A self-seeded sunflower.

Sunflowers are native to the Americas and have been cultivated for over 4,000 years. They were a major food source for the indigenous population and were even used medicinally.

Botanically called Helianthus from the Greek helios, meaning sun and anthus, meaning flower, sunflowers were adopted as a major crop by the Russians. Sunflower oil stays liquid at lower temperatures than animal fats, which was advantageous in their cold climate.

Victorians fell madly for sunflowers and used their likeness in art and architecture. Early American pioneers pounded the stalks to extract the fibers. The stalks were also used as kindling and the seedless hulls were compressed into fire logs.

Plant sunflowers in mid spring about 1 to 2 weeks before the date of your average last frost. They need full sun and aren’t overly fussy about soil fertility, although they benefit from a side dressing of compost.

Thin the seedlings so the plants stand 12 to 18 inches apart, depending on the size of the variety at maturity. Many varieties will first produce a large basal flower and then branch out to produce many smaller blooms after the basal flower is cut. Some varieties naturally branch out, producing many smaller flowers.

Hybridizers have been busy and sunflowers now come in a wide variety of sizes and many colors in the yellow/gold/orange/rust family. They are spectacular planted in various heights and colors as a theme garden.

Sunflowers reseed themselves prolifically and will come up every year, even if you don’t want them to. It goes without saying that small wildlife, such as birds and squirrels, find them irresistible.

If you want to harvest the seeds for snacks or for planting next year, cover the flowers with a paper lunch bag when the seeds begin to ripen. Otherwise the local livestock will completely devour your sunflower crop.

The blooms of sunflowers turn to follow the path of the sun, beginning in the east in the morning and continuing throughout the day. They are one of the few flowers that follow this peculiar practice.

By all means cut them and use them in bouquets. Their bright, cheery colors look good in any decor.

Calendulas, also known as pot marigolds, are one of the easiest annual flowers to grow.

Calendulas are now grown primarily for their golden yellow flowers, but they were traditionally grown as both a seasoning and for medicinal purposes.

Calendula officinalis is its scientific name, but it is also commonly refered to as “pot marigold.” The reason for this is it was once used by the poor as a seasoning, particularly as a substitute for saffron.

The name “calendula” comes from the Latin kalendae, meaning the first day of the new moon, which was also the first day of the month for the Romans. The plant got this name because it was always in bloom on the first day of every month. Calendulas will flower constantly in mild climates.

Pot marigolds grow 18 to 24 inches high and bloom prolifically for the entire growing season. Plant the seeds in the garden where they are to grow. When they are two inches high, thin them so the plants stand 8 to 12 inches apart. Calendulas will reseed themselves and come up every year.

They will grow in almost any type of soil, as long as it is well-drained. They don’t require any additional fertilizer, but they will benefit from a top dressing of compost once during the growing season.

Calendulas have antiseptic and anti-fungal properties. Their petals are often made into calendula oil or calendula cream, which are applied to help sores and skin ailments heal faster.

Pot marigolds are known as the “herb of the sun” because the flowers have the unusual habit of closing in the heat of the afternoon and remaining closed until the sun has risen the following morning. They then follow the path of the sun, just like sunflowers.

It is sometimes described as the flower of grief because dew gathers in the flower during the night and drips off like tears when the flower opens the following morning. In the language of flowers, calendulas mean sacred affections, joy, remembrance and grief.

Calendulas are also known as the friendship flower, which is the way I prefer to think of them.

Dusty Miller makes an attractive addition to flower beds and container gardens.

Dusty Miller is grown as an annual in much of the temperate zones but it’s technically a perennial. It will survive winters in Zone 7 and warmer and is often planted with pansies in winter flower gardens.

You can find Dusty Miller available in several cultivars under the Latin name Senecio cineraira. The first name, Senecio, comes from the Latin “senex,” which means old man. The second name, cineraria, means ashy gray in Latin.

There is a more finely leafed variety that is excellent to use in hanging baskets or in any container. The lacy foliage really stands out when viewed up close.

Plant them in among your flowers for a shimmering backdrop to their bright colors. Dusty Miller prefers full sun to part shade so they can be planted among virtually all blooming plants.

Native to the Mediterranean, Dusty Miller prefers sandy, well drained soil. This is one member of the flower border that can withstand drought. It is excellent planted in window boxes that are beneath the eaves of your house and therefore do not receive much natural rainfall.

It isn’t bothered by many pests except the occasional aphid, which can be washed off with a strong spray from the hose. Do this on a cloudy day so the fuzz on the leaves doesn’t get burned by the sun.

You can start them from seed indoors about eight weeks before your last spring frost, but they’re also widely available in spring as bedding plants. Space them 8 to 10 inches apart and they will quickly grow to cover the area.

With their lacy, shimmery, gray foliage, they make ideal plants to add to a white garden. Planted near patios or terraces, their soft gray color reflects nighttime exterior lights for a magical effect after dark.

Bachelor buttons grow wild in fields and roadsides everywhere.

Bachelor buttons are popular as garden plants and cut flowers. Originally found growing wild in the grain fields of Europe, Centaurea cyanus now grows wild all across the northern hemisphere.

Their original color is blue (as denoted by its second name, cyanus) but they are now available in dark maroon, red, pink and white. Bachelor buttons are also commonly called “cornflowers” or “bluebottles.”

They grow in all types of soil, but prefer full sun. They are usually grown from seed and are not commonly available as starter transplants. Cornflowers re-seed themselves quite easily. Left to their own devices they will come up in the same general area year after year.

The seed packages recommend that you direct seed them about two weeks before your average last spring frost. In my garden, the seeds dropped the previous year begin to come up at least a month before our average last spring frost.

In any case, plant the seeds about 1/4 inch deep and keep moist until germination occurs, in about 7 to 14 days. Thin to stand 8 to 12 inches apart when they are about 3 inches high.

Their blossoms are edible and taste clove-like with a little sweet and spicy thrown in. Their bright blue color makes them ideal as decorations for summer cakes. Toss them into cold summer soups and salads.

Made into a decoction, cornflower blossoms are effective in treating eye infections, such as conjunctivitis. A decoction is also used as a wash to revive tired eyes. In herbal medicine, cornflowers are well-known for their healing properties.

Cornflowers are also used as an ingredient in tea, including the popular Lady Grey blend. Their blue flowers were used as a food coloring and pigment for water color paints. Several nations and causes have adopted it as a symbol of their collective pride.

At a time when flowers were used as symbols, available men would wear them as a boutonniere. This is most likely the origination of their most popular common name. “bachelor buttons.”

Liatris are popular in perennial borders and as cut flowers.

Liatris are native to the eastern United States and west to the Great Plains. They have been exported to Europe and have become one of the most popular flowering plants cultivated to be sold in bouquets.

A Native American wildflower goes legit in the world of florists and cut flowers.

Liatris spicata is its Latin name; it is also commonly referred to as liatris, gayfeather and blazing star.

Liatris like full sun and will grow in average soil that is well drained. They are very drought tolerant and their roots need to grow free of standing water, especially during winter. Too much water at any time of the year will cause their roots to rot. They will tolerate light shade, but will produce fewer flowers.

They are easily started from seed or by root division. Divide plants every 3 to 4 years and replant the divided corms 9 to 18 inches apart, depending on the variety.

Seeds need a period of cold weather before they will germinate. Scatter them in your garden in late fall and many will germinate the following spring. You can also mix their seeds with damp sand in a plastic bag. Refrigerate the bag for a couple of months, then plant in a seed starting mixture. Keep them at temperatures of around 70°-75° until they germinate (in about 10 days to 2 weeks). After that, you can grow them on at temperatures in the upper 60’s.

Plant them outdoors in the garden after all danger of frost is past. Liatris that are started from seed will not bloom until their second year.

They have an unusual bloom habit. Rather than the flowers opening from the bottom up, as do most flowers born in clusters on spiky stems, liatris flowers open from the top down. You can cut off the top of one of the spikes and the flowers further down the stem will continue to open up in the garden.

Liatris will give you few problems, as long as they are spaced far enough apart and the soil they grow in is well-drained. If they grow too close together they are susceptible to powdery mildew. Remove affected leaves at the first sign of it; you may be able to ward off a full blown infection.

You’ll notice a large number of butterflies flocking to liatris. They are well-known as plants suitable for a butterfly garden. Birds, especially goldfinches, eat their ripened seeds in late summer and early fall.

Sweet alyssum is a popular plant for containers and the borders of flower gardens.

Sweet alyssum is an ideal plant for edging flower gardens or for the edges of containers. It grows just a few inches high and eventually flops over in an attractive way that many find charming.

Alyssum is one of the most popular container plants because of its small growth habit. Don’t be fooled though, it may be small but it commands attention.

The tiny, dainty flowers bloom continuously from late spring right up until a hard killing frost effectively ends the growing season.

A member of the Cruciferous family, sweet alyssum is classified botanically as Alyssum maritima. Although it is almost always referred to by its first name, it is sometimes called “candytuft.”

Sweet alyssum is also available in pastel pink, lavender, and purple varieties. A perennial variety produces similarly shaped yellow flowers.

Alyssum is a natural for lazy gardeners because it self-seeds itself and will begin to come up in mid spring after the soil has warmed up a bit. If you want earlier blooms, you can start it from seed indoors about 4 to 6 weeks before your last spring frost.

Plant candytuft in full sun to part shade. In hotter areas of the county they will appreciate partial shade, particularly during the hottest months of summer. Plants grown in partial to mostly shade will grow less vigorously, but will still produce a respectable amount of flowers.

Feed them regularly to keep the flowers coming. It is best to use a liquid fertilizer or a tea made from manure or compost. This will help you to avoid damaging the roots of the plants when you cultivate to incorporate granular fertilizer.

Alyssum begin to look leggy as they grow larger and will benefit from a good trimming about half way through the growing season. Cut the plants back by about half. This will force them to branch out and they will produce many more flowers.

The “sweet” in sweet alyssum comes from its subtle fragrance. Like other subtly sweet-smelling flowers, it is best planted near an entrance or patio where its lovely scent can be enjoyed by all who pass by. Like so many other white flowers, it seems to exude more fragrance at night.

Alyssum is a good plant to include in a moonlight garden…but that’s another post.