As a former florist owner, I love flowers. But I want practical flowers, not just pretty ones – although I like those too. There are so many choices and possibilities. But which to choose?
I always head to my gardening books and the internet to research flowers. Here’s some cool information I recently found!
Borage – Borage is one of my favorite flowers. They attract pollinators while deterring tomato hornworms. In addition, both leaves and blossoms are edible with a mild cucumber flavor. The spiky bloom stalks range from a lovely blue to a soft pink and are great for floral arrangements.
Calendula – Calendula are another edible flower, though they can be a tad bitter in older blooms. They deter asparagus beetles and hornworms. On the other hand, they attract aphids and can act as a trap crop.
Cosmos – If you really like Calendula, but are concerned about attracting aphids – Cosmos are your solution. Another great flower for the garden, they attract lacewings which eat aphids and thrips.
Lavender – No one needs an excuse to plant lavender with their beautiful spiky stalks and fragrant scent. That scent is exactly why you should plant lavender in your garden! The smell repels mice, deer and ticks. In addition, plant it near your brassica (cabbage, kale, broccoli, brussel sprouts) to discourage cabbage moths – they don’t like the smell either!
Marigolds – A very underappreciated species, marigolds are a must in your vegetable garden. They are fantastic around your cabbage and lettuce to discourage those pesky rabbits from taking a bite. In addition, the scent repels squash bugs, thrips, hornworms, and whiteflies. Plant them throughout your beans to discourage Mexican bean beetles. Another beneficial aspect of marigolds is at end of season, cut the stalks and leave the roots in the ground. The root systems kill nematodes in the soil which can be detrimental to some of your other vegetables.
Nasturtium – These cheerful flowers are perfect for an early spring garden planting because they are fond of cooler temperatures. They discourage squash bugs and beetles and act as a trap crop for thrips. Rub the seeds down with a little sandpaper to encourage germination through scarification. Another yummy edible flower, they make a gorgeous addition to any salad, too! Even the grocery stores like Whole Foods sells these in their salad section!
Sunflowers – These beauties are a fantastic attractor of pollinators. They are a perfect trellis for some of your climbing vegetables like pole beans or cucumbers. A terrific cut flower, they are now available in all sizes and colors.
Zinnias – One of my personal favorites, zinnia come in a variety of sizes and colors. They attract bees and other pollinators like hummingbirds. They attract Japanese beetles as well so they can work as a trap crop for that species. Zinnias are a great cut flower holding up for days after being cut, too!
I love mixing my flowers in with my garden. That makes for easier upkeep by caring for flowers and vegetables at the same time. The added benefit is in knowing which species compliment each other so you can reap multiple rewards. Time to get our those flower seeds and decide where to plant them…. Here we grow again!
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