Annuals And Perrenials

This map to the right indicates the zones for planting of different types of flowers in your recommended planting zone.As you can see you have zones 1-11.

	Zone 1	Below -50F		Sow seed in early spring when soil can be worked
	Zone 2	-50F to -40F		Sow seed in early spring when soil can be worked
	Zone 3	-40F to -30F		Spring: April 15 – June 15	Fall: August 15 – October 1 Dormant plant when soil temp. is below 50F.
	Zone 4	-30F to -20F		Spring: April 15 – June 15	Fall: September 1 – October 15 Dormant plant when soil temp. is below 50F.
	Zone 5	-20F to -10F		Spring: April 15 – June 15	Fall: September 1 – October 15 Dormant plant when soil temp. is below 50F.
	Zone 6	-10F to 0F		Spring: March 15 – May 15	Fall: September 15 – November 1 Dormant plant when soil temp. is below 50F.
	Zone 7	0F to 10F		A Fall planting is recommended	Fall: September 15 – November 15
	Zone 8	10F to 20F		A Fall planting is recommended	Fall: October 1 – December1
	Zone 9	20F to 30F		A Fall planting is recommended	Fall: October 1- December 15
	Zone 10	30F to 40F		A Fall planting is recommended	Fall: October 1 – December 15
	Zone 11	Above 40F		A Fall planting is recommended	Fall: October 1- December 15

PLANTING FLOWER BULBS FOR SPRING

Crocus plants are comparatively small, reaching  3-6 inches in height (depending on the variety). The leaves are grass-like, usually with a light stripe running up the middle. Lots of of the spring-flowering crocus bulbs are among the earliest bloomers (Crocus vernus tends to bloom a bit later). The crocus bulbs with which I’m familiar produce multiple flowers per corm. Typical flower colors are yellow, gold, purple, white and lavender, although bi-colored and tri-colored types also exist. The blooms pucker up at night (and also when it is icy and/or cloudy).

Daffodils are one of our most recognizable flowers. What kid isn’t fascinated by the proboscis-like coronas of the yellow trumpet types, protruding from a sun face with 6 yellow petals? But these flowers come in various sizes, shapes and colors, including miniatures and those with cups  than trumpets. Foliage is sword-shaped.

Because lots of daffodil bulbs produce aromatic, cheerful flowers in early spring, they are prized as heralds of better weather in chilled climates. In fact, a nickname for daffodils is “Lent lilies,” as their re-emergence coincides, in some regions, with the Catholic season of Lent.

 

 

 

 

As with roses, I admire tulip flowers before they have  yet opened. Most produce a huge  flower for it to be showy even at this stage. Tulip flowers come in the colors yellow, orange, red, pink, white, purple (some so deep as to be  almost black) or bi-colored (click “More Images” under the picture to open the mini-gallery). There’s thousands of types of tulips, so you can easily imagine that height would vary greatly; however, the typical tulips I see growing in yards stand between 10 & 30 inches tall. The leaves, which are fleshy & waxy to the touch, can be blade-shaped or rectangular.

 

 

 

Like tulips, snowdrops, crocuses, hyacinths, grape hyacinths, daffodils, etc., Scilla siberica bulb plants brighten our yards with spring flowers. The stems of Scilla siberica bear blooms while still on the short side. In a flag-raising ceremony conducted by Brother Nature herself, as the stem pushes up to its mature height (about 8″), the bloom is hoisted aloft. Scilla siberica bulb plants (see picture at right) bear small, nodding, blue, star-like flowers.
Sun and Soil Requirements for Scilla Siberica:
Scilla siberica tolerates dry conditions in summer, although they do need moisture in the coursework of the growing season. But the latter is seldom a limiting factor in plenty of regions, where spring (the growing season for Scilla siberica) is  wet. Scilla siberica needs some sun, but this is another requirement easily met. Since the plant does, after all, bloom in spring, it won’t be shaded even if planted under deciduous trees. By the time such areas become shaded, the bulb will have already flowered

Snowdrops (see picture at left ) produce one miniscule (1″ or less), white flower, which hangs down off its stalk like a “drop” prior to opening. When the bloom opens, the eye beholds 3 outer petals arching out over 3 inner petals. The leaves are shaped like narrow blades, which grow about 4″ long. Snowdrops are perennials and will often naturalize.
Sun and Soil Requirements for Snowdrops:
Snowdrops take full sun to partial shade. Grow them in well-drained soil that has lots of humus. Galanthus nivalis is a sensible choice for an area with dry shade.
Planting Zones for Snowdrops:
Galanthus nivalis can be grown in zones 3-7.
Take care of Snowdrops:
Snowdrops are bulb plants. Plant the bulbs for snowdrop flowers in fall. These are miniscule plants, so their bulbs must be planted closely together (2″-3″) for a showy spring display. The idea is to have a blanket of Galanthus nivalis to cover an area, replacing winter’s blanket of snow! Do not remove foliage until it’s turned yellow, so that your snowdrops have a chance to store nutrients for next year.
Makes use of for Snowdrops in Landscape Design:
You can plant Galanthus nivalis under deciduous trees without worrying that your snowdrops won’t get sufficient sunlight, since they bloom before the leaves come out on trees. As petite plants that crave nice drainage, snowdrops are also well suited for rock gardens, where they will provide some early-season interest.
Outstanding Feature of Snowdrops:
As the “snow” in their name suggests, snowdrops are among the earliest bloomers in the yard. Depending on your region, they will bloom in February or March. Snowdrops may not even wait for the snow to melt before emerging from their winter sleep, in lieu pushing right up through the snow — a pleasant sight for the winter-weary!

List of Common Early Spring Flower Names
Anemone
Azalea
Begonia
Bleeding heart
Calla Lily
Creeping Phlox
Crocus
Daffodil
Dahlia
Daisy
Gardenia
Hyacinth
Impatiens
Lilac
Lily of the Valley
Magnolia
Mountain Laurel
Pansy
Peony
Petunia
Primrose
Tulip
Tiger Lily
Rhododendron
Vinca
Wisteria

Tulips need a period of dormancy in order to prosper. These spring flowers grow best on a hill or mountainous area which have longer and cooler spring seasons and combined with earlier summers to accommodate longer winters. If Tulips are grown in a hotter climate they often need to be replanted yearly. These pretty spring flowers can be propagated with seeds and offsets. Growing from an offset is botany term where a cutting from a father plant is used to generate another plant (cloning). However, this method produces a plant with the exact same genetics as the father plant. When growing Tulips from seed this method requires three to three years of growth before they start to flower. This is a substantial reason why commercial growers utilize cloning in order to produce flowering plants in as tiny as 1 year. However, growing Tulips from seed will often produce a healthier (more disease resistant and greater variety and newer hybrids.

Tulips
Tulips are a perennial and come back year after year showing off their green foliage which can be seen coming through the ground in early spring. These brilliant spring flowers come in a variety of bright colors. They can grow short or there is and a long stemmed variety of Tulips. The blossoms from the Tulip are usually formed like a deep cup with a waxy exterior coating. Tulips have only a few leaves compared to other types of flowers and do not emit a noticeable fragrance as lots of other flowers.

Interestingly Tulips derive their name from a Persian origin which has a meaning of Turban. It is common knowledge that Holland and the Netherland area is thought about to be the Tulip botany capitol. Lots of varieties of Tulips are grown and cultivated in this area and shipped all to various countries. Perhaps this is why Holland has been deemed the commercial Tulip flower capitol.

Tulips are another widely known flower of spring which blooms comparatively early. Similar to the Daffodil, their flower bulbs are concealed underground protected throughout the winter, so Tulips are a bulbous plant as well. These spring flowers belong to the flower relatives species Liliaceae. It is brilliant that these pretty flowers have a native range which extends from the northern Africa area to northwestern China. Tulips are grown in multi-colored tulip gardens, displayed in pots and are often sold as cut flower bouquets.

Daffodils
Daffodils are brightly colored yellow flowers which are often seen in massive groups or rows throughout the countryside. Sometimes mistakenly called an Easter lilies, the daffodil flower is from the Narcissus relatives of spring flowers. A more correct name that has been given to these early spring flowers is Easter Bell, which originates from the culture in Germany. The Daffodil has a moderately long trumpet formed middle surrounded by three delicate leaves often of the same pale yellow color, but may vary due to natures wild interbreeding of this species spring flower.

Daffodils are a quantity of the first spring flowers to protrude up from the ground in early spring. These floral shoots often are the first recognizable signs of spring flowers in late February and early March. Look low near the ground for green pointed sprouts directed straight up. This growth will often protrude through frost or snow covered ground and force their way through leaves or other ground cover. The early spring growth comes from bulbs that are several inches below the surface. Daffodil flower bulbs have been mistaken for wild onions historically and have been the cause for poisoning, as these flowers contain a dangerous toxin. After several weeks of only seeing the green shoots from the flower bulb the daffodil blossoms will start to form.

Creeping phlox are hardy flowering plants and three times rooted can withstand considerable trimming throughout the growing season. They can prosper best in areas that are shady, and thus make an excellent ground cover around the base of trees. One benefit of these vigorous growing flowers is the more they are cut back, the more they spread and grow. Creeping phlox often are seen hanging from rock walls and spread around the base of larger shrubs in order to help control weeds and other undesirables from growing near flower gardens.

Creeping Phlox
Creeping phlox are another variety of early blooming spring flowers. This low ground hugging herbaceous plant is a perennial and native to the wooded areas of the Appalachian mountain range. These multi-colored flowers come in various shades of pale white, light purple or pale pink. Though the flowers are tiny they are lots of on each cluster and they generate a spectacular display in lawns and gardens.

There’s several dozen types of spring flowers which are loved and cherished by flower horticulturalists around the globe. The spring flower season is a brilliant time of the year which brings a refreshing and welcome display of pretty colored flowers after a long winter. So definitely it is worth the hard work to take the time this spring to enjoy all the colorful spring flowers and various scents in your area. In case you set aside a couple of minutes each day to relax and view the pretty flowers around us all in the coursework of the spring season, the inherited benefits of natures new life spring brings with it will rejuvenate your heart and mind as well. Here are some photos of spring flowers below.

 

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Annuals - Plants that are palnted by seed that grows allyear then dies out at the end of the year.

Annual Plains Coreopsis

 

Perennials - Plants that grow season after season.Generally the top portion of the flower  dies each winter and regrows the following spring.

Perennial Purple Coneflower

Purple Coneflower. Many perennial plants do keep their leaves year round and offer attractive borders. Biennials - Plants which require two years to complete their life cycle.

Biennial Foxglove

First season growth results in a small rosette of leaves near the soil surface. During the second season’s growth stem elongation, flowering and seed formation occur followed by the entire plant’s death.

Annual/Perennial - A plant can behave as an annual or a perennial depending on local climatic and geographic growing conditions. In the southern portion of the United States, these plants tend to grow much quicker than in the north due to the warmer weather and extended growing season. For example: a Black-Eyed Susan would grow better in the southern states apposed to the northern states where they behave differently.

Annual and Perennial plants

The plant life of annuals and perennials to explore with in the garden area.

Annuals are plants that grow one time in a year in that growing season.  Annuals grow with all energy given to produce the plant and flower more quickly and faster than a perennial plant.  The Annual plants give the garden a quick enhancement to the space that needs a quick visual makeover.  It helps a designated area to a well design look immediately.   Some annuals for El Paso that are true potentials are Stock, Marigold, Impatiens, Snapdragon, Petunias, Vinca, Sweet Potato Vine, …

Perrenials are plants that are different from annuals.  Perennials will grow for more than the one year, and will come back and give growth in the garden the following year.  Perennials take their time and not put forth so much energy to grow fast and produce a bloom like an Annual plant.   Perennials are a good investment for when you purchase and plant a Perennial one can look forward to not having to start over the next year for they will return with establishment and maturity of time.    Some perennials for El Paso that also are a good selection are Hibiscus, Hosta, Society Garlic, Fountain Grass, Sage.The pictures below are Annuals and Perrenial of different varieties to look maybe will give you some ideas for landscaping around the house or making a flower bed.

 

Annuals