Designing a flower garden can be an excellent idea, since also once it has matured we could get an idea of what forests were like millions of years ago, before angiosperms began their evolution. Short and arboreal ferns, pines, cypresses and other conifers, perhaps mosses in some areas. Yes. It would certainly be a very special garden. But… Would you like to attract bees, butterflies and other animals? Do you prefer a wide variety of colors and shapes?
In the event that you have answered yes to any of those questions, you have to know that fortunately for you and for many of us, there are a large number of outdoor flowering plants. What's more, there are so many that it can be difficult to choose some. So We have selected a few that are ideal for growing in an area with a temperate and warm-temperate climate., that is, for a place where the seasons are well differentiated, and where winters temperatures can drop below zero degrees.
Armeria
The armeria is a perennial herb whose scientific name is Maritime armory. Its height is 20-30 centimeters, and it forms very compact pads with deep green leaves. It blooms in summer, producing white, lilac, or red flowers.
It is used a lot as a carpet, but yes: if you are going to have it in the garden, the soil must drain the water quickly. It can be near the sea, and on stony ground. It supports cold and frost, although if these are very extreme (-10ºC or more intense) you have to protect it, for example with a padding of leaves.
Garden plum
The garden plum is a large deciduous tree or shrub whose scientific name is Prunus cerasifera. It grows between 6 and 15 meters in height, depending on the variety it can have green or purple leaves. In spring, white or pink flowers of about 2 centimeters in diameter sprout. And in addition, the fruits that it bears are yellow or red drupes of about 2-3 centimeters, which finish ripening in autumn.
It must be planted in full sun, at a distance of about 4-5 meters from walls, pipes, etc. Resists up to -18ºC.
Carnation
The carnation is a perennial plant whose scientific name is Dianthus caryophyllus. It reaches a height of between 45 and 60 centimeters, with erect stems from which green leaves sprout. The flowers are red, pink, white, yellow, salmon or bicolor, and appear in spring and summer.
It is not very demanding in cultivation; however, the earth must be porous and it must not become waterlogged. Put it in full sun, and water it moderately. It resists weak frosts down to -4ºC.
Dimorphotheque
The dimorfoteca is a perennial herbaceous plant (lives several years) whose scientific name is Dimorphotheca ecklonis. It grows to be over 100 centimeters tall, and its leaves are simple, elliptical, and green in color. The flowers are about 4 centimeters in diameter, and are red, white, pink, or purple.. It blooms for a good part of the year, except in winter.
It does well in both full sun and semi-shade, and may need regular pruning to control its growth. But otherwise it is a very grateful plant, which supports weak frosts.
Japanese crabapple
Image - Wikimedia / MichaelMaggs
Another tree that cannot be missing in temperate climate gardens: the malus floribunda. It is a hybrid of Malus sieboldii x malus baccata, and is deciduous. It reaches 8 meters in height, and its crown is rounded. The leaves sprout from branches that tend to bow slightly. Its flowers are white or pink, and appear in spring. The fruits are red or yellow and measure about one centimeter.
In order to grow in conditions, it needs the soil to be rich in organic matter, and to be watered moderately and regularly throughout the year. Resists up to -18ºC.
Australian royal palm tree
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- Image - Wikimedia / Forest & Kim Starr
We do not think of palm trees as flowering plants, or at least, we do not usually plant them in gardens for that reason, but we cannot forget that they are also angiosperms, and that in fact there are many species that produce very beautiful clusters of flowers. One of them is the Archontophoenix Alexandrae.. This is a plant that reaches 30 meters in height, and has a trunk that is only about 20 centimeters thick. The leaves are pinnate and grow slightly arching. Its little flowers sprout in spring.
In the garden it must be planted in the shade, since the sun burns its leaves when it is young and / or is not acclimatized. As it grows and becomes more exposed, it will get used to the rays of the star king. It requires frequent watering. Regarding their rusticity, adult and acclimatized specimens support up to -4ºC, but when young, at most -2ºC.
Rosebush
Rose bushes are one of the bushes that are most cultivated outdoors. There are many varieties: single or double flowered; white, red, purple, bicolor,…, There are even some who are climbers. Its height varies from 40 centimeters to over 2 meters. They bloom throughout the year, except in winter.
They live both in full sun and in semi-shade, and must be watered often. Too need regular pruning to stimulate their flowering. They support frosts down to -12ºC.
Wisteria
La Wisteria or wisteria It is a deciduous shrub that develops climbing stems, which can reach 20 meters in height. Its leaves are green and pinnate, but what is most striking are flowers. Depending on the variety, these can be white, blue or purple, and they sprout in groups of 10 centimeters to a meter long.
Taking into account its characteristics, it is important that it is used only to cover large lattices, roofs or high walls. The soil must have a pH between 4 and 6 (that is, it must be acidic), otherwise it will lack nutrients. The risks must be moderate. Withstands pruning, cold and frosts down to -18ºC.
Which of these outdoor flowering plants did you like the most?