Plants that are a dream to grow.
What makes a 'dream plant'? Well, for us, it's a plant that is both beautiful and robust and performs reliably with very little input from the gardener. Here are a few of our favourites.
SUNFLOWER
Colors: Yellows, browns, and mixed
Height: 3-16 feet
Colors: Yellows, browns, and mixed
Height: 3-16 feet
- Blooms during summer
- Most varieties are drought and heat tolerant
- Attracts bees, birds, and butterflies
- Thrives in full sun
- Tolerates most soil types (except water-logged)
- May require support to prevent breakage
CONEFLOWER
Colors: Yellow, orange, white, purple, pink, bicolor and more
Height: Up to 6 feet tall
Colors: Yellow, orange, white, purple, pink, bicolor and more
Height: Up to 6 feet tall
- Blooms for months
- Makes great cut flowers
- Attracts pollinators and birds
- Sow seeds in spring or fall
- Likes rich, well-drained soil
- Tolerates drought
- Plant in full sun
ZINNIA
Colors: Shades of red, orange, yellow, pink, and white
Height: 20-24 inches tall
Colors: Shades of red, orange, yellow, pink, and white
Height: 20-24 inches tall
- Blooms during summer
- Varies in shape (daisies, dahlias, spiders, poms)
- Attracts butterflies
- Likes rich, well-drained soil
- Has moderate water requirements
- Grows best in full sun
DIANTHUS
Colors: Shades of red, purple, pink, and white
Height: Most 10-20 inches, varieties up to 3 feet tall
Colors: Shades of red, purple, pink, and white
Height: Most 10-20 inches, varieties up to 3 feet tall
- Showy, fragrant flowers (clove-scented)
- Blooms from May to August
- Deer resistant
- Attractive evergreen green foliage
- Plant in well-drained soil
- Grow in full sun to light shade
- Try the Fruit Punch® series for colorful additions to planters, beds, and borders.
MARIGOLD
Colors: Shades of yellow, red, gold, and mixed
Height: 6 inches to 3 feet tall
Colors: Shades of yellow, red, gold, and mixed
Height: 6 inches to 3 feet tall
- Blooms spring, summer and fall
- Grows quickly from seed
- Helps repel mosquitoes (See 12 Mosquito Repellent Plants)
- Prefers well-drained soil, grows well in dry or sandy gardens
- Water well, allow to dry between waterings
- Should be grown in full sun
IMPATIENS
Colors: Variety
Height: 6-24 inches tall
Colors: Variety
Height: 6-24 inches tall
- Blooms non-stop from June until frost
- Attracts birds
- Prefers loamy soil
- Keep soil moist, but not waterlogged
- Best in part or full shade
- Try Rockapulco® double impatiens for miniature rose-like blooms
COSMOS
Colors: Orange, pink, white
Height: Varieties 18-60 inches tall
Colors: Orange, pink, white
Height: Varieties 18-60 inches tall
- Blooms spring, summer and fall
- Grows quickly from seed
- Helps repel mosquitoes
- Prefers well-drained soil, grows well in dry or sandy gardens
- Water well, allow to dry between waterings
- Should be grown in full sun
SWEET PEA
Colors: Blue, pink, purple, red, white
Height: 3 to 8 feet tall
Colors: Blue, pink, purple, red, white
Height: 3 to 8 feet tall
- Highly fragrant flowers
- Blooms spring through early summer in hot climates, into fall in cooler areas
- Seeds resemble edible sweet peas but are toxic if eaten
- Prefers loamy, well-drained soil
- Keep moist, water at the base
- Grow in full sun
- Needs supportive fence or trellis
PANSY
Colors: Variety of colorsHeight: 6-9 inches tall
Colors: Variety of colorsHeight: 6-9 inches tall
- In warmer climates pansies will bloom throughout winter and early spring
- Attracts butterflies
- Likes rich, well-drained soil
- Needs regular watering
- Blooms in sun or partial shade
- Grows best in temperatures 45-75 degrees F
LUPINE
Colors: Blue, white, yellow, pink, and purple
Height: Up to 4 feet tall
Colors: Blue, white, yellow, pink, and purple
Height: Up to 4 feet tall
- Produces seeds that will self-sow
- Attracts butterflies
- Likes average, well-drained soil — best without fertilizer
- Water deeply and allow to dry in between
- Loosen soil deeply when planting for its long tap roots
- Plant in full sun in cool climates, filtered light in hot ones
