Unconventional Blooms That Effortlessly Thrive: Cultivate these 5 flowers for awe-inspiring spectacles in your backyard garden
Gardening with a TwistShow off your garden with these unique and easy-to-grow blooms!
Want to shake things up a bit in your garden this year? Ditch the traditional flowers and opt for something a little more extraordinary! Here are five easy but unusual flowers you can grow right now:
1. Fritillaries
Fritillaries are a fantastic choice for gardeners looking for something out of the ordinary. These perennials with bulbous roots are available in a wide array of colors and patterns, making them stand out among the crowd.
"If you're after something a bit unconventional, the fritillaria family is a great place to start," says Rachel Cole, seed manager at Mr Fothergill's. For a truly one-of-a-kind look, keep an eye out for some of the more intriguing varieties.
- Fritillaria meleagris, often called the 'snake's head' fritillary, boasts exquisite, snake-like patterns on its nodding flower heads.
- Fritillaria imperialis, also known as the Crown Imperial, produces luxurious spikes topped with clusters of bell-shaped blooms in vivid orange, yellow, or red. These majestic flowers will surely add structure and elegance to your borders or pots.
Usually, you'd plant fritillaria bulbs in the fall, but you can find ready-grown potted plants now.
Where to buy fritillarias:- Thompson & Morgan: Buy Fritillaria meleagris potted plants.- Sarah Raven: Pre-order Fritillaria imperialis 'Orange Beauty' bulbs for September.
2. Passion Flower
Passion flowers, also known as Passiflora, are among the most striking and unique-looking flowers out there. Easy to cultivate, they make for great climbing plants.
"This is a showstopping, easy-to-grow climbing plant with unusual, beautiful flowers that bloom profusely from summer to autumn," says Julian Palphramand, head of plants at British Garden Centres.
Passion flowers thrive in full sun and grow best along a trellis, fence, or pergola. Water them regularly, but do not let the soil become waterlogged. If you're low on ground space, passion flowers can also flourish in containers. Just be sure to place them next to something they can climb.
Where to buy passion flower:- Crocus: Order a Passiflora caerulea plant.- Thompson & Morgan: Passiflora has bright purple filaments.
3. Alliums
Alliums might not be the rarest choices on this list, but their architectural blooms make a lasting impression. Like fritillaries, alliums are best planted in the fall, but you can buy potted plants and add them to your garden now.
"Alliums bloom abundantly from late spring into early summer and come in a surprising spectrum of shades, not just the classic purple," says Rachel from Mr Fothergill's.
Their height makes them ideal garden border plants. Just make sure the soil is well-draining and receives plenty of sun.
Where to buy allium plants:- Gardening Express: Rachel recommends Allium cristophii for its glittering, star-shaped heads.- J. Parker's: Plant Allium 'Red Mohican' for a tall, show-stopping deep red variety with cheeky tufts on top.
4. Zinnias
Zinnias are like a rainbow personified: bright, cheerful, and a spectrum of color. They're another excellent recommendation for those seeking easy and unusual flowers.
"These sun-loving flowers bring big rewards from minimal effort," Rachel says. "Sown directly from April to May, they'll continue blooming right up to the first frosts."
Now's the perfect time to plant zinnia seeds, so don't forget to stock your seed tin!
Where to buy zinnia seeds:- Mr Fothergill's: Rachel recommends Zinnia 'Envy' for striking lime green blooms or Zinnia 'Sombrero' for bold red and yellow flowers.
5. Canna Lilies
If you're looking for unique, showy blooms, canna lilies are a timeless choice. For all their grandeur, they're relatively simple to grow.
"Canna have exotic-looking flowers, and they are simple to grow," agrees Dickon Harding, gardens and landscape manager at Raby Castle, Park, and Gardens.
Like zinnias, canna lilies love the sunshine and thrive in well-draining soil.
Where to buy canna lilies:- Sarah Raven: Pre-order the stunning Canna 'Cannova Bronze Peach' F1 for a rich, warm hue.- Suttons: Discover the leopard print pattern of Canna x generalis Cannova 'Gold Leopard'.
Incorporating a variety of unique blooms into your home-and-garden lifestyle can be achieved by growing these one-of-a-kind flowers, such as passion flowers and fritillaries. Passion flowers, with their striking and unusual appearance, are a great climbing option, while fritillaries, particularly the 'snake's head' fritillary, add a touch of the extraordinary with their exquisite, snake-like patterns.
