12 Flowers That Grow Well With Vegetables
While a vegetable garden may be well-appreciated at harvest time, it doesn’t exactly provide a feast for the eyes. But did you know that you can have both? The plant species on this list make excellent companions to garden vegetables while brightening up your plot, attracting pollinators, and even bringing sweet smells to your yard.
Lobularia maritima, commonly known as Sweet alyssum, is an annual flowering plant that grows very low and has a tendency to spread its branches over the soil, creating a mat. That is why this lovely ornamental is an excellent choice for a groundcover or a bedding plant.
The Common sunflower is recognizable for its bright flower on a very tall stem. It is often grown in gardens. These flowers have been important in culture: they were worshipped by the ancient Inca people, and today, they represent eco-friendly movements. The artist Vincent Van Gogh made a famous series of paintings about Common sunflowers. Wild versions of the plant branch out to many flower heads, but domesticated plants typically only have one.
The English lavender is a common flowering plant originally native to the Mediterranean region. Today, it is often used in scented products such as candles, oils, perfumes, soaps, and house sprays. The scent also has a deterrent effect against clothing moths.
The Garden nasturtium is often associated with the “Elizabeth Linnaeus Phenomenon”, an optical illusion that makes the contrasting orange flowers and green foliage appear to flash brightly as it shakes in the wind. Garden nasturtium is cultivated as an ornamental plant. The disc-shaped leaves and seed pods are edible, usually getting used as garnishes and dressings.
The California poppy is native to the United States and Mexico and is the state flower of California since 1903. April 6 is considered to be California Poppy Day and is a common sight on-road and landmark signs in California.
The Common zinnia is a popular garden plant. It thrives in relatively dry conditions with good airflow. Garden varieties come in many colors, usually having been hybridized from different wild varieties. Common zinnias are considered an allergy-safe pollen-producing flower.
Lemon beebalm (Monarda citriodora) is a winter annual that will grow from 1 to 2 feet tall. It has unusual, tuft-like flower heads with blossoms that range in color from lavender to pink. It blooms from May to July, attracting butterflies and bees. If watered regularly, it will continue to bloom through the end of summer. It is easy to grow in full sun or partial shade. It spreads quickly.
Sweet pea is a staple of flowering climbers and has been since the Victorian era. The Sweet pea, which uses tendrils to climb when correct supports are available, grows to a height of 40 in – 80 in. The highly fragrant flowers are purple when found in the wild, but domesticated cultivars can be found in nearly every color.
The Pot marigold is a herbaceous perennial plant often recognized by its thick, orange-yellow blooms with numerous petals. Flowers of the Pot marigold have a long history of table use. They are often served in salads or as a decoration. The flowers can also be made into a similarly-colored dye for foods, textiles, or cosmetic products.
Common borage is often used to make soup, sauces, pasta filling, and a flavoring for pickles in Germany, Spain, Greece, and Italy. It is also occasionally used as a drink garnish and is an ingredient in some gins. Common borage flowers can also be made into blue or pink dyes.
Garden cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus) is a herbaceous annual plant often cultivated as an ornamental in temperate regions. Due to its self-sowing ability, Garden cosmos can grow on the same spot for several years, even though it is an annual. Not surprisingly, this quality also made it an invasive species in certain areas of the world.
Mexican marigold is a common garden plant with bright orange or red flowers. Its use in decorative and ceremonial gardens dates back to ancient Aztec civilizations. Not only does African marigold add bright colors, but it is also known to repel insects, rabbits, and deer thanks to its toxic latex.