Big Flowering Plants

• On of the great joys of gardening is watching a plant or shrub burst into bloom, adding splashes of color and delightful fragrance to the surroundings. Attracting both butterflies and birds to the yard, blossoms can also be placed in floral arrangements or dried and used as a craft material. While small flowering plants are eye-catching in beds and around borders, larger plants are slightly more useful in landscaping as they can create hedges or establish property boundaries.

Grandiflora Hydrangea

• Scientifically known as the Hydrangea paniculata, the Grandiflora hydrangea is a deciduous shrub that thrives in both full sun and partial shade. One of the most cold hardy hydrangeas, the Grandiflora can be grown in USDA hardiness zones 3 through 8. A fast grower, Grandiflora hydrangeas can reach up to 25 feet in height and 15 feet in width, making it a good choice for use as a border plant or as hedging. The Grandiflora responds to warm weather by producing showy clusters of white flowers which can reach up to 18 inches in length. The blossoms on the shrub gradually change from white to pink to brown, generating visual interest from summer into the fall.

Scarlet Rose Mallow

• Also known as the Texas star hibiscus or the swamp Hibiscus, the scarlet rose mallow is a large plant that is known for its flashy, star-shaped red flowers. Grown in USDA hardiness zones 6 to 11, the plant itself will reach anywhere from 6 to 12 feet in height; taller specimens are found in warmer climates, where they enjoy a longer growing season. A hardy perennial, the scarlet rose mallow returns each year to fill the garden with color, producing bright 6-inch blossoms from mid summer until the early fall, drawing bees, birds and butterflies into yards.

Giant Bird of Paradise

• The giant bird of paradise (Strelitzia nicolai ) is a tender tropical plant that can only be grown outdoors in the warm climates of USDA hardiness zones 10 and 11. The plant is not frost tolerant or cold hardy; if you live in a cool climate, place the plant into a container and move it indoors for the winter. When planted in full sun, this fast growing plant can reach up to 25 feet in height, producing leaves that measure up to 10 feet in length. In addition to the striking, eye-catching foliage, this evergreen blooms each spring, producing an abundance of fragrant flowers. Blooms range in color from deep blue and dark purple to white, depending on the variety of plant chosen.