There are about 100 species of hairless or softly hairy annuals and perennial, some becoming woody at the bases, in this genus. They occur on drier prairies and in woodland in Northern and Central America and Mexico. Most have slender, upright stems and produce opposite leaves, which may be either simple and smooth edged, pinnate, or palmate (either palmately lobed or divided, 3 palmate). Daisy like, pink or golden yellow, some bi-colored flowers are borne on long stalks, they are good for cut flowers (generally produced over a very long period in summer), and are attractive to bees. Grow in an annual, herbaceous, or mixed border. Some cultivars, though perennials, are grown as annuals, most flower freely in their first year from seed.

Grow in fertile, well drained soil in full sun or partial shade. Deadhead to prolong flowering. Support taller cultivars. Divide perennials in late winter or early spring. They dislike heavy clay but are tolerant of coastal region, poor, stony soil.

Prone to bacterial spot, rust, botrytis flower blight, aster yellows, powdery mildew, downy mildew, fungal spots, slugs and snails.

C. ‘Moonbeam’ – C. verticillata ‘Moonbeam’ – This upright perennial grows 18″ tall and wide. It produces 3 pinnate leaves, to 2 ½” long, with linear, thread like, deep green leaflets. From early summer to autumn it bears lemon-yellow flowers, to 3/4″ across.

Zones 3-8

There are about 100 species of hairless or softly hairy annuals and perennial, some becoming woody at the bases, in this genus. They occur on drier prairies and in woodland in Northern and Central America and Mexico. Most have slender, upright stems and produce opposite leaves, which may be either simple and smooth edged, pinnate, or palmate (either palmately lobed or divided, 3 palmate). Daisy like, pink or golden yellow, some bi-colored flowers are borne on long stalks, they are good for cut flowers (generally produced over a very long period in summer), and are attractive to bees. Grow in an annual, herbaceous, or mixed border. Some cultivars, though perennials, are grown as annuals, most flower freely in their first year from seed.

Grow in fertile, well drained soil in full sun or partial shade. Deadhead to prolong flowering. Support taller cultivars. Divide perennials in late winter or early spring. They dislike heavy clay but are tolerant of coastal region, poor, stony soil.

Prone to bacterial spot, rust, botrytis flower blight, aster yellows, powdery mildew, downy mildew, fungal spots, slugs and snails.

C. grandiflora ‘Baby Sun’

Zones 5-9

There are about 100 species of hairless or softly hairy annuals and perennial, some becoming woody at the bases, in this genus. They occur on drier prairies and in woodland in Northern and Central America and Mexico. Most have slender, upright stems and produce opposite leaves, which may be either simple and smooth edged, pinnate, or palmate (either palmately lobed or divided, 3 palmate). Daisy like, pink or golden yellow, some bi-colored flowers are borne on long stalks, they are good for cut flowers (generally produced over a very long period in summer), and are attractive to bees. Grow in an annual, herbaceous, or mixed border. Some cultivars, though perennials, are grown as annuals, most flower freely in their first year from seed.

Grow in fertile, well drained soil in full sun or partial shade. Deadhead to prolong flowering. Support taller cultivars. Divide perennials in late winter or early spring. They dislike heavy clay but are tolerant of coastal region, poor, stony soil.

Prone to bacterial spot, rust, botrytis flower blight, aster yellows, powdery mildew, downy mildew, fungal spots, slugs and snails.

C. rosea ‘Heavens Gate’ –

Zones 4-8

is slender erect annual whose scent repels insects usually with spotted yellow/orange round flower atop of stem

comes in trays or in 4″ pots

Grow in moderately fertile, well drained soil in full sun. Deadhead to prolong flowering, and water freely during drought. The densely double flowerbeds of the African marigolds tend to rot in wet weather. In containers, use a soil based potting mix, during the growing season, water freely and apply a balanced liquid fertilizer weekly.

There are 20, spreading to erect annuals, perennials, and sub shrubs in the Asteraceae family, make up this genus. They naturally occur from scrub and desert grassland, mainly in Mexico, but also in Southwestern USA, and Central and South America. They have opposite, stalkless or almost stalkless, linear to ovate, pale to mid green leaves. Zinnias are cultivated for their solitary, long stemmed, daisy like, terminal flower heads in a wide range of colors and shapes, including white, yellow, orange, chartreuse, red, purple and lilac, some with contrasting eyes. In some, the flower heads resemble formal decorative dahlias ( referred to as “dahlia-flowered”) others resemble cactus flowered dahlias ( referred to as “cactus flowered”). Use in an annual or mixed border, and for cutting. Smaller cultivars are suitable for edging and for window boxes or other containers. They usually attract butterflies.

Grow in fertile, humus rich, well-drained soil in full sun. Deadhead to prolong flowering.

There are about 20 species of annuals, biennials, perennials and subshrubs, in this genus. They occur in moist places and prairies in North America. They have alternate, simple, rosetted, lance shaped to elliptic or spoon shaped, pinnatifid, mainly basal leaves, and airy racemes or panicles of short-lived, flat, irregularly star shaped, pink or white flowers, usually 4 petalled. They are graceful plants in a border.

Grow in light, fertile, moist but well drained soil in full sun, but drought and partial shade is tolerated. Cut to ground after flowering.

Prone to rust, Cercospora leaf spots, Septoria leaf spots, downy mildew and powdery mildew.

G. lindheimeri ‘Patriot’

Zones 6-9

There are about 30 species of annuals, perennials, and biennials, in this genus. They occur in open, sunny habitats on prairies and Hillsides in the USA, with two species from South America. They bear smooth edged, toothed, lobed or pinnatifid, hairy leaves, produced in basal rosettes and alternately up the stem. On long stems it bears single or double, daisy like in red, orange, or yellow petals from summer until first frost as much as 6″ wide. The numerous cultivars are bushy, leafy plants with brightly colored flowers. They are effective in a sunny border and also good for cutting.

Grow in fertile, well drained soil in full sun, poor soil is tolerated. Deadhead regularly. In colder climates cut perennials back to about 6″ in late summer to encourage new basal growth, which usually overwinters well. Divide perennials in spring. Stake if necessary. They tolerate extreme heat, cold, dryness, and strong winds.

zones 3-8

perennial

grow in full sun

blooms from late summer to early fall

comes in 1 or 2 gallon pots

zones 5-9

Echinea purpurea ‘Ruby Star’

Grow in deep, well drained, humus rich soil in full sun, although they will tolerate some shade. Cut back stems as the blooms fade to encourage further flower production and to prevent excessive self seeding.Divide every 3 or 4 years in spring.

Echinea purpurea ‘Pink Double Delight’

Grow in deep, well drained, humus rich soil in full sun, although they will tolerate some shade. Cut back stems as the blooms fade to encourage further flower production and to prevent excessive self seeding.Divide every 3 or 4 years in spring.