Flowers to Plant in Groups

Bulbs

• Grouping bulbs together when planting has long been favored by gardeners because most bulbs produce a single flower stem and, therefore, by grouping you can achieve a more spectacular display of the blossoms. Not only do spring-blooming bulbs like daffodils, tulips, freesias and irises benefit from being planted in a group, but summer- and fall-blooming bulbs will, too. Plant gladiolus, lilies, dahlias, montbretia, star-of-Bethlehem and crocosmia Lucifer in groupings of six to 10 for a vibrant mass of flowering color.

Borders

• According to New Hampshire University Extension, flowering borders around lawn and house foundations are becoming more popular. This is because borders of colorful flowers add to the overall beauty of the yard and often can be visually pleasing from the indoors, patios and terraces for more enjoyment. Yard and lawn flowering borders can be 6 to 8 feet deep, with a range of plants from short in the front to medium, with tall flowering plants like hollyhock, cosmos and delphinium at the back. Annual plants are commonly used for borders because of the continual flowering and adaptability to grouping to create a mass of color. Good annual border border plants are impatiens, zinnias, salvia, cosmos, begonias, marigolds, geraniums and petunias. Perennial flowering plants like daisies, lavender, sweet Williams, chrysanthemums and roses can also be used in groupings for borders.

Containers

• In order to have fantastic looking flowering planted containers and hanging baskets you must arrange your plants in a clustered grouping. This will make your flowering container a mass of vibrant color and visually pleasing. For containers that are on the ground, begin with a taller center plant like snapdragons, daisies, lilies or geraniums. Surround the tall plant with medium- or low-growing flowers such as petunias, alyssum, pansies, sweet Williams, zinnias, marigolds, impatiens and lobelia. Hanging baskets and containers need only medium- and low-growing flowering plants.