Best Summer Flowering Bedding Plants

Best Summer Flowering Bedding Plants: A Guide to Vibrant Blooms

Transforming your garden into a summer haven is a joyous task, and bedding plants are the key to creating a vibrant and colorful display. These plants burst into bloom during the warmer months, adding a splash of cheer and beauty to your outdoor space. Here's a comprehensive guide to help you choose the best summer flowering bedding plants and create a stunning garden:

1. Petunias:

With their vibrant blooms in a wide range of colors, petunias are summer garden favorites. Their cascading habit creates a beautiful, flowing effect that adds depth and volume to borders and containers. Petunias thrive in full sun and require consistent watering to keep their flowers looking their best.

2. Marigolds:

Known for their bold, daisy-like flowers, marigolds are excellent choices for summer bedding. They come in a variety of sizes and colors, from golden yellow to deep orange and mahogany. Marigolds have a natural pest-repellent property, making them perfect for deterring insects. They prefer full sun and well-drained soil.

3. Impatiens:

Impatiens, commonly known as busy lizzies, are renowned for their ability to tolerate shade and partial shade. Their cheerful blooms come in shades of pink, purple, red, white, and orange. Impatiens thrive in moist soil and can add a splash of color to areas where most other plants struggle.

4. Begonias:

Begonias offer a wide variety of bloom types and colors, making them versatile choices for summer bedding. Their foliage also comes in various shapes and hues, adding interest beyond their flowers. Begonias prefer partial shade and well-drained soil and do well in containers or hanging baskets.

5. Geraniums:

Geraniums, also known as pelargoniums, are classic summer bedding plants with a long flowering period. Their large, showy blooms come in a range of vibrant colors, including red, pink, purple, and white. Geraniums tolerate full sun to partial shade and prefer well-drained soil.

6. Verbena:

Verbena produces clusters of small, vibrant flowers in a variety of colors, including blue, purple, pink, and white. Their trailing habit makes them ideal for containers, hanging baskets, and ground covers. Verbena prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil.

7. Coleus:

While not known for their showy flowers, coleus adds vibrant foliage to summer bedding schemes. Their leaves come in a spectrum of colors, patterns, and shapes, creating a striking contrast in borders and containers. Coleus prefers partial shade to full shade and moist soil.

8. Lantana:

Lantana is a heat-tolerant summer bedding plant with clusters of small, brightly colored flowers. They come in a range of hues, including red, orange, yellow, pink, and purple. Lantana prefers full sun and well-drained soil, making it an excellent choice for hot and dry climates.

9. Salvia:

Salvia is a versatile genus of flowering plants that includes a range of species suitable for summer bedding. From compact varieties to tall, stately plants, salvias offer a wide range of bloom colors and shapes. They prefer full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil.

10. Dianthus:

Dianthus, commonly known as pinks, are small, tufted plants with sweetly fragrant flowers. Their blooms come in a range of colors, including pink, red, white, and purple. Dianthus prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil, making it a versatile choice for borders and containers.