Field Flowers

Field Flowers

How to Grow Flowering Herbs

How To Grow Flowering Herbs

Annual

Petunia- (Petunia spp.)

Petunias are tender flowering herbs that adorn the garden with a variety of striking colors such as, red, pink, white, violet or a mixture of white stripped with violet or blue.

They are more attractive when planted closely in flower beds forming a blanket of red or velvet blossoms. Petunias are mostly cultivated in pots or window boxes.

Soil Requirements.

The best soil where petunias are more adaptable is a well-drained, fertile, sandy loam soils.

Propagation.

Petunias are propagated by seeds sown in germinating trays or seed boxes and later on thinned and planted in pots or beds.

Plants in full bloom may be brought inside the house for a day or two but should be exposed to full or partial sunlight to maintain normal growth.

Cock’s  Comb - (Celosia argentia cristata )

There are two types of cock’s comb like; dwarf and tall or medium height varieties.

There are as many colors of the rainbow as there are cock’s comb varieties. Most often, the dwarf varieties are planted in group as low borders, while the taller varieties serve  as background and foundation planting.

Thee flowers stalks vary in size where the taller ones have bigger clusters.

Propagation.

Cock’s comb are easily propagated by seeds either by direct seeding or transplanted singly by seedlings.

When direct seeding is applied, you should do the thinning to avoid overcrowding of the plants.

Marigold  - (Tagetes erecta)

Marigold, a native of Mexico is a member of the sunflower family is a hardy annual, bushy, producing flowers with raised centers of golden-orange petals gradually turning to reddish-brown in the outer petals.

Soil Requirements.

Marigold thrives best in a light loam soil with a good drainage and exposed to full sunlight.

Propagation.

Propagation by seeds is the only method to multiply marigold. They are easy to grow although they seem to disappear in most gardens.

Balsam or Touch-Me-Not - (Impatiens oppositfolia, I. glandulifira )

A native of Africa, balsam or touch-me-not derived its name from its characteristics where the fruits when touch at ripening stage burst even just upon a slight contact.

They have a striking beautiful flowers ranging from pink, white, purple, and red double petalled which resembles the rose flowers.

Soil Requirements.

Balsam usually prefers rich fertile soil with abundant sunlight.

Propagation.

Balsam can easily be germinated by seeds. The seeds easily germinate when touch to the ground.

Carnation - (Dianthus caryophyllus)

Carnations are lovely, double-fringed, fragrant flowers. They are favorites as cut flowers, for borders and beds.

Good as potted plants, carnation, when planted properly blooms 5 to 6 months. They may last for more years if you’ll properly care them and fertilized properly.

Soil Requirements.

The best soil for carnation is a well drained and rich in organic matter soil with a cool climate and enough supply of solar radiation.

Propagation.

Carnation is propagated by seeds sown in germinating trays or seed boxes before they are transferred to individual pots or plots when planted in the field.

Verbena -  (Verbena hortensis )

An excellent ground cover because of its compact habit of closely massed of flower heads.

There are three colors of verbena such as, red, purple, and white flowers which are attractive when planted in group as ground cover.

Soil Requirements.

Verbena grows best in a well drained, fertile soil and enough supply of sunshine  in high altitudes during its growing period.

Propagation.

It is propagated by seeds when planted in temperate countries. However, they can also be propagated by cuttings where, you have to include the rooted portion of the stem to make a sure growth development.

Periwinkles-  (Vinca minor)

Known as chichiricas or tropical periwinkles, they have a white or lavender flowers and said to have medicinal values.

They are excellent as border flowers, flowering hedges or foundation plants along bases of walls, fences and buildings.

They are attractive because they flowers the whole year round. You need less attention in replanting them since they grow vigorously.

The only attention you’ll make is to continuously pinch the tips to keep them bushy and busy producing flowers.

Soil Requirements.

Periwinkles grows in any type of soils especially in a well drained rich in organic matter soil medium.

Propagation.

Propagation by cuttings is ideal for periwinkle but they multiply even faster when grown by seeds.

They prefer to bloom abundantly when exposed to full sunlight, though they also produce flowers in partial shaded areas, but not as good when planted with open sun exposure.

Bachelor’s  Button - (Cyntaurea cyanus )

Belongs to the Amaranth or Colitis family, bachelor’s button is also known as butones, butonisan or botoncillo and is relative of cock’s comb, Joseph’s coat and cucharita.

Their flowers varies from purple which dominates of all varieties to white, pink, and orange colors.

Propagation.

The methods used in propagating bachelor’s button is by seeds. They multiply fast and are easy to reproduce.

Perennial

Star cluster-  (Pentas lanceolata )

A native of Africa, this flowering plant is a newly introduced to the Philippines.

They are an attractive herb with a cluster of red, star-like flowers. Although there are pink, white and lavender varieties, the red is considered the most attractive.

Star cluster becomes shrub reaching a height over seven feet as it develops woody tissues through the years of its growth.

To produce a continuous blooms the whole year round, you have to cut the flower stalks after the flowers have fallen down.

Propagation.

Propagated usually by  young cuttings ( the hard or matured stems generally do not develop roots).

Anthurium - (Anthurium andraeanum, A. spp. )

Anthurium ,also called flamingo flower because of its showy, waxy bract of flaming, deep red or pink color, often mistaken as the flower, is gaining popularity as a cut flower or potted plant.

When used as cut flower, anthurium lasts for as long as one month which explains why it’s expensive and prized by many florists.

There are a hundred varieties of anthurium scattered in the Philippines, but only a few are truly attractive accepted by florists.

Proper care and watering of anthurium is advised to enhance a continuous flower blooms.

Soil Requirements.

Anthurium thrives best in a well drained rich, sandy loam soils.

They usually favors  in a cool climate and high elevations, like Baguio and Bukidnon. However, they can be made to flower just as beautifully in greenhouse or controlled environment.

Propagation.

Propagation is usually done by dividing the suckers or shoots, including some roots.

The newly propagated plants must be placed under the shade until they have recovered and new shoots developed.

You have to avoid anthurium exposure to the noon day sunlight. They are intolerant to too much heat of the sun.

African violet-  (Saintpaulia spp.)

A native of Africa as the name implies,  also known throughout the world as Saint Paulia by gardeners, this flower plant is loved by many because of its soft, waxy leaves and flowers that stays the whole year round in different shades of blue, white, pink, and purple colors.

This plant loves the morning sunlight. They dies easily when exposed to extreme heat and too much water.

African violets can be grown successfully when grown in pots as well as on screened window boxes.

They can also be grown in greenhouse of which they produce more attractive flowers.

Spanish flag - (Gonioplectus hispanus )

Spanish flag also known as canna or bandera espanola are ideal when you want to establish a new garden and an instant supply of flowers.

They are in handy, bearing a profusion of attractive colored flowers within a few weeks.

Their flowers are numerous from streaked to just plain white, cream, pink, deep red, purple, tangerine, lavender or sometimes a combination of two or more colors.

Spanish flag have  numerous hybrids. You can select from among the hybrids you think attracts your interest or plant all them if you wish a colorful flowers in your garden.

If you want to maintain large, continuous flowers the whole year round, you have to cut the stalks which have flowered since they’ll compete for food with the rest of the developing plants. These stems will eventually dies anyway.

Soil Requirements.

Spanish flag grows best in rich, friable, sandy loam to loam soils. However, they also grow well in clay loam soil.

Generally, they produce attractive flowers when planted in an open field with abundant supply of sunlight.

But there are other hybrids that shows an excellent flowers even in partially shaded areas.

Propagation.

The easiest way to propagate Spanish flag is by separation of rhizomes which multiplies easily.

However, seeds may be used in propagation but it will take a long  time to bear flowers compared to those propagated by rhizomes.

Red Billbergia- (Billbergia spp. )

A member of the pineapple family, red billbergia have a strikingly beautiful red or pink flowers which blooms during the months of May, June, and November in Luzon, Philippines.

They grows well in partial shade or full sunlight.

Soil Requirements.

Billbergia thrives best with a mixture of soil, ground charcoal, moss and other medium used in planting orchids.

Propagation.

They can be propagated by separation or by division of the young shoots which comes out after the flowers have wilted and the old plants have died.

Camia- (Hedychium philippinense K. Schum. )

Camias are shade loving plants to which they can be grown under trees. Their flowers are white with a fragrant scent which makes them favorite as cut flower and also for corsages or bouquets although they doesn’t stay fresh very long.

Their flowers are numerous during the rainy season and the plants gradually die as the dry season sets in. However, the rhizomes send out new shoots again once the rain starts to pour in.

You should prune the stems which have flowered just above the ground level to induce more flower blooms.

Camias have a cousin called the yellow camia or India Ginger which produce yellow flowers and a native of the Himalayas.

Soil Requirements.

The best soil for camia is sandy or clay loam with sufficient amount of moisture.

Propagation.

Camias can be propagated by division of the rhizomes or root stock. They are planted at a distance of half a meter apart directly in the field which have been properly prepared.

Cassumunar ginger-  (Zingiber montanum )

A native of the Philippines and tropical Asia,  cassumunar ginger produces a brick red flowers which last for a period of 2 to 3 weeks even when used as cut flowers.

They are in great demand by florists and interior decorators because they are hardy and attractive. Their demand is great that there is always a shortage of supply.

Soil Requirements.

Cassumunar ginger grows successfully in a rich soil, well drained,  and partial shaded location.

Propagation.

Propagation is done by planting portions of the rhizomes or roots directly to the site that have properly prepared prior to planting.

Torch ginger - (Phaemeria magnifica)

Torch ginger are very large and tall plants that grows to a height of more than three and a half meters.

The flaming red or pink flower bract is truly an outstanding contribution to Philippine ornamental enthusiasts.

Rising separately from the ground, the flowering stem, 90 to 180 cm in height, bears its tip the shiny, bright red or pink flower bracts which form into a large and almost conical head measuring from 15 to 22 cm.

It is indeed a lovely sight to behold numerous flowers under the shady stems looking like flaming torches.

The true flower rises at the center of the head and is hardly noticed but for the red lips with yellow margins.

Soil Requirements.

Torch ginger thrives best in a loamy soil with plenty of manure or organic matter.

Propagation.

Successful propagation of torch ginger is done by division of its root stocks or by separation of its shoots.

Costus, Spiral ginger-  (Costus speciosus)

Introduced Malaya, Spiral ginger, a perennial and hairy plant  got its name from the nature of its soft stem which twists or forms a spiral as it grows older.

The flowers are found at the tip of the stem in a cone-like head similar to cassumunar ginger, usually in pairs of white to creamy blossoms. There are several species of spiral ginger growing wild in the Philippine forests.

Soil Requirements.

Spiral ginger grows well in any kind soil, however, they response better to rich soil with available  organic matter and in cool places.

Propagation.

Propagation of spiral ginger is similar to that of the other ornamental ginger family.

Red ginger - (Alpinia purpurata )

Red ginger have equally attractive with its numerous bright red flowers or bracts as its name implies. Its cut flowers stay fresh up to as long as two weeks in vases.

The leaves are broad and usually new plants or shoots sprout on the spikes or flowers.

Soil Requirements.

This attractive flower plant grows and blooms well on rich, well drained sandy loam or loam soil. They may either planted in partial shaded area or full sunlight environment.

Propagation.

Red ginger can be propagated by planting some divisions of root stocks. Sometimes the new shoots that develop on the spikes are planted but they take longer time and extra care to make the plants bear lowers.

Heliconias - (Heliconia pogonantha, H. bihai  L. )

Member of the banana family (Musaceae), heliconias reached a medium height about 90 to 180 centimeters.

They are ideal for beautification purposes because of their different flower colors of pink, purple, and striped leaves.

Together with the different lobster claw species (false of paradise) as companion crops they can add and undoubtedly grace any scenery, dab or otherwise.

Soil Requirements.

Heliconias produce attractive and beautiful flowers when planted in a rich, well drained loam or sandy loam soils. They prefer a full exposure to sunlight and to display a vigorous growth.

Propagation.

They can be propagated by  separation of the suckers or corms from the mother plant.

Bird of paradise-  (Strelitzias reginae)

A native of South Africa and widely grown in Hawaii, this herbaceous plant has a rare, outstanding orange flower with a blue tongue, its two boat-shaped bracts forming  the semblance of a beautiful bird.

In the Philippines, bird of paradise is especially adapted to elevated regions with cool climate Baguio and the plateaus of Bukidnon and Mindanao.

With proper care, they can be made to produce flowers in lowland areas especially under a greenhouse. As a cut flower its stays fresh for two or more weeks in flower vases.

The flowers of the White Bird of Paradise is very similar to that of the Bird of Paradise. The main difference lies only in the color of their sepals.

The tongue-shaped protuberance at the center of each species look alike in shape and blue color.

Soil Requirements.

Bird of Paradise thrives well in a fertile soil, rich in organic matter and well drained location.

Propagation.

Propagation of this plant is similar to other heliconias family.

Hanging red lobster claw -  (Heliconia langa)

Easily the most showy among heliconias, its blossoms has a red bracts with yellow fruits at the base.

The flowers look like real lobster claws altogether hanging in a bunch. Its leaves are waxy white in the undersides.

Soil Requirements.

The soil requirements for this plant is similar to that of other heliconias family.

Propagation.

Hanging red lobster claw can be propagated by separation of suckers or corms from the mother plant.

They are planted directly to the prepared land in the field or raised in germinating pots in the nursery for future planting, while the planting area is not yet thoroughly prepared.

False bird of paradise - (Heliconia psittacorum)

This herbaceous plant grows a height up to 90 centimeters with erect orange flowers and bracts and narrow elongated leaves.

They are ideal as ornamental plant for garden accent.

Soil Requirements.

False bird of paradise prefers a well drained, rich soil with organic matter content. They produce good flowers when planted in the open with full sunlight.

Propagation.

Propagation of false bird of paradise is similar to other heliconia species.

About the Author

Cris Ramasasa is a retired Horticulture teacher for 29 years and Freelance writer. Writes home gardening tips and resources. Written ebooks titled: How To Get Started In Flower Gardening and Vegetable Gardening Made Easy.

www.crisramasasa.com - Still under construction

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