Easy Outdoor Plants for Beginners

A couple of days ago on IG stories, I shared a couple of pictures of my newest potted flower arrangements that are happily sunning around my pool patio. Then, I shared a simple poll asking whether geraniums or petunias were the favorite flower of the masses… It was a neck-and-neck battle; geraniums ended up winning 53% to 47%. So close.

I digress.

Those pictures made me think of writing this post, but I wanted to include more than just the 2 old-faithful’s of the outdoor flower world. Petunias, geraniums, zinnias, marigolds and sunflowers are among my favorite, easy outdoor flowers. I’m going to give you a rundown of these top 5 favorites, how/why they are easy to care for (especially in the hot Midwest summers!) and random other tidbits because I just love flowers! Who couldn’t use a little more color and beauty in their lives??? 

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It’s super important to take into account your climate and which zone you live in.

An old rule of thumb I live and die by when planting outdoors, never plant in the ground until the last weekend of April. At least, for zone 7 and north. This was my grandmothers rule and we still follow it.

1. Petunias: Petunias are always my first choice for my flower beds, and the first outdoor flower I recommend for beginners. They are available in a wide range of colors making them perfect for everyone, you can even find black occasionally. Water daily when temps are above 80 F, and deadheading flowers will help them bloom continuously.
   Sun & Soil: Petunias prefer full sun and well-drained soil.
   Deadheading simply means to remove the curled up, dead part of the flower, only. Leave the rest of the branch (unless it’s brown and dead). 

2. Geraniums: Geraniums are another popular outdoor flower known for their vibrant colors, pretty round top, and long skinny stems. I kind of think they look like hydrangeas without all the dramatics. They are relatively low-maintenance and can tolerate a range of growing conditions, but a bit more high-maintenance than petunias.
   Sun & Soil: Geraniums prefer partial sunlight and well-drained soil. I like to put them on backsides of potted arrangements where they have some shade from other plants and will receive the least amount of sun.
   Deadheading: to remove a stem that has lost all its flower leaves, simply snap the flower stem at the base of the plant removing the stem and the dead flower at the top. 

3. Zinnias: Zinnias are colorful, playful, skinny stemmed flowers that are incredibly easy to grow from seed. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, but if properly cared for they grow to at least a foot. Because they’re easy to grow from seed, I love sowing zinnia seed into my flower beds at the very end of April (after the last chance of a frost!) and they will bloom by the end of May. Butterflies also LOVE them!
   Sun & Soil: Zinnias prefer full sun and well-drained soil
   Deadheading: Regular deadheading (see above) will keep your zinnias blooming all summer long.

4. Marigolds: Marigolds are popular flowers because they’re very hardy, and known for their strong (pungent) smell that repel insects (and maybe other, bigger animals?!). They come in various colors, but I find orange to be the most common. Marigolds are easy to grow from seeds and generally bloom throughout the summer and into the fall.
   Sun & Soil: Marigolds don’t mind full-sun, but will need to be watered daily. Marigolds are drought-tolerant in less direct-sun locations. They do well in most soil types.
   Deadheading: remove dead flowers and green leaves

5. Sunflowers: Sunflowers are bold, iconic flowers and relatively easy to grow. Sunflower seeds can be directly sown into the ground, and with proper care, they will grow tall with large, vibrant flower heads. If planting in a pot, make sure you have a LARGE pot and to space the seeds out by an inch or two.
   Sun & Soil: sunflowers absolutely require full-sun to grow, in a well-drained soil
   Deadheading:  only remove the dead flower, or pinch of the stem where you would like the flower to stop growing

These are just some of my favorite easy-to-grow outdoor flowers. Remember the most important things to consider are your local climate, soil conditions, and available sunlight when picking your flowers. Let me know what else you’re interested in learning about gardening because I’d love to share more.

Happy gardening!