The Top 27 Most Popular Flowers to Plant for a Garden that is Always in Bloom

Popular flowers are often garden favorites for good reason. That reason could be a low maintenance level, intense color, intricate floral shape, special meaning, or even the length of a blooming season. Sometimes, it takes a mixture of all of these factors to take a flower from ordinary to extraordinary.

27 Popular Flowers to Plant in Your Garden for a Landscape that Resonates with Your Heart

As you plan your garden, consider the meanings behind these classic garden staples. While you might find some surprising, you might also find some that are perfect for your outdoor space. By cultivating a garden that reflects your unique journey, you can create a space that truly resonates with your psyche.

1. Fernleaf Peony (Paeonia Lactiflora ‘Raspberry Sundae’)

There is no doubt about it – peonies are a garden favorite. Because pink peonies represent love and prosperity in marriage, they are a constant darling of bridal bouquets and cut-flower gardens. Although the sumptuous blooms only last a short time, they are the undeniable rulers of the landscape.

2. Trumpet Daffodil (Narcissus ‘King Alfred’)

For over 100 years, yellow trumpet-type daffodils have been a spring garden standard. These early-blooming perennials might be so popular because they produce magnificent spring flowers with minimal maintenance. Because they are some of the earliest spring flowers to emerge, it is easy to understand why these buoyant yellow flowers are associated with fresh starts.

3. Forsythia (Forsythia ‘Courtasol’ Gold Tide)

In late winter, golden forsythia can be seen blooming across the landscape. These golden banner-like flowers dutifully emerge in late winter to be enjoyed through mid-spring. Because they are one of the very first flowers to illuminate the landscape in late winter, forsythia evokes excitement for warmer weather.

4. Surprise Lily (Lycoris Squamigera)

Named after one of history’s great beauties, the surprise lily offers a delicate pink surprise as summer draws to a close. In spring, surprise lilies produce an abundance of foliage without flowers. That foliage yellows in summer’s heat. Then, in spring, a stem bearing a profusion of pink lilies appears as a grand surprise.

5. Evergreen Azalea (Rhododendron ‘Blaauw’s Pink’)

Nothing brings a garden to life like the waterfall of color that an azalea can contribute. Pictures of these popular flowers show what kind of potential an azalea bush can have. This variety of azalea offers a profusion of coral-pink petals, but you can choose whichever shade represents self-care to you.

6. Clematis (Clematis ‘Evipo018’ Bourbon)

With expansive flashy flowers and a love of climbing, clematis flowers are a popular choice in many flower gardens. Give this intelligent flower a trellis or structure to climb, and you can bask in large, colorful flowers throughout a long blooming season. This variety of clematis is known for its early bloom and big flowers.

7. Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus Syriacus ‘Minspot’ First Editions Fiji)

Maybe the long blooming season is the reason that the Rose of Sharon plant is so popular. Besides producing large-petaled flowers, this is a leafy shrub tall enough to act as a natural screen. There are several Rose of Sharon cultivars on the market, but this variety features petals that slowly darken from white to light pink.

8. Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum ‘Roadrunner Bronze’)

In exhausted late fall gardens, chrysanthemums bestow bountiful blooms. You can find chrysanthemums in nearly any color, and each has its own meaning. The yellow-bronze chrysanthemums shown here symbolize being happy even in difficulty. Pick whichever color speaks to your heart, and enjoy vibrant color as the gardening season comes to a close.

9. Aster (Aster ‘Wood’s Purple’)

A plot of aster gives a fall-blooming garden an enchanting purple glow. Slender violet petals and playful yellow buttons combine to create an ambiance of dainty elegance. With improved disease resistance, this variety of aster helps guarantee an abundance of delicate purple flowers in your garden’s landscape.

10. Siberian Iris (Iris ‘Chilled Wine’)

At 30 inches tall, Siberian iris flowers stand at attention to add a unique elegance to your garden. As one of the most popular flowers to plant in a spring garden, Siberian irises provide an ostentatious focal point and act as a beautiful reminder of friendship.

11. Tulip (Tulipa)

Embrace springtime’s splendor with a large plot of tulips. As seen in images of these popular flowers, tulips can be found in a variety of unique colors and bi-colors. Each color holds its own distinctive symbolism. By combining red and yellow, these tulips speak of loving someone as passionately as flowers love the sun.

12. Carnation (Dianthus Superbus)

In early summer, carnations add an element of intricate lace to your landscape. Depending on which variety you choose to plant, carnations can channel ruffly elegance or the delicate beauty shown here. However, choosing a different color of carnation can change the flower’s symbolic meaning in your space.

13. American Wisteria (Wisteria Frutescens)

Although American wisteria is not as aggressive as other varieties, this vine grows about 40 feet in its lifetime. All that growing power makes this the perfect plant to climb trellises, pergolas, and fences. Six-inch-long inflorescences add a soft purple element to your landscape without being overwhelming. No plant is better at signaling welcome.

14. Poppy (Papaver Orientale ‘Beauty of Livermere’)

A field of black-spotted poppies can add an energizing splash of red to your garden’s palette. These cheerful flowers are associated with peacefulness and offer special meaning to those who have loved ones in the military. A red cup-like flower and distinct black splotch make the poppy one of the most recognized popular flowers.

15. French Marigold (Tagetes Patula)

Often grown as an annual, marigolds provide eye-catching blossoms as well as pest protection. Pictures of these popular flowers show bright yellow, orange flowers, red, or bicolor petals with an interesting ruffled design. With its ability to grow nearly anywhere in the United States, marigold is a great way to give your garden some summertime color.

16. Dahlia (Dahlia)

Because dahlias can be found in many colors and flower forms, it is customizable to your outdoor space. These popular flowers do take a little extra maintenance, but the often multi-hued flowers are an ample reward. As an annual element in your garden, different varieties of dahlias can grow between 12 and 60 inches.

17. Bigleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea Macrophylla ‘All Summer Beauty’)

If you get tired of a perennial showing the same flower year after year, hydrangeas might be for you. To change the flower color, all you need to do is change the chemistry by amending your soil. ‘All Summer Beauty’ offers blue flowers with acidic soil and pink flowers with alkaline soil.

18. Spring Crocus (Crocus Vernus ‘Pickwick’)

When you plant a plot of spring crocuses, there is little maintenance to keep them blooming year after year. As one of the first flowers to bloom as winter fades, spring crocuses channel early spring euphoria. This variety features purple striping on a cool white background to bestow a sense of delicate beauty in your space.

19. Bleeding Heart (Lamprocapnos Spectabilis ‘Hordival’ Valentine)

Images of these popular flowers illustrate a unique and romantic shape. While most varieties of bleeding heart flowers are bright pink, Valentine is an exhilarating cherry red that adds energy to a springtime garden. Because bleeding heart represents voicing emotions, these heart-shaped flowers serve as a reminder to tell your loved ones how special they are.

20. Common Jasmine (Jasminum Officinale)

An immersive garden encompasses all the senses. With a single common jasmine vine, your entire garden can be filled with a sweet aroma. Each vine drips with either pale pink or cool white flowers that pack a powerful perfume-like punch. These popular plants are unchallenging to grow and easy on the eyes.

21. Zinnia (Zinnia Elegans)

With flashy colors and a graceful shape, zinnias bring glamor to any garden. Because these many-petalled beauties bloom from summer onwards, they are a popular choice for cut-flower gardens as well as borders. Available in many colors, sizes, and flower types, zinnias will find a home in nearly every landscape design.

22. Sunflower (Helianthus Annuus)

Brilliant yellow petals and a large brown disc make sunflowers one of the most recognizable garden flowers. While you might think that sunflowers are only towering giants, there are dwarf varieties that might fit your space better. Of course, tall sunflowers are a great way to make a statement in your landscape.

23. Hollyhock (Alcea Rosea)

Standing between 60 and 96 inches tall, hollyhock makes the perfect backdrop for your other flowers. These open-faced blooms are popular flowers to plant when you want to emphasize a little Old World charm. Although hollyhock is a short-lived perennial, it can self-seed well enough to create a plot that returns every year.

24. Petunia (Petunia ‘Ustuni6001’ Supertunia Vista Bubblegum)

Legendary for their constant summertime blooms, petunias are one of the most popular flowers to plant for luscious landscapes. With floppy pink petals, petunias ensure an element of color in your garden from summer until late fall. As a hybrid, VISTA BUBBLEGUM is notorious for its vigorous pink flowers with exquisite purple veins.

25. Begonia (Begonia × Benariensis Big Series)

Perfect for use in borders or beds, begonias offer both beautiful blooms and interesting foliage. This variety features bronze-tinged foliage with either red or pink flowers. If those colors do not complement your palette, try a different variety. Because begonias symbolize being a little naughty, they remind you to be playful.

26. Columbine (Aquilegia Chrysantha ‘Yellow Queen’)

Pictures of these popular flowers show elaborate petals in an intricate sculpture-like form. While there are a wide variety of columbine colors and patterns, yellow flowers can be the perfect accompaniment to spring. This variety of columbine showcases vibrant gold flowers with unusually long spurs that add some visual interest.

27. Rose (Rosa ‘Dolly Parton’)

As the queen of flowers, red roses are a classic element in any landscape. Although roses do require more maintenance than other types of popular flowers, this classic flower gives your garden an enduring appeal. Images of these popular flowers show an iconic bloom in an intense red hue.

27 of the Most Popular Flowers to Plant for a Space that Fills You with Joy

These popular flowers are the superstars of the gardening world — most landscapes include at least a few. Many of these flowers offer blooming flowers for the majority of the growing season and can shine as the focal point of your landscape. Plant these flowers alongside subtler blooms to achieve an immersive outdoor experience.

Seeing 27 popular flowers can make it tempting to include all of these in your landscape design. That can be overwhelming. Instead of trying to invite all of these flowers to the party, focus on your favorites: the ones that make your heart sing.