Impressive double flowers
By: Garden Gate staff
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Blue 16 calibrachoa Calibrachoa hybrid
Calibrachoas are vigorous, reliable bloomers. They stand up well to heat and humidity, too, so when other tender perennials are fading at the peak of summer, calibrachoas keep going.
Part of the MiniFamous Double® series, Blue 16 has rich purple double blooms and a trailing habit that makes it a good fit in windowboxes or at the front of the border. Plants need consistently moist, but not wet, soil, in addition to regular applications of water-soluble fertilizer, to bloom best.
Type Tender perennial
Blooms Purple from late spring to fall
Light Full sun
Soil Moist, well-drained
Size 6 to 10 in. tall, 12 to 16 in. wide
Cold-hardy USDA zones 9 to 11
Heat-tolerant AHS zones 12 to 1
Source Local garden centers
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‘Blushing Bridesmaid’ hellebore Helleborus hybrid
No matter how long or frigid winter may seem, hellebores return year after year with some of the very first color of the season. ‘Blushing Bridesmaid’ starts in early spring, with white flowers that have purple-pink picotee edges and open up to 3 in. across. Part of the Wedding Party™ series, which boasts double-flowered hellebores from pale yellow to near black, ‘Blushing Bridesmaid’ blooms for six weeks.
Cut back tattered evergreen leaves in early spring for fresh foliage. Spreading a 2- to 3-in. layer of organic mulch in fall will help plants multiply.
Type Perennial
Blooms White with purple-pink edges in early spring
Light Part to full shade
Soil Moist, nutrient-rich
Size 18 to 24 in. tall and wide
Cold-hardy USDA zones 4 to 9
Heat-tolerant AHS zones 9 to 1
Source Garden Crossings™
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‘Monte Carlo’ tulip Tulipa hybrid
Tulips add eye-catching color to any bed or border in spring, and ‘Monte Carlo’ is certainly no exception. Blooming early in the season, its bright yellow flowers open up to 4 in. wide, making it easy to see just how many petals are packed inside. Plus, more than one flower can appear atop each sturdy stem. A shorter variety, ‘Monte Carlo’ withstands harsh weather, and the full, heavier blooms stay upright.
Type Bulb
Blooms Bright yellow in early spring
Light Full sun
Soil Moist, well-drained
Size 10 to 12 in. tall, 6 in. wide
Cold-hardy USDA zones 3 to 7
Heat-tolerant AHS zones 7 to 1
Source Bluestone Perennials, Inc.
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‘Bella Romano’ camellia Camellia japonica
Even if this shrub isn’t cold-hardy in your area, you can still get its big, bold double blooms, like hot pink ‘Bella Romano’, in the garden.
To shield it from drying winter winds, plant camellia near a wall or fence. A 3- to 4-in. layer of mulch and burlap wrap around plants can even push its survival in southern regions of USDA zone 5. If you don’t want to risk losing new growth or evergreen foliage in prolonged freezing temps, though, plant camellia in a larger container. There, you can prune to maintain a smaller habit, about half the mature size, right after flowering finishes. Just move plants into the shed or garage to overwinter.
Type Shrub
Blooms Light pink with dark pink streaks in early spring
Light Full sun to part shade
Soil Acid, moist, well-drained
Size 8 to 12 ft. tall, 6 to 8 ft. wide
Cold-hardy USDA zones 7 to 10
Heat-tolerant AHS zones 10 to 1
Source Almost Eden
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Brandywine flowering crabapple Malus hybrid
Brandywine® flowering crabapple’s buds start off dark pink before opening to the soft pink, very fragrant double blooms you see here. Green leaves take on a red tint and turn maroon, depending on your region and season, in fall, about the same time as the 1-in. chartreuse crabapples begin maturing. Plant Brandywine in an open space in the yard, where you won’t mind the dropping fruit — a favorite for birds. Its silvery, exfoliating bark will make the landscape more beautiful in winter.
Type Tree
Blooms Soft pink in spring
Light Full sun to part shade
Soil Moist, acid
Size 15 to 20 ft. tall and wide
Cold-hardy USDA zones 4 to 8
Heat-tolerant AHS zones 8 to 1
Source Sooner Plant Farm
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