Spring is blooming: flowers and plants for the balcony and the garden!
After the gray and cold winter, with the arrival of spring, the desire to embellish balconies and gardens with plants and flowers is triggered! The flowers, with their colors and scents, are the very symbol of the awakening of nature after the winter numbness. And there are many flowers to plant in spring: there is only the embarrassment of choice, to put everyone in a good mood and give joy and freshness to your home!
The crocus
It looks like a shy flower when it emerges from the last snow of spring, but then shows all the energy of its vitamin colors: purple, yellow, lilac, orange and pure white (sometimes streaked with other colors), with a pistil that stretches to orange. Crocuses are small - indeed it is called a dwarf plant, even if some species develop fairly in height - but really beautiful, with a single elegant cup-shaped flower elongated upwards: they are perfect for the flower beds of gardens, where they bloom between the end of February and the month of March. Watering does not have to be continuous, the crocus does not like the soil that is too wet: it is enough once every 8, 9 days. The crocus is a very easy flower to grow: you can try your hand even if you don't have a green thumb.
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The primrose
A classic flower to plant in spring, which exists in numerous variations (about 500 species). You can plant the most delicate types of primroses in early spring, in pots to put on the balcony: they need a half-shade space to remain healthy and robust.
If, on the other hand, you want to grow them in the garden, it is better to choose more resistant species to plant next autumn. The soil must always be kept moist, but the water must never stagnate.
As for the aesthetics (the primrose is a nice and sunny flower at first sight), there is a wide choice of colors: yellow, bright pink, blue, red, orange, white with a yellow heart, in short, you can indulge the your tastes.
The buttercup
How much elegance there is in the dense petaled flowers of the ranunculus, which have a somewhat 'ball' shape (however, there are varieties with decidedly less dense corollas). It is a plant that blooms between the end of winter and the beginning of spring, which it announces with its colors: red, orange, yellow, pink and white.
The buttercup does not smell, but it is a detail that does not detract from the beauty of these beautiful flowers, which exist in about 600 species. This plant can be grown in full sun, and is perfect for livening up gardens. It can reach one meter in height, becoming a true queen of flowers.
The buttercup also grows well in pots, and is often found as a cut flower. It is so beautiful and colorful that it is worth cultivating, it certainly won't disappoint.
The cyclamen
Cyclamen belongs to the primulaceae family and has about fifteen species of perennials. It can be grown in pots and kept indoors (in this case, flowering occurs in winter), or in the garden (here it blooms between March and April) or even on balconies, as long as it is sheltered in the bad season.
Place the cyclamen in a bright place, but not directly exposed to the sun. Keep in mind that, being a plant with a life of 4 or 5 years, every year it will produce more and more flowers. Among other things, cyclamen flowers are not only very colorful but they are also fragrant. The cyclamen persicum it is the most widespread species and has numerous varieties. The flowers have colors ranging from white to pink to purple. Its main feature is to have heart-shaped leaves, which will appeal to the most romantic.
The camellia
Did the Lady of the Camellias make you sigh? Even the camellia flower is beautiful and poignant, with a luxuriant flowering that really changes the look of a garden or terrace.
Typical of spring, camellia belongs to the family of theaceae and exists in numerous varieties, which in ancient times came from the East. Camellias are planted in spring or October (mark it for next year), in gardens or in pots on balconies. The flowers are red, pink or white and the corollas are reminiscent of a slightly flattened rose. Camellia plants are evergreen: even when they wither their beautiful leathery leaves remain. They live well in dim light and water stagnation must be avoided. Taking these precautions, you will be proud of the beauty of your camellias.
The rhododendron
The rhododendron belongs to the ericaceae family; its name derives from the Greek words rhodon (pink) e dendron (tree). It arrived in Europe from Asia only in the nineteenth century.
The rhododendron also announces the arrival of spring, with its colorful bell-shaped flowers. Rhododendrons are planted in autumn or, if desired, also in spring, when they bloom. They are evergreen outdoor plants, the ideal is to plant them in the garden in a bright but shaded area, since they fear the direct sun.
Remember to remove the withered flowers, in order to make the plant always luxuriant. The azalea belongs to the same family as the rhododendrons and is grown in pots: when it blooms - from autumn to spring - it is necessary to move it outdoors.
The narcissus
The narcissus is a terrace and garden plant. It belongs to the family of amaryllidaceae, must be planted between September and October, it blooms in spring and, in June, and when the leaves have withered, the bulbs must be removed from the ground to keep them off the ground during the summer.
The beautiful daffodils, which despite the delicacy of their appearance are robust plants, do well in a semi-shaded ground and should be watered very frequently.The flowers of the narcissus have a central part in the shape of a tiny trumpet, surrounded by a crown . The classic colors of this flower are yellow and white, but there are many hybrids with other color variations. Often the narcissus is not entirely of one color, but has a contrasting trumpet (for example yellow) compared to the corolla (white).
The viola
Where to start listing all the species of beautiful and delicate violets? It is one of the flowers par excellence of spring. To limit ourselves to the most common variants, there are the violet, the horned violet or the pansy: if you want to know what all the others are, know that there are over 500.
Violets live very well in Italian climates, on balconies and in gardens, preferably in dim light. For all species of violets, to prolong their flowering it is necessary to remove the withered flowers. Their colors are yellow, blue, purple, purple-black. Several hybrid variants of the pansy are perfect for decorative garden borders: ask the nursery and you will have precise directions in case you need them for this purpose. Violets also grow and bloom very well in pots.
The anemone
The anemone is part of the ranunculaceae family and includes more than a hundred species. Red, purple, blue, deep pink, pale yellow and white are the colors of its flowers; its plant, which blooms from April to June, reaches a height of about 35 centimeters and can be grown both in pots and in garden beds.
The anemone blooms, among other things, in a conspicuous way: the colors of its flowers certainly do not go unnoticed. This is why it is a very popular decorative plant: if you bury several plants close to each other, you get cheerful splashes of color. As a plant it does not require a soil with particular characteristics, as long as it is well drained and in semi-shade. It should only be watered sporadically. In spring it is necessary to fertilize it substantially.
The aubretia
Beautiful hanging plant that exists in some varieties and in different colors: blue-light blue, purple, pink-red. Aubretia (or aubretia) blooms profusely between March and May, then in summer it becomes almost dry due to the heat, but recovers and reverts in autumn.
It is a perfect plant for decorating dry stone walls or rock gardens, which it covers with a carpet of cross-shaped flowers and leaves characteristically covered with a thin down: aubretia spreads quickly, so you can enjoy its beautiful in a fairly short time. green pillows (or flowery, if the time is right).
Aubretia loves the sun very much and wants regular but moderate watering; it is a plant that does not fear the cold. His enemy? If placed in the garden, in the open ground, snails: they literally devour this plant.
The daisy
Flower of a classic beauty, even the daisy blooms in spring, indeed, it is one of its symbols (and it is also the flower used to know if he loves me, does not love me). The flowers are on average small, white or yellow, with a golden yellow heart. Some species have quite large flowers and other colors.
For those who want to make a classic choice, know that the white daisy - the most common - blooms from May to October. It can be planted in the garden or, in colder climates, in pots, so that it can be sheltered during the winter.
The daisy must be planted in full sun and, if you have it in a pot inside the house, it must be placed in a very bright area. Of course, it also exists as a cut flower. The daisy is a flower that needs regular watering, preferably with rainwater: it is a plant that cannot be greener.
Wisteria
Climbing plant of the family of fabaceae, showy and fragrant, the wisteria gives extraordinary blooms in April. In its Japanese variant, white creates a truly spectacular cascade of flowering clusters of white.
In the other species, the color is pink, mauve or a shade between blue and lilac. The wisteria expands quickly and is a sturdy plant, it climbs trees, pergolas and walls, so it is ideal for decorating gardens. However, if it is carefully pruned, it can also be kept in pots.
Wisteria is a plant that needs space to expand, but on the other hand it requires little care: it is fine in both partial shade and full sun, withstands sudden changes in temperature, withstands drought. Leave it to your wisteria: it will be spectacular.
The sweet pea
Sweet pea is an annual climbing plant, easy to grow; has one fundamental requirement: to feel good it must be exposed to direct sunlight. Its flowers - which bloom from spring to summer - have colors ranging from white to pink, from purple to red.
The natural location of the sweet pea is in the garden, but it can also be placed in hanging pots, from which it falls with small cascades of flowers. The height of the plant can range from about twenty centimeters up to three meters.
The flowers of the sweet pea are fleshy and, in shape, resemble the flowers of leguminous plants (not for nothing is it called pea). It is a plant whose flowers are often used in brides' bouquets.
Petunia
It is a plant that lives well in the garden, on balconies, in pots. Petunia belongs to the family of solanaceae and includes about 40 species of plants, which can be sown in spring in pots or boxes placed in a sunny position.
Petunias can be sown in March, then the plants must be moved from the pot to the ground, in April or May. It blooms from May to October, and due to the duration of its luxuriant flowering, petunia is very popular and appreciated. It is the ideal flower for creating flower beds in gardens.
Be careful: petunia is a fragile plant, better not to expose it in windy corners of the garden or balcony. There are numerous hybrids of petunias with bright colors ranging from deep pink to yellow, from lilac to red to finish blue, without forgetting white.
The strelitzia
The most common species as an ornamental plant is the reginae, strelitzia originally from Africa. It has a wonderful flower, due to its unusual shape and the explosion of colors (dark blue, yellow or orange) that it gives during flowering, which occurs towards the end of spring.
Other species of strelitzia bloom in summer, and have white flowers, certainly less showy but no less beautiful.
Strelitzia loves the sun, is often grown in greenhouses (for sale as a cut flower), fears frost, wants regular watering and careful fertilization. It is a plant that grows very slowly, it takes patience to enjoy all its splendor. It can be planted in the garden but also in pots, and despite all these precautions that are needed to make it grow healthy, it is all in all easy to grow.
The mysotis
It is also called, poetically, forget-me-not and is also known as the eyes of the Madonna. Myosotis blooms in spring, but beware: the flowering period can vary a lot, depending on the species you buy.
This plant (it is an evergreen with lanceolate hairy leaves) is part of the family ofboraginaceae, and includes about fifty species. Usually the color of its small flowers is blue, or azure-blue, with a small patch of yellow in the center. It looks like an exclusively garden plant - preferably rocky, but it also lives without problems in pots.
It grows well both at low and high temperatures and does not require special fertilizers; it is only necessary to prevent the water from stagnating and it is necessary to remove the faded flowers to favor the next flowering.
