While the main focus in my garden is growing vegetables, there are still a few favorite flowers that I like to include – And for 2024, I’ve got 5 great ones that not only help to bring in pollinators in droves but also help to brighten up the space!
Some of these flowers are amazing companion plants. When planted around crops like tomatoes and peppers, they help to deter pests and insects due to their strong scent.
Using plants as natural pest control helps to avoid using synthetic sprays and powders. This is something I strive for when growing vegetables and fruit for my family, and these plants help me accomplish that.
Others are grown just for the fact that they are pretty and help to bring in all sorts of pollinators like bees, butterflies, and even hummingbirds. Drawing in pollinators is a huge bonus when your main goal is to grow and produce vegetables to harvest.
Even though my favorite flowers list might change slightly from year to year, hopefully this list will give you a few ideas of some flowers to include in your garden next year!
5 Favorite Garden Flowers For 2024
Marigolds
This first flower on the list is one of the best, dual-purpose flowering annuals around – and that’s marigolds. Marigolds come in all sorts of different colors and textures from huge puff balls to dainty little single-layer petals.
You can find their blooms in fiery shades of reds, oranges, and yellows. But you can also find marigolds in white and many different variegated versions as well.
Marigold plants start to grace the shelves of stores and local garden centers in early spring along with other vegetable and flower transplants. But if you are looking to save a little money, skip the transplants and plant marigolds from seeds instead since they are extremely easy to grow from seed. Not only that, but you can save the seeds each year.
Probably the best reason to include marigolds in your garden space though is because they make the perfect companion plant. If you’ve ever smelled marigolds, you know they have a very distinct, strong scent.
This scent helps to repel loads of different garden pests like aphids, whiteflies, and tomato hornworms. By planting marigolds around tomatoes and pepper plants, you can enjoy natural pest protection while bringing in color and pollinators to your garden space. (Some claim that marigolds help repel rabbits but I haven’t noticed this being the case at least in our garden.)
Lantana – Favorite Garden Flowers Of 2024
Lantana is just one of those flowers that I grow simply for its beauty. It amazes me how many colors and variations this flower comes in.
It pushes clusters of small, star-like tubular blooms that are perfect for butterflies and other pollinators. These blooms often have fluorescent colors that can range within a single cluster of flowers, making them extremely eye catching. The blooms will continue to push out from late spring until the temperatures start to drop below 55º Fahrenheit.
While lantana is a flowering perennial, here in Illinois it is treated as an annual. It is most often planted in containers or hanging baskets, but you can also grow it directly in the soil, too. (Please note, in some warmer climates, lantana is considered to be invasive. Talk with your local county extension office to learn your area’s rules about planting lantana directly in the soil.)
Dianthus
Also known as Sweet William or Bearded Pink, dianthus is a short-lived perennial flower that is perfect for drawing in loads of pollinators. Here in Illinois, they are usually treated as annuals and discarded each fall.
When grown from seeds, dianthus typically doesn’t flower in their first year. Instead, plants focus on pushing out foliage. Then, in their second year, they start to produce blooms. Each dianthus bloom lasts a little over a week, but the blooming period can go from May until the first frost.
While most of these varieties are scentless, their vibrant colors make up for it. You can find varieties in pinks, reds, purples, whites, and multicolored. The edges of the petals are typically fringed in appearance, giving plants a nice contrast from other annual flowers.
Nasturtium – Favorite Garden Flowers Of 2024
Nasturtium is popular for growing in vegetable gardens with its jewel-toned blooms. Not only does it draw in pollinators, but it also acts as a companion crop to protect against some common garden pests.
Aside from the vibrant flowers, the foliage is also attractive with its smooth, rounded leaves. One of my favorite varieties (Alaska Mix) even has variegated leaves, making it even more visually appealing.
Nasturtium grows fast from seeds, and seeds can easily be saved to plant again the following year. In addition, both the leaves and flowers are edible. They provide a slight peppery flavor to dishes and salads.
But one of the best parts of growing nasturtium in the 2024 garden is that this favorite flower is a wonderful companion plant. It helps to repel pests like aphids, squash bugs, whiteflies, cabbage loopers, and several different types of beetles. Talk about one of your do-it-all flowers!
Portulaca
Last but not least is portulaca grandiflora, also known as Moss Rose. This is an annual flowering succulent that has needle-like succulent leaves that stay green and plump all summer long.
Portulaca is often grown as a ground cover with blooms in pink, red, orange, white, and variations of these colors. The blooms typically stay closed during cloudy days and during nightfall. It’s another one of those flowers that pollinators love, especially bees.
Portulaca is great for growing in locations that have less than ideal soil conditions. In fact, it thrives in sandy soils and prefers dryer conditions as it often gets root rot due to its shallow roots.
Maybe this list will give you a few ideas of some different flowers to grow this year. Even if you can’t include them in your 2024 garden, there’s always next year!
Until next time, thanks for stopping by!
– Chelsea