Instantly bring vibrant summer hues to your patio with these fast-growing flowers I recommend for captivating container displays:
As the summer heat sets in, July is the perfect time to add a splash of colour to your patio with a variety of flowering annuals and perennials. Here's a roundup of some easy-to-maintain options that will brighten up your outdoor space.
### Fast-Growing Flowering Annuals
1. **Sunflowers**: These sun-loving annuals are quick to grow and bloom, with some varieties maturing in just 55 days. They require full sun and well-draining soil.
2. **Zinnias**: Known for their vibrant blooms, zinnias can flower in as little as six weeks. They thrive in full sun and average soil.
3. **Calendula**: These flowers germinate quickly and bloom about eight weeks after sowing. They prefer lots of sunshine and occasional watering.
4. **Marigolds**: These heat-loving flowers germinate and bloom rapidly, making them perfect for July planting.
### Perennials to Consider
1. **Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia fulgida)**: These fast-growing perennials thrive in full sun and are heat-tolerant, making them an ideal choice for July planting.
2. **Frogfruit (Phyla)**: This low-maintenance perennial is perfect for hot weather, attracting pollinators and can be used as a lawn alternative.
### Tips for a Colorful Patio Display
- **Choose a Variety**: Mix different heights and colours to create a visually appealing arrangement. - **Use Containers**: Plant in pots or planters to easily move around and arrange your flowers. - **Maintain Soil**: Ensure good drainage and moisture levels for optimal growth. - **Prune Regularly**: Deadhead flowers to encourage more blooms and keep your display vibrant.
### Notable Mentions
- **Celosia**: This easy-to-maintain plant produces dazzling flowerheads for many months in a sunny, sheltered corner. Celosia plumosa produces plume-like blooms and can be found in a range of vibrant colours.
- **Lantana**: This fast-growing, impactful patio flower thrives on neglect and grows well in all US hardiness zones. It offers clusters of red, orange, pink, or yellow flowers.
- **Impatiens**: These part-shade annuals come in a range of colours and bloom for months through to fall. They tolerate darker beds or north-facing patios.
- **Tickseed**: This perennial flower is typically grown as an annual in cooler zones, offering long-lasting flowers right through until October with regular deadheading.
For a modern twist to patio plant displays, consider the 'Myrtlewood Planter' by Gracia Oaks. The red flower pot from Headwind, looking ceramic but made from sustainable and durable materials, is another great option.
The Pepinn resin pot planter is perfect for colourful lantanas and marigolds, made of lightweight and durable polyethylene. Live lantana starter plants can be ordered via Walmart, while live impatiens and pink geranium plants can be ordered now via Amazon.
For those in warmer zones, Calibrachoa, also known as million bells, is the ultimate patio plant, producing masses of tiny flowers that are perfect for summer pot displays. Geraniums can work wonders with their bold pops of colour in rustic, aged terracotta pots, especially in a sun-drenched patio.
Asclepias incarnata, a pink-flowering milkweed, is the host plant for monarch butterflies, adding a touch of nature to your colourful patio display. Milkweed is a native plant that can survive chilly winter weather down to zone 3.
In conclusion, July is the perfect time to transform your patio into a colourful oasis. With a variety of fast-growing annuals and low-maintenance perennials, you can create a visually appealing and vibrant display that will last throughout the summer months.
- To complement your patio's vibrant blooms, consider updating your lifestyle with a modern Myrtlewood Planter from Gracia Oaks or a red, sustainable Headwind planter.
- For hassle-free shopping, live lantana starter plants, impatiens, and pink geranium plants are available for purchase on Walmart and Amazon respectively.
- If you're in warmer zones, enhance your food-and-drink moments with a touch of color by planting calibrachoa, also known as million bells, in your garden.
- To strengthen your relationships with nature, consider planting the pink-flowering milkweed (Asclepias incarnata), serving as a host plant for monarch butterflies, adding a touch of nature to your pet-friendly home.
