Big Flowers

If you want to make a statement in your landscape then you have to go big. Let’s take a look at some big flowers that are sure to standout. Sunflowers certainly have big flowers and Tarahumara is one of the biggest sunflower varieties, with huge flowers up to ten inches across. The robust stalks produce only one enormous solid gold flower that will be filled with delicious, edible sunflower seeds and are so big and heavy they droop from the weight. Another big flower is the hardy hibiscus, and this might be the plant for you. Cold hardy and perineal, the flowers are bright and beautiful. The gaudy flowers of hardy hibiscus are HUGE, sometimes up to 12 inches across. In fact, they are often called dinner plate hibiscus. Now here is a variety that certainly looks big, but it’s really a collection of smaller flowers grouped together. But oakleaf hydrangea certainly gives a landscape a “big-flower” feel. The cone-shaped clusters can be up to a foot in length. Another great and unusual choice is amaranth, an ancient grain, that can grow six feet tall as part of the edible landscape. Elephant Head is unique with its huge reddish-purple flower heads. A very pretty amaranth that has good autumnal color is Golden Giant. The big flower heads are a bright golden-orange color and each plant can produce up to one pound of seed. Big and colorful flowers will certainly draw attention to your garden. I’m horticulturist Gary Bachman and I’ll see you next time on Southern Gardening.