Flower Spacing and Reference Guide

Shirley Poppy (Papaver rhoeas)

Welcome to the 2022 Growing Season!

This year, we’ve added more flowers to our lineup of seedlings. We have a growing guide for vegetables from 2021, so head there if you have a vegetable or herb question. For both perennial and annual flowers, we have spacing requirements below.

All of the flowers we offer will do best in full sun (6+ hours). We’ve indicated below which plants can tolerate some shade. A general rule for watering is 1”-2” of water per week in ground plantings. If in doubt, stick your finger in the soil. If it’s dry to a depth of 2” or more, give the garden a drink. And if you’ve got wilting plants on your hands, that’s another sign.

Container plantings require water when the top inch or two of soil is dry. In summer this can mean daily waterings in full sun - some afternoon shade can help lessen water needs.

• Yarrow / Achillea (perennial)

  • drought-resistant, plant in full sun.

  • Summer Pastels and Red Shades (A. millefolium) : Space at 12-18”, grows 18”-24” tall. Will flower first year.

  • Cloth of Gold (A. filipendulina) : Space at 24” or more; grows to 4’ tall. Will flower first year.

• Borage (annual)

  • edible flower - tastes like cucumber.

  • pollinator favorite; plant where bees can buzz all day long.

  • space at 15-18”; grows 2-3’ tall in full sun.

• Coreopsis / Tickseed (annual)

  • Will casually reseed if left in the garden. Great for pollinators.

  • Space at 12”-18” in full sun; height 3’-4’ .

• Cosmos (annual)

  • Apricot Lemonade: space at 12-15”; height 20 to 30 inches.

  • Double Click Bicolor Pink / Mix: 15” -18” apart, grows 4 feet tall.

  • Cupcakes Blush: 15”-18” spacing; 3-4 feet tall.

  • Chocolate Cosmos (C. atrosanguineas): Space at 12”, reaches height of 30". We recommend growing in a container for best enjoyment of its remarkable chocolate-y scent. Water deeply 1x/week.

    • After the first light frost, you can dig up the tuber and save it in a dry, cool place to plant again next year (yes, like a dahlia!)

• Dahlias (annual)

  • Edible Flowers: The mild-flavored flowers and tubers are edible.

  • Pompon Mix: Red, white, pink, yellow shades. 40” tall. Space at 15” -18”

  • Bishops Mix: Dark purple stems and foliage with a color range from pink and red to orange and brass. 24” tall. Space at 12”-15”

  • Dandy Collarette Mix: Great in garden or lush container. 18” tall. Space at 12”-15”

  • Star Gazer Mix: Scarlet-white, yellow-reds, apricots and oranges. 16-28" tall. Space at 12”-15”

• Bachelor Buttons (annual)

  • edible flowers: remove petals from the bitter base of the flower.

  • Grow 30-38 inches tall. Will politely self-sow in the garden. Plants can be spaced tightly, at 4-8”.

• Echinacea / Coneflower (perennial)

  • E. purpurea : Space at 18”, grows 2’-4’ tall over time. Blooms first year.

• Lavender (perennial)

  • Ellagance Purple: Winter hardy in Zones 5–7. Height 12-18”; spacing 12”-18”.

• Lupine (perennial)

  • L. perennis, Perennial in Zones 4-8. Ht. 30-36". Spacing 15”-18”. Blooms 2nd year in spring. Toxicity note: all parts of this plant and its seeds are toxic if consumed. Exercise caution around children and pets. Can tolerate part shade.

• Marigold (annual)

  • Tangerine Gem (Tagetes tenuifolia): Edible flowers and leaves of the plant are used as flavorful salad greens and garnish. Remove the petals from the flower base before consuming as the base can be quite bitter. Deadhead regularly to encourage blooms.

  • Height: 15-18”; spacing 12”-15”

• Nasturtium (annual)

  • ‘Peach Melba’ is a dwarf, non-trailing variety.

  • edible flowers and leaves with radish-like, peppery taste.

  • Space at 12”-15”. Can tolerate some shade; but more shade means fewer flowers.

• Poppies (annual)

  • California Poppies (Escholschzia californica):

    • Copper Swirl and Thai Silk Appleblossom - Recommended for the front of the border at 10” tall. Space at 8”-12” . can tolerate part shade.

  • Shirley Poppies (Papaver rhoeas) :

    • Mother of Pearl and Amazing Grey - 2’-3’ tall/wide. Space at 12”-15” can tolerate part shade.

• Rudbeckia / Black-eyed Susan (hardy annual)

  • Sahara - May perennialize in a protected area. Good size for a large container or a mid-sized garden plant, as it grows to a height of 12-18” . Space at 12-15”. Make sure to deadhead faded flowers regularly to encourage more blooms. Can grow in part shade.

• Shiso (annual)

  • Perilla frutescens: Edible. Versatile Asian culinary herb. We love it wrapped around sushi and shredded in rice bowls. Distinct cinnamon/clove/floral coriander flavor and aroma, with the spiciness of cumin.

  • Spacing: space at 8”-12” if cutting frequently.

  • If left to flower, mature Shiso plants reach a height of 18 to 30 inches tall with a 12”-18” spread. Will readily self-sow, so keep it cut back if you don’t want volunteers next year. Can grow in part to full shade, size will be smaller.

• Sunflowers (annual)

  • Teddy Bear: Space plants 8”-12” apart. Grows 8“-12” tall in a container; 24”-36” if quickly transplanted to the garden.

  • Soraya: 4 to 6 feet tall, space at 15-20”. It’s a winner - literally! All-American Selections (AAS) awarded. Will produce up to 20 stems / plant.

  • Firecracker: 36” tall, space at 18”-24”. Compact plants produce a mass of bright, 4”-6" bicolored flowers that are great in containers. 16-36" long stems. Pollenless.

  • sunflower petals and seeds are edible.

• Violas and Pansies (annual)

  • edible flowers: popular as cake and dessert decoration.

  • Space at 4”-6”. Likes afternoon shade in warm months.

• Zinnias (annual)

  • Aztec Sunset (Zinnia haageana) : Space at 12”. 12”-15” tall.

  • Queen Red Lime (Zinnia elegans) : Space at 15” . Grows 2-3’ tall.