FLOWERING GARDEN PLANTS: THE BEST SPECIES FOR DECORATING THE EXTERIOR OF THE HOUSE!

A beautiful garden full of flowers immediately transmits peace and serenity.It does not matter if it is large or small, the important thing is to know how to choose the floral varieties that best suit the available space and our needs in terms of price and budget. Thus, we have selected the best flowering garden plants, highlighting their their main characteristics and some simple rules on how to cultivate them. In fact, they are ideal species even for those who are not gardening experts, but still want to immerse themselves in a personal flowery Eden within their own home!

Echinacea

Native to North America, Echinacea is a herbaceous plant belonging to the daisy family. It is often used for ornamental purposes due to the beauty of its inflorescences. 9 different species are part of the echinaceae, all united by the simplicity of the care required and the shape of their flowers. These, in fact, are very similar to the classic daisies but with a wider and protruding pistil. They can be of many colors: from yellow to pink, from purple to red with various shades in the middle.

Each echinacea prefers sunny areas and does not need regular watering. As with other daisies, it should only be wet when the soil is dry to avoid stagnation that can cause the roots to rot. It adapts to living in disparate geographical areas, both in the presence of mild climates and extremely cold temperatures, which is why it is the ideal plant even for those who are not great gardening experts. Finally, this flowering plant is known for its medicinal properties, especially for those of the anti-inflammatory and antibacterial type.

Petunia

Many hanging perennials belong to the genus Petunia, all belonging to the family of Solanaceae and originating in part of Brazil and part of Japan. Petunia is an evergreen plant that is widespread on Italian balconies and each year impresses with its very colorful flowers. In fact, with its characteristic bell shape, it gives a flowering that can last from spring to autumn, October-November. The colors of its buds range from white to red, purple to pink and blue, highlighted by the light green leaves.

Unlike other perennials, especially evergreens, petunia requires some extra attention. In fact, it is not very resistant to cold and is easily damaged by wind and rain. For this reason, it is better to move the pot to more sheltered areas during the winter or to cover it in case of growing in the garden or flower beds. Furthermore, to encourage flowering, it should be exposed in full sun in summer and the soil should be watered very consistently before it dries out completely.

Lavender

Having become famous for its unmistakable scent, its medicinal properties and also its unique color, lavender is a herbaceous plant belonging to the family of Lamiaceae which develops in the form of a shrub, never reaching large dimensions in terms of height. Seen from above, the lavender resembles a set of ears, where you can recognize the gray-green leaves at the base of the stem that become increasingly sparse towards the flower. This plant has become famous all over the world for its details. flowers, with a pungent scent and a characteristic blue-violet color which, in some varieties, can become either purple or even white. Flowering normally dates from the beginning of summer and lasts a little less than a couple of months.

Even if the cultivation that best suits it is that of the field, more and more often we find lavender on the balconies and in the gardens of Italy, precisely because it lends itself to creating beautiful compositions with other floral species. This perennial plant does not fear the heat nor the cold, although some precautions must be taken in the case of very severe frosts.It does not require a lot of water, on the contrary, it is necessary to check the state of the earth before watering it because the roots can rot if stagnation occurs.

Viburnum vat

Widespread in the Mediterranean basin and in south-eastern Europe, the Viburnum vat is an evergreen plant of the family of Caprifoliaceae, also commonly called laurotino or lentaggine. It is a shrub with very resistant and flexible branches, which is often grown in the garden to create ornamental and / or separatory hedges of the various areas. Unlike the other flowering garden plants seen so far, the vburno tino blooms in winter and spring, giving beautiful white flowers arranged in small groups that release a pleasant scent. When it is still in the bud stage, its flowering is pink, while in autumn, instead of flowers, there are dark blue fruits, equally ornamental but not edible.

Like most hedge plants, viburnum is also a very rustic plant that easily adapts to living in any area. However, given its size, it is good to choose its position carefully according to the space available and prune it with a regularity because it grows in free form. It does not fear the heat, on the contrary it lends itself to arid areas and with scarce water, while it must be protected in case of temperatures that drop below 0.

Margherita Pizza

Very common in Italian meadows, the daisy is a perennial herbaceous plant that can also be grown outside our homes. It belongs to the family of Asteraceae and there are many varieties, recognizable by their conformation. The most famous is certainly the classic daisy with the yellow pistil in the center, the white petals around and the small dark green leaves that highlight the flower. However, it is also possible to find daisies with shaded borders, with double petals and of a color other than white, such as pink, yellow and red. In recent years, they are frequently seen as decoration of rock gardens or even balconies.

These plants follow the "course" of the sun, so if they are in an area of constant shade they do not open. Despite this, they are very resistant and have no problem with cold winter temperatures or phenomena such as rain and wind. During the colder months they do not need a lot of water, on the contrary, rain will often suffice, while in summer they need to be watered constantly.

Verbena

Directly from the Mediterranean and from the areas of North America, Verbena belongs to the family of Verbenaceae, herbaceous perennial plants. However, the most popular varieties today come from nursery crops which have made them less resistant to cold and, therefore, more suitable for growing as annual flowering plants. However, vervain lends itself to both pot and ground life, making it ideal for balconies and terraces as well as gardens and flower beds. It has distinctive serrated leaves and a long flowering period, which extends from April to September. Its flowers can be of different colors depending on the variety, but the most famous shades range from white to pink, from red to blue and purple.

This outdoor plant is easy to grow because it doesn't need a lot of care. However, it is good to remember that it prefers a bright location, where it can enjoy the full light of the sun for a few hours before returning to the shade. It should be watered regularly, always checking that the earth is dry before giving it more water. verbena does not tolerate the cold well, therefore, if you have chosen to grow it in pots, it will be possible to pull it inside during the winter, otherwise, in the case of garden plants, cover them with fabric sheets.

Heather

Belonging to the family of Ericaceae, the heather is a perennial shrub originating from different areas of the world according to its species: the best known varieties usually come from Africa or from the Mediterranean areas of Europe. As already mentioned, there are many varieties. In Italy there are at least 8, of which the most popular is the so-called Erica gracilis. It is a small plant that lends itself to decorating borders, flower beds and gardens as well as city balconies. It turns out to be particularly ornamental thanks to its flowering which takes on various shades. In fact, its flowers can range from purple-purple to white, red and pink and appear in clusters, in dense and continuous groups.

In addition to its color and conformation, heather is famous for being a rustic plant and, therefore, does not require much care. It is suitable both for cultivation in pots and planted on the ground: for this reason it is ideal for any type of garden. from those in classic style to the rocky ones. During the summer it prefers areas in the shade: it resists heat but fears direct exposure to light and heat from the sun for a continuous period. The soil must be kept constantly humid and so watering will be frequent in the hottest months and sporadic in the winter ones.

Hellebore

Also called Christmas Rose, Hellebore is a genus of plants belonging to the family of Ranunculaceae, prevalent mainly in the Mediterranean areas and in the East. Its second name derives from the fact that its flowering begins in December and ends around February: nothing to do, therefore, with the classic roses, since it is an evergreen perennial species. It has dark green leaves of oval shape and its flowers can be either single or in very large clusters, reminiscent of dog rose and their colors are generally white and purple, but there are varieties whose flowering is pink, green or cream.

The hellebore is ideal for those who have a garden in a shady position and do not have much experience with gardening. In fact, these plants are autonomous, they need water only during the hottest season with little rain. Moreover, being a perennial shrub, their leaves always remain green and are able to bring color to the gardens and to the outside of the house during the winter period. The only thing to pay attention to is the toxic component of the hellebore, both for man and for animals : it is therefore necessary to keep it away from any pets and always wash your hands carefully after touching it.

Geranium

Originally from southern Africa, geranium is one of the most cultivated plants on the balconies and terraces of Italy. His real name is that of Pelargonium and belongs to the family of Geraniaceae. It is very decorative, withstands the alternation of seasons throughout the year and is found at a price normally accessible to anyone. Depending on the variety, it offers a brightly colored bloom ranging from red to deep pink, lilac to white, yellow to purple.It usually blooms in April and its flowers can last all summer: their scent is not intense, but it helps keep mosquitoes away from our homes.

Growing geranium is simple because it is a resistant plant, which must be exposed in full sun and therefore lends itself well to life on the balcony, on the window sills or in the garden. It needs a lot of water in the summer months, both on the soil and on the leaves, avoiding any stagnation. In autumn it dries up or goes to rest and needs very little wetness for it to flower again the following year.

Oleander

Coming from the Mediterranean region and belonging to the family of Aponyaceae, the oleander is an evergreen shrub that has been decorating our gardens and terraces for years. Depending on the species, this plant can reach considerable dimensions both in height and in width, so it is good to pay attention to the space available before choosing it. It has become famous as an ornamental element for its foliage and flowering. Its leaves are dark green, glossy, oval in shape and resistant to different climatic situations, while its flowers can show off different colors ranging from pink to red, from white to yellow They bloom in mid-spring, around May, and can last until the end of summer, embellishing any environment with their colors.

Since it is one of the most resistant evergreen plants, oleander cultivation is not complex at all. It prefers exposure to the sun, even direct, so as to obtain an excellent flowering. Likewise, it needs a lot of water during the summer months, while in autumn and winter watering must be sporadic. Finally, we want to remember that the leaves of the oleander are toxic for all animal species: it is therefore good to place it with caution if pets are left in the garden or on the terrace. .