Patience is a quality that is frequently praised in the gardening community.
However, for those eager to see rapid results or working with a tight timeline, fast-growing flowers offer an exciting alternative.
up just a few weeks, these rapid bloomers can turn empty spots into colorful displays, offering nearly immediate satisfaction and a practical way to fill up garden gaps.
Fast-growing flowers aren’t just for impatient gardeners.
They serve numerous purposes in landscape design, from providing quick privacy screens to offering a burst of color for special events.
Quick-growing flowers may revolutionize your outdoor settings, whether you are a rookie gardener hoping for inspiring results or an expert horticultural aiming to optimize your garden’s potential.
What Constitutes a “Fast-Growing” Flower?
Fast-growing flowers are often defined as those that reach bloom from seed in a short amount of time, usually 50 to 70 days. This definition, however, may change based on the particular plant and its growth environment.
Ideas for Designs With Quick-Growing Flowers
Flowers that grow quickly present fascinating design opportunities for gardens.
The following are some imaginative methods to include them in your landscape:
1. Instant Color Beds: For special occasions or to cover empty spaces in perennial gardens, create colorful, transient displays. For a sudden pop of color, combine annuals that grow quickly, such as cosmos, marigolds, and zinnias.
2. Living Screens: To construct temporary privacy screens or conceal unattractive vistas, use tall, quickly growing flowers like sunflowers or climbing kinds like morning glories.
3. Meadow Gardens: Mix California wildflowers, which grow quickly, with other
Several factors influence a flower’s growth rate:
1. Genetic predisposition: Some species are naturally programmed for rapid growth and early blooming.
2. Environmental conditions: Optimal sunlight, water, and nutrients can accelerate growth.
3. Season length: Annuals grow faster than perennials due to their shorter life cycles.
4. Planting method: Starting with seedlings rather than seeds can provide a head start.
Top 10 Fast-Growing Annual Flowers
Annual flowers, which complete their life cycle in one growing season, often provide the quickest results.
Here are ten of the fastest-growing annual flowers, along with their typical time from seed to bloom and care requirements:
1. Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus)
– Seed to bloom: 50-60 days
– Care: Full sun, well-draining soil, moderate water
– Notable for their impressive height and cheery blooms
2. Zinnias (Zinnia elegans)
– Seed to bloom: 60-70 days
– Care: Full sun, average soil, moderate water
– Offer a wide range of colors and are excellent for cutting
3. Marigolds (Tagetes)
– Seed to bloom: 50-60 days
– Care: Full sun, well-draining soil, moderate water
– Known for pest-repelling properties and bright orange or yellow flowers
4. Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus)
– Seed to bloom: 60-70 days
– Care: Full sun, average soil, low to moderate water
– Delicate flowers in pink, white, or red; attractive to pollinators
5. Morning Glories (Ipomoea purpurea)
– Seed to bloom: 70-80 days
– Care: Full sun, average soil, moderate water
– Climbing vines with trumpet-shaped flowers that open in the morning
6. Nasturtiums (Tropaeolum majus)
– Seed to bloom: 50-60 days
– Care: Full sun to part shade, poor to average soil, low water
– Edible flowers and leaves with a peppery flavor
7. Sweet Peas (Lathyrus odoratus)
– Seed to bloom: 60-70 days
– Care: Full sun, rich soil, consistent moisture
– Fragrant climbing flowers in a variety of pastel shades
8. Calendula (Calendula officinalis)
– Seed to bloom: 45-60 days
– Care: Full sun to part shade, average soil, moderate water
– Also known as pot marigold, with edible petals often used in salves
9. California Poppies (Eschscholzia californica)
– Seed to bloom: 55-75 days
– Care: Full sun, well-draining soil, low water
– Drought-tolerant with silky orange or yellow blooms
10. Petunias (Petunia x hybrida)
– Seed to bloom: 60-75 days
– Care: Full sun, rich soil, moderate water
– Available in a wide range of colors and patterns, ideal for containers
These annuals not only grow quickly but also tend to bloom prolifically throughout the season, especially when deadheaded regularly. Their rapid growth makes them excellent choices for filling bare spots in the garden or creating temporary landscaping for events.
Fast-Growing Perennial Flowers
While annuals are often the quickest to bloom, several perennial flowers also offer relatively fast growth and the added benefit of returning year after year. Here are some fast-growing perennial options:
1. Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
– First-year blooming: 65-90 days from seed
– Care: Full sun, well-draining soil, moderate water
– Cheerful yellow flowers with dark centers
2. Blanket Flower (Gaillardia)
– First-year blooming: 75-90 days from seed
– Care: Full sun, well-draining soil, low to moderate water
– Drought-tolerant with red and yellow daisy-like flowers
3. Coneflower (Echinacea)
– First-year blooming: 90-120 days from seed
– Care: Full sun to part shade, well-draining soil, moderate water
– Purple, pink, or white flowers with medicinal properties
4. Coreopsis (Coreopsis grandiflora)
– First-year blooming: 60-75 days from seed
– Care: Full sun, average soil, low to moderate water
– Bright yellow flowers that attract butterflies
– First-year blooming: 90-120 days from seed
– Care: Full sun, well-draining soil, moderate water
– Classic white daisies with yellow centers
Fast-Growing Climbing Flowers
For gardeners looking to add vertical interest or cover unsightly structures quickly, fast-growing climbing flowers are an excellent choice. Here are some rapid climbers:
1. Morning Glory (Ipomoea purpurea) – Annual
– Growth rate: Up to 10 feet in a season
– Care: Full sun, average soil, moderate water
2. Moonflower (Ipomoea alba) – Annual
– Growth rate: Up to 15 feet in a season
– Care: Full sun, rich soil, moderate water
3. Black-Eyed Susan Vine (Thunbergia alata) – Annual in most regions
– Growth rate: 6-8 feet in a season
– Care: Full sun to part shade, well-draining soil, moderate water
4. Clematis (Clematis spp.) – Perennial
– Growth rate: 6-12 feet in a season for some varieties
– Care: Full sun with cool roots, rich soil, consistent moisture
5. Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) – Perennial
– Growth rate: Up to 10 feet in a season
– Care: Full sun to part shade, well-draining soil, moderate water
These climbing flowers can quickly cover trellises, fences, or arbors, providing privacy, shade, and a beautiful vertical display of blooms.
Factors That Promote Rapid Growth
To maximize the growth rate of fast-growing flowers, consider the following factors:
1. Soil Conditions:
– Well-draining, fertile soil rich in organic matter
– Proper pH level for the specific flower variety
– Regular soil testing and amendment as needed
2. Watering Practices:
– Consistent moisture without waterlogging
– Deep watering to encourage deep root growth
– Mulching to retain soil moisture and regulate temperature
3. Sunlight Requirements:
– Most fast-growing flowers prefer full sun (6+ hours of direct sunlight)
– Proper placement based on each plant’s light needs
– Consideration of seasonal changes in sun exposure
4. Fertilization:
– Balanced, slow-release fertilizer at planting time
– Regular feeding with a balanced water-soluble fertilizer
– Avoid over-fertilizing, which can lead to excessive foliage growth at the expense of blooms
5. Temperature:
– Most flowers grow fastest in warm (but not hot) conditions
– Protection from extreme temperatures and frost
6. Spacing:
– Proper spacing allows for good air circulation and reduces competition for resources
– Consider mature plant size when spacing seedlings
By optimizing these factors, you can help your fast-growing flowers reach their full potential in the shortest possible time.
Common Challenges with Fast-Growing Flowers
While fast-growing flowers offer many benefits, they can also present some challenges:
1. Overcrowding: Rapid growth can lead to overcrowded beds if not properly planned.
Solution: Proper spacing and regular thinning as needed.
2. Short-lived blooms: Some fast growers exhaust themselves quickly.
Solution: Deadheading and succession planting for continuous blooms.
3. Invasive tendencies: Certain fast-growing species can become invasive if not managed.
Solution: Research plant behavior and choose non-invasive varieties for your area.
4. Nutrient depletion: Rapid growth can quickly deplete soil nutrients.
Solution: Regular soil amendment and fertilization.
5. Weak stems: Fast growth can sometimes result in weak, leggy stems.
Solution: Proper spacing, adequate light, and support structures if needed.
6. Pest and disease susceptibility: Rapid growth can sometimes outpace a plant’s natural defenses.
Solution: Regular monitoring, proper care, and prompt treatment of any issues.
By anticipating these potential issues, gardeners can take proactive steps to ensure their fast-growing flowers thrive without creating problems in the landscape.
Design Ideas Using Fast-Growing Flowers
1. Instant Color Beds: Create vibrant, temporary displays for special events or to fill gaps in perennial gardens. Use a mix of fast-growing annuals like zinnias, marigolds, and cosmos for a quick color boost.
2. Living Screens: Use tall, fast-growing flowers like sunflowers or climbing varieties like morning glories to create temporary privacy screens or hide unsightly views.
3. Meadow Gardens: Combine fast-growing wildflowers like California poppies, cornflowers, and bachelor’s buttons to create a naturalistic meadow effect.
4. Container Gardens: Fast-growing flowers are perfect for container gardens, providing quick results on patios, balconies, or entryways. Try combinations like petunias, nasturtiums, and trailing lobelia.
5. Cut Flower Gardens: Many fast-growing flowers make excellent cut flowers. Plant zinnias, cosmos, and sunflowers in rows for easy harvesting.
6. Pollinator Gardens: Attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds with fast-growing, nectar-rich flowers like cosmos, calendula, and sweet peas.
7. Edible Landscapes: Incorporate fast-growing edible flowers like nasturtiums and calendula into your vegetable garden or herb beds for both beauty and function.
8. Children’s Gardens: Fast-growing flowers provide quick gratification for young gardeners. Sunflowers, marigolds, and morning glories are great choices for kids’ gardening projects.
9. Seasonal Color Rotation: Use fast-growing annuals to maintain constant color in your garden, swapping out cool-season flowers for warm-season ones as the year progresses.
10. Vertical Gardens: Utilize fast-growing climbers on trellises, arbors, or wall-mounted systems to create stunning vertical displays.
Starting from Seeds vs. Seedlings
Starting from Seeds:
Pros:
– More economical
– Wider variety of plants available
– Satisfaction of growing from scratch
– Can be started indoors for a head start
Cons:
– Requires more time to reach maturity
– Higher risk of failure (germination issues, seedling mortality)
– Requires more attention and care in early stages
Starting from Seedlings:
Pros:
– Instant garden presence
– Reduced time to maturity and flowering
– Higher success rate
– Easier for beginners
Cons:
– More expensive than seeds
– Limited variety compared to seed options
– Potential transplant shock
Conclusion
Fast-growing flowers offer an exciting way to bring color, fragrance, and life to your garden in record time.
These quick bloomers have a lot to offer, whether you are a beginner gardener hoping for immediate success, expert horticulture aiming to maximize the possibilities of your garden, or someone getting ready for a special occasion.
From the towering sunflowers to the delicate cosmos, fast-growing flowers come in a wide array of shapes, sizes, and colors to suit any garden style.
While fast-growing flowers may present some challenges, such as potential overcrowding or short blooming periods, these can be easily managed with proper planning and care.
The rewards – a quickly established, vibrant garden – far outweigh the extra attention these plants may require.
