Suggested Plants to Build a Garden That Blooms All the Year Round
BloomTime:Spring
A unique and easy-to-grow edible landscaping plant, the White mulberry is prized for its tasty fruits as well as its exquisite ornamental appeal. Originally native to China, this plant was valued for its role in silk production: silkworms will only eat the leaves of White mulberry trees, making them crucial for the product’s creation. Ultimately, the trees were sold around the world and are used today in different countries that produce silk.
BloomTime:Spring
The Red maple is a common North American tree with distinctive red leaves and flower buds. Its sap can be made into maple syrup and the wood is good for furniture. Though non-toxic to humans, the leaves are very toxic to horses. According to the U.S. Forest Service, Red maple is the most common tree in eastern North America.
BloomTime:Spring
Callery pear is a species of pear tree native to China and Vietnam. Although the small fruit is unfit for human consumption (but loved by birds), Callery pear is planted as an ornamental tree for its spring blooms and showy autumn colors. The fast-growing cultivar ‘Bradford’ is especially popular in the United States, to the point of becoming an invasive species.
BloomTime:Summer
The Virginia creeper is a North American vine from the grape family that has it all – vigorous growth, fragrant flowers, decorative blue-colored berries, and leaves that turn crimson in the fall. Using small forked tendrils with adhesive pads, the Virginia creeper will cling strongly to almost all surfaces. It can grow over entire walls, providing shelter and food for wildlife.
BloomTime:Summer
The Bigleaf hydrangea is a deciduous shrub native to Japan, and is known for its lush, oval, colorful inflorescence. The two types of Bigleaf hydrangea are mopheads – with large, ball-shaped, sterile flower clusters, and lacecapes – with small round fertile flowers in the center, and sterile flowers on the outer side of each inflorescence. Depending on soil pH, blooms can change color from pink to blue.
BloomTime:Summer
The Song of india has distinctive leaves that stay green year-round. The plant’s unique appearance and low-maintenance nature make it popular as a house plant. The Song of india is native to Indian Ocean islands including Madagascar, though not, oddly, to India itself.
BloomTime:Spring,Summer,Autumn
The China rose (Rosa chinensis) is a Southwest China native. The plant has been cultivated for so long that it has become hard to tell the difference between wild and cultivated varieties. With medium-sized clusters of flowers and a long blooming season, it is easy to see why the China rose was chosen as the basis for many rose hybrids.
BloomTime:Summer,Autumn
Crapemyrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) is a highly ornamental small tropical tree or shrub, often multi-stemmed. It is native to India, Southeastern Asia, and Japan, and features a characteristic vase-shaped crown and beautifully-ruffled pink blooms that can last from early summer to autumn. It is also a popular nesting shrub for small birds.
BloomTime:Spring,Summer,Autumn
Hibiscus syriacus is a deciduous shrub with trumpet-shaped pink, lavender, or white flowers. Although it was first collected by Western botanists from Syrian gardens, “Rose of sharon” is native to south-central and southeastern China. Because of its hardiness and prolific blooming, it is cultivated all around the world. It is the national flower of South Korea, mentioned in its national anthem.
BloomTime:Spring,Winter
Madagascar widow’s-thrill (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana) originates from Madagascar and has been a popular houseplant since the 1930s. Unlike most other succulents that are grown for their interesting leaves, Kalanchoe blossfeldiana is valued for the colorful flowerheads it produces in autumn and winter. This is the reason it is commonly gifted during holidays, earning it another name – Christmas kalanchoe. It is toxic to pets.
BloomTime:Spring,Winter
The Japanese camellia is a bright flower that thrives in temperate climates. Native to Japan, it has since spread around the world and is even the official state flower of the U.S. state of Alabama. In China, the Japanese camellia is considered a symbol of luck, and is a staple of many New Year celebrations.
BloomTime:Spring,Winter
Laurustinus (Viburnum tinus) is a flowering shrub native to the Mediterranean region. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant and it often adorns winter gardens. When little else is growing during cold days of winter, Laurustinus produces numerous clusters of tiny white flowers.
BloomTime:All year around
The focal point of a Dumbcane is the beautiful look and patterns of the foliage, which are often variegated. This plant has showy white blooms, but only flowers in perfect conditions. Use caution, because the Dumbcane is poisonous; if the sap is ingested it can cause muteness for up to two weeks by numbing the throat and vocal cords.
BloomTime:All year around
Begonia cucullata is a native of South America. It is often used as a ground cover and also does well in containers. The blossoms of Wax begonia can be red, white, or pink. In some states like Florida and Georgia, Wax begonia is considered an invasive species due to its tendency to reseed prolifically in the right conditions.
BloomTime:All year around
Arrowhead plant (Syngonium podophyllum) is a beautiful foliage plant, one of the most popular species of the Araceae family. Due to its air purifying qualities and good looks, Arrowhead plant is often cultivated as a houseplant. Every part of this plant is toxic, so it’s best to keep it away from kids and pets.