Cheerful, large stalked flowers evoke a sense of old-fashioned charm. Using plants traditionally seen in cottage gardens, such as sunflowers and hollyhocks, either planted along fences or as garden bed borders, adds not only varying height and color to your landscape, but also creates a quaint garden space.
Common hollyhock (Alcea rosea) reaches up to 9 feet tall and produces large, festive flowers in shades of pink, purple, red or yellow along its stalks. Available in all USDA zones, it is often grown as a border plant or against a fence or garden wall. Seeds sown in late summer, preferably in partial shade, will produce spring blooms. At the end of the season, cutting plants down to soil-level, as well as continued watering and feeding, will encourage new blooms.
Sunflower (helianthus annuus) produces large cheerful flowers at the end of a tall stalk. An annual native to the Americas, it traditionally has been cultivated for its edible seeds, as well as for its vibrant blooms, which are commonly used as cut flowers. Seeds may be sown outside under full sun or started indoors before planting. Seedlings should be thinned to prevent crowding, and staked in order to provide growing support and protection from birds and herbivores.
Gladiolus produce tubular flowers that grow on a long stalk. Showy perennials that grow in USDA zones 6a to 10b, they are part of the iris family and are planted as corms, or underground stems. Glads like rich sandy soil under full sun, as well as regular watering and staking, which helps support them as they mature. They bloom from spring to fall. They are a colorful addition to garden beds and borders where they attract hummingbirds. They also grow well in pots.
Larkspur (delphinium) produce spikes of showy flowers on stems that grow up to 6 feet high depending on the variety. They grow in sun to part shade, and prefer cool, moist weather and well-drained soil in USDA zones 3 through 7. Staking prevents breakage where wind is common. Though typically blue, larkspur comes in a variety of colors, including red, white, purple and yellow. They bloom from late spring to early summer. Deadheading encourages new blooms.
- University of California Berkeley: Jepson Flora Project: Jepson Interchange: Alcea
- Arizona State University: Index of Plants: Alcea Rosea
- USDA: Natural Resources Conservation Service: Plant Guide: Annual Sunflower
- USDA: Natural Resources Conservation Service: Conservation Plant Characteristics: Helianthus Annuus L.
- Sunset: Plant Finder: Helianthus
- USDA: Natural Resources Conservation Service: Gladiolus L.
- UC IPM Online: How to Manage Pests: Pests in Gardens and Landscapes: Gladiolus
- Sunset: Plant Finder: Delphinium cardinale
- University of California Berkeley: Jepson Flora Project: Jepson Interchange: Delphinium
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