Colorful Flowers That are Suitable for Borders Around a Tombstone Garden Patch
- Real flowers are a lovely way to honor deceased loved ones.peace 1 image by FotoWorx from Fotolia.com
Giving flowers to the ones we care about has been a long-standing tradition. Even after loved ones have passed, it is still comforting to honor them with flowers. Colorful flowers can often enhance a cemetery or tombstone garden patch. Choose low-maintenance, hardy plants to fill the area with beauty and color. Living plants are a great alternative to plastic flowers or flower arrangements because they will bloom all summer long. - Daylilies tolerate a wide range of conditions.Daylily image by jun zhou from Fotolia.com
Daylilies are an excellent choice for an easy-care border. They do well in U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 3 to 10 and will tolerate full sun as well as partial shade. Although daylily flowers usually only last one day, the plant blooms profusely. These blooms are available in a wide range of beautiful colors and can be plain, double or even ruffled in appearance. Daylilies are perennials, which means that they come back year after year. Every three or four years it is beneficial to divide them, otherwise they require minimal care. Daylilies range from 1 to 3 feet in height, depending on the variety. According to the University of Minnesota Extension, more than 35,000 varieties of daylilies have been named, so there's a cultivar for any space. - Coreopsis is beautiful and drought-tolerant.ruby-red wet coreopsis, isolated image by Tamara Kulikova from Fotolia.com
Coreopsis is a versatile plant that can either be used in a perennial border or as a ground cover for low-traffic areas. The traditional coreopsis is a rich, sunny yellow but some varieties can be pink or white. Coreopsis prefers full sun and is hardy from USDA zones 3 to 9. This plant grows quickly and can spread to fill an area; however, it is easily controlled by mowing if it oversteps its bounds. Some varieties, such as the pink coreopsis also have delicate, thread-like leaves. These perennial plants range from 9 to 24 inches tall. - Marigolds provide color in a carefree border.marigolds 33. image by mdb from Fotolia.com
Marigolds are annuals, or plants that complete their life cycle in a single season. In fact, marigolds are one of the easiest annuals to grow, These plants make excellent, well-defined borders because they have a neat, rounded appearance studded with copious amounts of blooms. They also are drought tolerant and require very little care, making them an excellent candidate for a cemetery planting. - Zinnias are beautiful flowers that attract butterflies and bees.zinnia image by maslight from Fotolia.com
Zinnias are another classic for a garden border. Zinnias excel in full sun where they create exuberant displays of color. These annuals are easily grown from seed. Dwarf versions will stay under 1 foot tall while giant versions will easily exceed 3 feet. Zinnias provide color all summer until the first hard frost. These plants require very little maintenance and they are extremely easy to grow. Like marigolds, zinnia seeds can be saved for future plantings. Both zinnias and marigolds can be planted in USDA zones 3 to 10. - Coleus foliage is available in a striking array of colors.coleus image by cusrach from Fotolia.com
Coleus is one of the best shade-tolerant annuals. Although it has flowers, it's the striking foliage that sets this plant apart from others. Coleus leaves can be pink, purple, green, yellow or red. Like zinnias, coleus ranges from under 1 foot tall to more than 3 feet tall depending on the variety. Long known as a shade-loving plant, newer versions of coleus can tolerate more sun. Read the labels to make sure you are purchasing a plant that will do well in its intended location. Coleus is hardy in USDA zones 2 to 11.
