Flowers for the Highly Allergic

Begonia

• Begonias are perennial flowers you can grow all year. These flowers like acidic, mixed soil and cool to moderate temperatures. Keep the roots moist, and give the plant moderate lighting. Eight major varieties of begonias are grown, including cane, shrub, rhizomatous, semperflorens, tuberous, rex, trailing-scandent and thick-stemmed. In the U. S., the semperflorens and tuberous begonias are most common.

Impatiens

• If you have a house or garden with minimal light, impatiens are good non-allergy flowers. These flowers are small, compact and like shade, which makes them well suited to pots and hanging baskets, although you can use them as ground cover. Give impatiens soil with good drainage for best results. Impatiens are annuals but will produce flowers straight through spring, summer and fall.

Petunias

• Petunias are staples in most gardens. They come in many colors and are very versatile. You can put them in baskets, pots or right in the ground. They work well as edging along paths and larger flowerbeds. These flowers are annuals and prefer full sun. As with impatiens, most greenhouses have flats of these flowers available all season, so you needn't start with seeds.

Geranium

• Geranium is a good bet for you and your allergies if you live in a drier climate since the plants are drought resistant. They like at least six to eight hours of sun every day. Depending on what species you buy, you can find geraniums that are annuals, biannuals or perennials. Size and color also varies widely, although most don't exceed 1 to 2 feet in height. The four main varieties include common or zone, ivy, scented-leaf and regal.

Verbena

• Verbena is a "no-fuss" plant that requires little care. It is a small flower that blooms in clusters. Even though verbena doesn't trigger allergies severely, the plants are highly fragrant. As a result, the plants attract welcome garden guests, like butterflies and hummingbirds. You can grow verbena in window boxes and small pots.