A Florist's Gardening Flower List

My Past Five Years of Trial and Error in Gardening

I bought a house with a garden without any gardening knowledge. After those initial years of neglect, as this precious space was gradually turning into a jungle, I decided to roll up my sleeves and tackle our chaos. When I met a professional gardener through my neighbor's introduction, my request was simple - "I would like to have lots of flowers."

Now I'm selling bouquets made with flowers from my garden and conducting workshops here, so compared to 5 years ago when I first started planting flowers, our garden is serving its purpose quite well. Of course, I'm still a novice with many shortcomings, and I've shared my gardening insecurities in the previous blog.

Nevertheless, I've tried growing quite a variety of plants over the years. Some had early successes but later struggles, while others failed at first but eventually thrived. Still, my 5 years of experience has given me a list of flowers that consistently succeed in cultivation while providing satisfaction.

So what are those current favorites that’s also quite feasible to grow (for anyone interested)?

Herbaceous Peony

I grow several varieties of peonies: Peregrina (red), Festiva Maxima (white overall with purple inside), Petit Renee (deep pink), and Bowl of Beauty (light pink outside, cream inside). Peonies are truly large and elegant, capturing everyone's attention. Many peonies have a fragrance rivaling roses, creating an instant sense of enchantment when the flowers are before you.

Though their blooming period is quite short, the abundant month of peonies (from mid to late May for about a month) deserves the most fertile spot in my garden for the special arrangements they make possible.

I purchased the tubers from Peony Shop Holland. I bought and planted them in winter 2020, and they were about 8-10 euros each if I remember correctly. The 11 plants I planted in the semi-shaded south-facing back garden are growing very well and flowering nicely. Last summer, I noticed a slight decrease in flowers for the first time, which clearly indicates it's time for fertilizing, something I've never done before.

Roses

True to their status as the diva of flowers, roses are quite talked about. When I first researched, several YouTube videos started with "Everyone says roses are very difficult..." which made me hesitant. I thought, well, roses are the most common flowers at the flower market, so why bother planting them? I avoided roses for the first few years. However, after courageously planting them a year ago and using them in arrangements, I've come to think that roses' beauty is on a different level.

I planted about 10 bare root roses in our garden's premium spot, which was prepared by a gardening company. This location gets the best sunlight in our house, which is essential for roses. Due to their root characteristics, roses are difficult to grow in pots, so it's better to buy bare roots in winter and plant them directly in the ground - this approach is both healthier and more economical.

I recent saw a video saying that roses are actually extremely hardy and difficult to kill. They adapt well to any climate, and their thorns prevent snail damage. I too have been growing them successfully without any issues (or so I believe). I bought plenty last winter so I'll skip this year, but next winter I want to plant 10 more, focusing on pink and cream colors. I purchase rose bare roots from Lottum Rosarium.

Hellebore

I had never seen this flower before coming to the Netherlands. In our garden, among the camellias, these short, dark perennials bloom from the ground - I initially thought they looked rather unsightly. They were really dark purple, and as you know, hellebores have either no scent or a slightly unpleasant one.

About 3-4 years ago, when hellebores became trendy and florists started creating brilliant works with them, I began to see them differently. Upon closer inspection, I discovered an incredible variety in flower types and colors. Recently, supply has increased and prices have stabilized. Once planted, they reliably start budding from the barren months of January-February every year. Now I'm planting different colors throughout the garden. I mainly buy hellebores from Waterdrinker Green Trade Center.

Wallflower (Erysimum Cheiri)

This is a modest knee-high bush that blooms with fragrant yellow, orange, and purple flowers from spring through fall. I learned about it through repeated recommendations in famous British gardener Sarah Raven's book. The small flowers bloom in relatively bright colors with slight gradation, making them excellent for flower arrangements. The flowers last long and suit the visible front areas of the garden well.

I started wallflowers from seeds in my early gardening days, bought from Bloei & Groei. The first two years, they didn't flower, just slowly growing green stems. During those unknowing times, I nearly pulled them out, thinking something was wrong. They started blooming in the third year and now grow well even in our harsh front yard. Last year I bought pots of purple wall flowers for the first time. It grew enormously, so I recently divided it into four parts and replanted them - hoping they survive this winter and provide abundant flowers next year.

Dahlia

Dahlias were among the first flowers I planted when I started gardening. When those first sprouts started to grow vigorously, I thought they were easy flowers - but not quite. I learned that once slugs taste dahlias, they devour the entire plant until it dies. Also, they require the effort of digging up and storing the tubers in winter, then replanting in spring.

Nevertheless, I can't give up on dahlias. Given proper slug management is provided, they supply numerous flowers, and there's an infinite variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. Most importantly, they're my first love. I wonder what show I'll put on this year to protect dahlias from slugs again, and what new colors of dahlias I'll plant. Though they're demanding flowers, just thinking about them excites me. I purchase dahlia tubers from Fluwel and Waterdrinker Green Trade Center.

Tulips and Daffodils

Living in the Netherlands, it seems inevitable to buy tulip and daffodil bulbs regularly. While both daffodils and tulips promise to be perennials on their packaging, by the second year about half no longer bloom, and by the third year, even fewer remain. This is why we end up ordering every year.

But in April, when spring is still hesitant to arrive, seeing tulips and daffodils brilliantly decorating various parts of the Netherlands lifts my spirits tremendously. How wonderful these flowers are for arrangements needs no explanation. They possess the world's most beautiful shapes and colors, and easily last a week in vases.

While buying annually might seem burdensome, as a florist, these are essential flowers, so this year again, I'm planting new colors of tulips and daffodils. I purchase these from Fluwel and Waterdrinker Green Trade Center as well.

Sweet Peas

Sweet peas are among the annuals I've grown consistently every year. Their delicate petals come in various colors, particularly excelling in blue/purple/lilac hues where they achieve stunningly beautiful colors. And their fragrance is incredibly sweet.

Sweet peas are literally peas, so their large seeds grow well when planted. The challenge is that once they grow beyond 10 centimeters, they need support as climbing plants. Last year, I used our yard's no-longer-used slide, setting up netting for the sweet peas to climb. Regular deadheading is necessary for continuous blooming. Diligently cutting the flowers and making small bouquets is enjoyable, beautiful, and fragrant.

Nigella (Love-in-a-mist)

When I first saw them, I was amazed by their unique appearance. The mix of sky blue, blue, and black colors, with patterns that look like pen doodles on the petals, creates an intriguingly mysterious wildflower.

Since they winter well, I usually sow seeds in late summer and let them overwinter while they are 5-6 centimeters tall. This method, compared to spring sowing, allows for faster growth in early spring and produces much sturdier plants. Though I somewhat forgot about them for the past 2-3 years, quite a few seedlings sprouted from seeds planted last summer. So I'm looking forward to them. I buy seeds from Bloei & Groei.

Digitalis (Foxglove)

Doing flower arrangements changes how you see flowers. I first discovered digitalis through a friend who was passionate about them. When she showed me saying "This is my favorite flower," I thought - ugh, creepy. But after using them in arrangements, I recognized their unique charisma, and upon growing them, I found they're pest-free and long-lasting. Now I love them.

Now I plant digitalis whenever I can and highly recommend them to garden owners. They can be started from seeds, which grow well when purchased from regular seed suppliers.

Sunflowers

The sunflowers I used to grow would produce just one flower on a long, thick stem, and once used, that was disappointingly the end. But recently, whether due to seed improvement or just luck, sunflowers develop several branches with five or six flowers blooming sequentially, providing flowers throughout summer. Modern sunflowers come in various colors. Personally, I use brown sunflowers more than yellow ones. Actually, I most prefer sunflowers when all petals have fallen, leaving just the round seed center and green sepals.

Sunflower seeds are also easily available. Recently, there's great variety in colors and sizes to choose from according to preference. Support stakes should be provided before they grow too large to prevent wind damage in autumn.

Easy and Strong Garden Flowers for Any Flower Lovers

These are all plants I've grown over several years, which means they're relatively easy to grow. I'm rekindling my gardening passion lately and plan to try new flowers next year. Some seedlings are already transplanted to the garden this fall, and some are still just seeds, making me excited with anticipation.

I recently heard on a podcast how some farmer florists wake up at the crack of dawn to head to their flower beds first thing every morning. Listening to it really made me feel bad about my plants as I do not yet have that level of diligence. But winter usually fires me up with determination and plan as there aren’t that much one can do.

But I do hope for some visible increase in my garden productivity next year. There will be upgraded composts, manure, enzymes and some diligence, which should result in more flowers and creativity for you to see and enjoy!