Plants That Grow in a Garden – A Comprehensive Guide

A garden filled with beautiful, thriving plants is a joy to behold. But with so many options to choose from, it can be overwhelming to decide which plants to grow. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore some of the best plants that grow in gardens, focusing on ones that are low-maintenance, produce edible bounty, and bring beauty. Whether you’re a beginner gardener or a seasoned pro, you’ll discover new plants to try in your outdoor space.

Vegetables That Thrive in Gardens

One of the joys of gardening is being able to harvest fresh vegetables right from your backyard Here are some of the best edible plants to grow in your garden

Tomatoes – A summer garden staple, tomatoes come in a huge range of sizes, shapes, and colors. Cherry tomatoes are compact and prolific, while beefsteak types produce giant, meaty fruits. Ensure your tomato plants get at least 6 hours of sun and provide sturdy cages or stakes for support.

Leafy Greens – Lettuce, spinach, kale, and other leafy greens grow quickly and can be harvested again and again They do well in cool weather and appreciate nutrient-rich soil Scatter seeds densely for cut-and-come-again harvesting.

Root Crops – Carrots, radishes, beets, and turnips grow underground, where they form edible roots. Direct sow seeds in the garden. Loose, rock-free soil encourages good root development.

Beans – Green beans, pole beans, and bush beans are easy to grow from seed. Plant in sunny spots after danger of frost has passed. Keep picked regularly to encourage more pod production.

Squash – Delicious summer squash varieties like zucchini, yellow squash, and pattypan grow on spreading vines. They love heat, so wait until soil and air is warm to plant. Give them space to sprawl.

Herbs – No garden is complete without fresh herbs like basil, cilantro, dill, and parsley. Their flavors intensify when grown in full sun. Snip leaves as needed. Many perennial herbs will regrow each year.

Beautiful Flowering Plants for Gardens

In addition to vegetables, gardens benefit enormously from ornamental flowering plants. Here are some of the prettiest:

Sunflowers – Iconic, bright yellow sunflowers with dense centers of seeds grow upwards of 10 feet tall. They love heat, sunshine, and relatively poor soil. Surround them with smaller flowers that can benefit from the shade of their huge leaves.

Zinnias – Available in almost every color but true blue, zinnias produce abundant, long-lasting blooms. The more you cut them, the more they produce. They’re extremely easy to grow from seed and attract pollinators.

Marigolds – Cheerful marigolds bloom profusely in shades of yellow, orange, and red. The small flowers have a distinctive scent. Plant them throughout your garden to deter pests. Deadhead spent blooms to encourage more flowers.

Cosmos – Delicate cosmos have frilly, intricate petals in pink, magenta, and white. The tall plants may need staking but bloom from midsummer into fall. They reseed readily, creating more plants each year.

Snapdragons – Snapdragons produce spikes of flowers that resemble tiny dragon mouths that open and close when squeezed. This fragrant favorite comes in both tall and dwarf sizes. Give them rich soil and full sun.

Petunias – No list of garden flowers is complete without petunias. Their trumpet-shaped blooms come in every hue and fill hanging baskets, window boxes, borders, and beds with vibrant color from spring to frost. Deadhead to prolong bloom time.

Low-Maintenance Perennials

Perennial plants provide reliable color and interest year after year. Here are some top choices for low-maintenance perennials:

Daylilies – Extremely hardy, daylilies produce profuse blooms in an enormous range of colors. Each flower only lasts a day, but plants are continually in bloom all season. Divide crowded clumps in fall to increase your stock.

Coneflowers – Iconic echinacea with daisy-like blooms in pink, purple, white and more are drought-tolerant once established. They attract butterflies and make great cuts. Leave seed heads over winter for birds to enjoy.

Lavender – Fragrant lavender thrives in hot, sunny spots with well-drained soil. Prune plants lightly after flowering to maintain their shapely form. Use the dried flowers and leaves for crafting and cooking.

Coral Bells – Coral bells feature low mounds of foliage and delicate bell-shaped blooms. The foliage comes in many colors like green, burgundy, and variegated. Plant in groups for a big impact.

Salvia – Available in a wide range of heights and flower colors, salvias are magnets for hummingbirds. Most prefer lean, well-drained soil. Cut plants back mid-season to promote bushy growth and more blooms.

Ornamental Grasses – Grasses like maiden grass, fountain grass, and Japanese blood grass provide structure, texture, and movement in gardens. Most are extremely tough, drought-tolerant plants. Cut back previous years’ growth in early spring.

With this guide detailing some of the very best plants for gardens, you can create a beautiful, bountiful outdoor space filled with flowers, herbs, and vegetables. Pay attention to each plant’s preferred conditions like sunlight, soil, and moisture. Group plants with similar needs together for the healthiest growth. Gardening is meant to be enjoyable, so have fun planning your ideal garden oasis!

Many vegetables benefit from being planted near specific companion plants in a garden. For example, tomatoes and basil make a great pair, with basil deterring pests and potentially enhancing tomato flavor.