenly moist and feed the plants moderately but keep the nitrogen levels low to deter disease. For more continuous bloom, plant in succession at 2 week intervals, as Asters stop blooming after they are cut. In the greenhouse, grow on with cool (60° F) nights in full sun with a rich, porous soil kept evenly moist. Mulch Asters in summer to keep the soil moist and to protect their roots from drying out. Many of the newer varieties are resistant to wilt.

Appearance and Use: Single or double blooms, ideal for cutting, are borne on this annual for borders, beds, or greenhouse growth. Dwarf varieties make excellent container plants. Single or double-flowering annuals are 6-36 inches tall and 6-18 inches wide, with blooms of blue, white, lavender, purple, yellow, pink, or red on long cutting stems over basal foliage. The flowers, borne midsummer to frost, have a wide range of size, shape and color including daisy, pompom, chrysanthemum, and shaggy. Dark green foliage, 3 inches in length, is oval-shaped and coarsely toothed.

Campanulaceae; native to Asia and Europe.

Germination:
Annual - Sow indoors 6 to 8 weeks before planting outdoors and maintain a temperature of 68-70° F within the medium during germination which takes 10-14 days. Leave seeds uncovered.
Biennial/Perennial - Sow outdoors in late spring or early summer for blooms the following year. Or, sow indoors in the same way as annual forms. Germination takes 14-21 days and light is beneficial to all types.

Growth: Set plants 4-18 inch apart depending upon the species in a rich, moist, well-drained soil and keep well-watered. Most will perform their best in full sun but (C. pesicifolia) and (C. rotundifolia) will perform well in partial shade.

Appearance and Use:
Annual - C. medium blooms in 3 months from seed with pink and blue flowers on 2- foot plants.
Biennial - C. medium ‘Calycanthema’ (Cup and Saucer) is named for its flower shape. Zones 3 to 7.
Perennial - C. carpatica grows 8-18 inches tall with 1 1/2 to 2 inch blooms of violet-blue or white. C. glomerata ‘Superbra’ is showy with 1- inch deep violet blooms in dense cluster on a 2 foot plant. C persiciflolia (Peached Leaved Campanula) has 1 1/2 inch blue or white blooms in open, 2 foot racemes. C. rotundifolia (Blue Bells-of-Scotland) is the dandiest with 1 inch, bright blue blooms on wiry, 1 1/2 foot stems. Zones 3-7.

Solanaceae; native to Tropics.

Germination: Sow indoors 6-8 weeks before planting outside for summer use and cover the seeds with 4 times their thickness in soil. Maintain a temperature within the medium alternating between 68° F nights and 86° F days during germination which takes 14 days. Sow August 1-15 for fruiting plants for Christmas.

Growth: In spring, when danger of frost is past, plant 9-12 inches apart in full sun to part shade in regular, well-drained garden soil that is rich in humus. Pinch to improve bushiness. Keep the soil evenly moist and feed the plants moderately. Keep nitrogen levels low since high amounts will cause the plants to produce too much foliage and too little fruit. Indoors, the plants grow best with 60-65° F nights and day temperatures as high as 80-85° F. For the best fruits at Christmas, grow the plants outdoors and bring them in before frost.

Appearance and Use: Annual plants with colorful fruits, they are grown for beds, borders, baskets, houseplants, containers, greenhouse growth, or as a holiday plant. Compact, mounded plants, 9-12 inches tall and wide, are well-branched and can be fleshy or woody at the base. A favorite of birds, the fruit comes in a variety of sizes, shapes, and forms, and changes from yellow to orange to red to purple. Glossy, dark green foliage, 5 inches long and 3 inches wide, is oval-shaped. Insignificant white blooms are borne in spring.

Sapindaceae, native to tropical America, India, and Africa.

Germination: Sow indoors at 70° or alternating 68 and 86°. Sow to a depth 4 times the size of the seed and expect germination in 10-15 days. Alternatively, sow outdoors after danger of last frost and expect germination in 15-20 days. Always buy fresh seeds, as seeds do not keep from year to year. Expect flowers 16 weeks after sowing

Growth: Transplant when there are at least two sets of true leaves. Site in full sun in a moist, well-drained soil. As a tender vine, cold damage will be visible after 45° and it will be killed by freezing temperatures. Sow fresh seeds again in the spring.

Appearance and Use: A climbing annual vine that provides flower, fruit, and foliage interest summer through fall. A 10- to 12-foot-tall vine, it needs a structure on which to climb. It is grown for the 1/4 inch, greenish white flowers that appear from summer to the first frost and for the 3/4 to 1 1/4 inch, green turning brown, balloon-like seed capsules. Foliage is bright green and deeply toothed and its shape can be likened to a 6-8 inch long fern frond.

*Grown as an annual, but may overwinter in Zones 10 and 11.

Asteraceae; native to western Asia.

Germination: Sow indoors at a temperature of 68-72° and at a depth 4 times the size of the seed. Seeds will germinate in 10 to 15 days. Can also be sown outdoors after danger of last frost.

Growth: Transplant when there are at least two sets of true leaves. Site in full sun for best flower production. Safflower grows best in a light, well-drained soil, and it is very drought tolerant.

Appearance and Use: Traditionally a denizen of the herb garden, Safflower can transcend this distinction and make a nice member of a flower border. Flower heads dry well and are used in dry arrangements and potpourri, while fresh petals are used to make a yellow-orange dye. This upright annual grows from 12-24 inches tall to 12 inches wide. The 1 1/2 inch, thistle-like flower heads appear all summer long. Flowers are colored white, orange, or yellow. Leaves are 1 1/4- 3 1/2 inches long and light gray-green. Each ovate to linear leaf ends in a spiny point.

Apocynaceae; native to Africa and Southwest Asia.

Germination: Sow indoors 12 weeks prior to the last frost, cover the seeds with 4 times their thickness in soil and maintain a temperature within the medium of 68-70° F during germination which takes 15-20 days. Outdoor sowing is not recommended.

Growth: Plant 12 inches apart in full sun to part shade in an average, well-drained garden soil. For best results, grow in a hot, sunny climate, keep the soil evenly moist and feed moderately. Do not over water the plants. No pinching is required. Heat and drought tolerant; grow as a perennial in Zones 9-10.

Appearance and Use: Periwinkle, or Vinca is often used as a ground cover, in beds and borders, or as a container plant. Plants, 4-18 inches tall, can be bushy and well-branched to spreading mounds. Rounded, 1 1/2- inch to 2- inch blooms of white, pink, crimson, and lavender with overlapping petals are borne from summer till frost. The glossy, dark green foliage is 1-2 inches long, and oblong on this upright and spreading plant.

Amaranthaceae; native to the Tropics of Asia, Africa, and the Americas.

Germination: When danger of frost is past, sow outdoors where plants are to grow. Indoors, sow 4 weeks prior to planting outside and cover the seeds with 4 times their thickness in soil. Maintain 70-75° F within the medium during germination which takes 10-15 days. Blooms arrive 12-14 weeks after starting seeds. Sowing too early can hurt flower performance.

Growth: In spring, after danger of frost is past, space 6-18 inches apart in full sun in a well-drained, sandy soil rich in organic matter. Keep soil evenly moist and feed plants moderately. Pinching plants encourages continued blooming. Celosia transplants easily, requires no staking and tolerates heat and drought. Mulch in summer to keep the roots cool and retain moisture. It prefers warm climates with nights above 60° F.

Appearance and Use: This trouble-free annual, with colorful blooms for cutting or drying, is used as an edging, in borders or beds, in containers or for greenhouse growth. Plants, growing 6-36 inches tall and 8-12 inches wide, range from stately and stiffly branched to dwarf and compact. Tiny blooms of red, orange, yellow, pink, or purple are held in combs or spikes, 1 1/2 - 2 1/4 inches wide. Soft, lush green foliage is oval- to lance-shape and can have a bronze appearance.

Cristata group - The inflorescence is terminal, flattened, and crested, resembling the comb of a rooster.
Plumosa group - The blooms are erect, tapering and feather-like.
Spicata group - Slender heads of blooms.

Asteraceae; native to the Mediterranean.

Germination: In early spring, sow outdoors where plants are to grow. Or, start indoors 4 weeks before planting outside. Cover the seeds with 4 times their thickness in soil and maintain a temperature within the medium of 60-70° F. Germination takes 7-14 days; blooms arrive 3 months from sowing.

Growth: In spring or fall, space 12-14 inches apart in full sun to part shade in a neutral, well-drained soil. Plants tolerate alkaline soil, but clay soil should be avoided. Keep evenly moist and feed moderately. C. cyanus thrives in 55-60° F nights, tolerates drought and withstands light frost once established. Deadhead to promote continuous blooming and stake taller varieties. When grown for cut flowers, space plants 6 inches apart. Fresh cut blooms will last for up to 10 days. The double varieties are best for drying; hang upside down in a dark area and leave the foliage intact.

Appearance and Use: Fringed blooms for cutting or drying are borne on a plant at home in borders, naturalized areas, wildflower gardens, containers or in greenhouse growth. Dwarf varieties are compact with basal branching; the taller varieties are more upright with strong stems. Depending upon the variety, plants grow 10-36 inches tall and 12-36 inches wide. Fringed blooms, 1 1/2 to 2 1/4 inches across, are borne from June to July in shades of pink, white, red, blue, violet, and lavender. Lance-shaped foliage is covered with white hairs that give the leaves a silvery look when they are young. As the leaves age, they turn bright green.

Asteraceae; native to the Mediterranean.

Germination: Sow outdoors where plants are to bloom after all danger of frost is past. For best results, start indoors 8-10 weeks prior to planting outdoors and barely cover the seed. Maintain a temperature within the medium of 68-70° F during germination which takes 10-18 days.

Growth: In spring, space 12-18 inches apart in a well-drained, average garden soil. Annuals prefer a mild, moist climate and will not perform well in areas with hot summers. Pinch to encourage bushier plants. Mulch in summer to control weeds and to keep the roots moist and cool. They are humidity tolerant.

Appearance and Use: An easy-to-grow source of beautiful flowers for cutting, Chrysanthemum grows well in borders and beds.

C. carinatum - 2-3 feet tall with deeply cut, fleshy foliage and 4 inch flowers of white, yellow, red, or purple, often banded, with purple centers.

Asteraceae; native to the Mediterranean.

Germination: Sow outdoors where plants are to bloom after all danger of frost is past. For best results, start indoors 8-10 weeks prior to planting outdoors and barely cover the seed. Maintain a temperature within the medium of 68-70° F during germination which takes 10-18 days.

Growth: In spring, space 12-18 inches apart in a well-drained, average garden soil. Annuals prefer a mild, moist climate and will not perform well in areas with hot summers. Pinch to encourage bushier plants. Mulch in summer to control weeds and to keep the roots moist and cool. They are humidity tolerant.

Appearance and Use: An easy-to-grow source of beautiful flowers for cutting, Chrysanthemum grows well in borders and beds.

C. coronarium - Neat, 1 1/2 to 2 foot, dome-shaped plants with fern-like foliage. Button-type double blooms, 1 to 1 1/2 inch wide, in gold or light yellow.

Asteraceae; native to Spain and Morocco.

Germination: Sow thinly outdoors as soon as soil can be worked and cover the seeds lightly. For best results, sow indoors, leave the seeds uncovered and alternate temperatures within the medium between 55° F nights and 72° F days. Germination takes 6-10 days indoors, 10-20 days outdoors. For greenhouse growth, sow indoors in September. Plants bloom 12-14 weeks from sowing.

Growth: Space 10-12 inches apart in full sun in well-drained garden soil. Keep plants watered and feed monthly with a balanced garden fertilizer such as 8-8-8. C. arabicus is generally unbothered by insects and disease. For greenhouse growth, transplant seedlings in 6- inch pots and grow in full sun in well-drained soil. Maintain at least 50° F and plants will bloom in April.

Appearance and Use: Yellow, daisy like 2- inch blooms are borne in summer on stiff, 2- to 3- foot stems. Plants have lacy and pungent foliage, and are grown for borders, pots, or greenhouse growth.

Onagreaceae; native to California.

Germination: For best results, sow outdoors where plants are to grow when danger of frost is past and barely cover the seeds. Indoors, leave the seeds uncovered and maintain a temperature within the medium of 68-70° F during germination which takes 5-10 days.

Growth: Space 8-10 inches apart in full sun to light shade in a light, sandy, well-drained soil with low fertility. Plants only perform well where nights are cool, especially on the Pacific coast. Pinching encourages better branching and more even flowering. In the greenhouse, grow on at 50-55° F for 4-6 weeks, then raise the temperatures to at least 60° F (Plants will not flower well with temperatures below 60° F). Humidity tolerant. Harvest cut flowers when the first blooms open.

Appearance and Use: Clarkia, with its single or double blooms for cutting, is grown in beds, containers, or in greenhouses. Upright plants with delicate spikes of 1-inch, single or double blooms in shades of salmon, pink, lavender, purple, red, or white. The funnel-or fan-shaped blooms are borne from summer till frost on 18- to 24- inch stems. Linear, mid-green foliage is 2 feet long and 2 inches wide.

Other: Clarkia is named for the Captain William Clark of the famed Lewis & Clark expedition.

Caper family (Capparaidaceae); native to the Caribbean.

Germination: Outdoors, sow where plants are to grow when danger of frost is past. Indoors, sow 4-6 weeks before planting outside, barely cover the seed and maintain a temperature within the medium of 55-72° F. Germination takes 15-20 days.

Growth: Space 2-3 feet apart in full sun in a warm, dry location. Plants prefer evenly moist soil while establishing and drier soil after that. Pinch plants early to encourage branching. Cleome withstands heat and drought and tolerates nearly any soil.

Appearance and Use: Airy flower heads are borne over a long season on this easy-to-grow annual that is ideal for background planting, border or for cut flowers. Strongly fragrant annuals, 3-6 feet tall, with 6- to 7- inch heads of orchid-like blooms of rose, pink, white, or lavender. They bloom from summer till frost. Long, cylindrical seedpods appear in fall and collectively can form a spidery look. The airy blooms sport long stamens that resemble the legs of a spider––the inspiration for Cleome’s common name. Light to mid-green foliage, held in groups of 5-7 leaflets, are palmately compound and prickly.

Fabaceae; native to north Australia.

Germination: Best sown indoors at 68-70° at a depth four times the diameter of the seed. Expect germination in 12-16 days. Soak seeds in water for 24 hours before sowing. Can be sown outdoors in spring after danger of frost is past. Sowing and soaking time same as above. Outdoors, seeds will germinate in 15-20 days.

Growth: Transplant seedlings when there are at least two sets of true leaves. Space them 12 inches apart in full sun in a well-drained soil. Very tolerant of sunny, hot, dry situations, but very sensitive to over watering. Prune in early summer, after the flowers have died.

Appearance and Use: Desert Pea is a prostrate trailer (8 inches tall and spreading to 3 feet) for use in hanging baskets and conservatory culture. The unusual flowers resemble 2-3 inch long, crimson and black lobster claws. They appear in summer in 3-5 inch long racemes. The silky-gray, evergreen, pinnate foliage, from 5-7 inches long, is downy in texture. The 9-21 individual leaflets are oval in shape.

*Grown as an annual but will overwinter in Zone 9.

Polemoniaceae; native to South America and Mexico.

Germination: For best results, sow indoors, covering the seed with four times their thickness in soil. Alternate the temperature within the medium between 68° F nights and 86° F days. Sow outdoors in late spring and cover the seeds. Germination takes 10-20 days. To prevent the flat seeds from rotting, stick them into soil vertically.

Growth: Set out or report into a larger container in May or June, placing the vines in full sun in a rich, light loam that is well-drained. It will transplant easily when the seedlings are large enough to handle. C. sandens tolerates wind but should be provided a lattice or other support structure. For container growth, pinch the side shoots in February or March back to two buds and remove all the weak growth.

Appearance and Use: A quick-growing climbing vine, it is used for screens, shade, and greenhouse growth. Growing by tendrils to 10-25 feet, C. scandens is a tender perennial that is best grown as an annual. From May to October, the green ovate foliage is backdrop for bell-shaped blooms that open pale green and darken to purple as they mature. Pest- and disease-free.