Caladiums are a beautiful foliage plant that has elephant ear-like leaves. They come in so many different shapes, colors, and sizes. Typically these plants like shadier conditions, but now they have bred varieties that can take full sun in humid climates ( not in Arizona though!).

Summers seem to last forever here in Arizona! Picking out plants that can take the heat, while also providing beautiful autumnal colors is important when planning your fall garden. Believe it or not, there are many flowers we can grow here in the South to help us achieve that autumn front porch look. There are three main colors that I look for when picking an autumnal pallet, there colors are red, purple, and orange. There is some variation to these colors, but when they are combined they are pure magic.

Coleus is a beautiful ornamental plant that is primarily grown for its foliage. They come in an array of colors from chartreuse, chocolate, purple, and a variegated mix of stunning colors. Some of the leaves look as if someone painted them! Depending on the variety they can take full sun to full shade depending on your climate. Here in Phoenix, I like to grow them in full shade, the morning sun is okay when temperatures are not blistering. They are easy to grow with a few tips and ticks.

Campanula is a bell-shaped flower, that is the perfect focal spike for late spring here in Arizona. They come in blues, pinks, whites, and many other pastel colors. There really is no other flower that is like Campanula. This is a perfect cottage garden flower, that is a great addition to mothers Day bouquets. Make sure to pick annual varieties that flower their first year here in the desert.

Monarda always takes me back to my childhood, where we had large patches of the perennial. In Michigan, I always associated them with the 4th of July because that’s when they bloomed there. Here in Arizona, I like to grow the annual version that goes by ‘Lambada’ or ‘Lemon mint’. These blooms are tall and appear to be stacked. This wild flower is the perfect addition to any mothers Day bouquet.

Yarrow is an easy-to-grow, wildflower here in Arizona. This plant is drought tolerant and easy to start from seed. Its ferny foliage also gives the garden a unique texture when it’s not in bloom. It’s said to be a perennial in this zone, and with proper care, you can have this plant for a few years, maybe more. Keep making sure the root ball dries out in between waterings. The biggest cause of death for yarrow is over-watering.

Feverfew aka matricria, is a dainty, fun, wildflower-esque flower. Feverfew comes in many different varieties, but I usually grow double varieties. It’s something that florists usually do not find in wholesale flower shops or grocery stores. It’s a cool season annual planted in the fall, but this flower is one of the later cool season plants to flower. Buds are initiated by longer day lengths, so typically they won’t flower until after mothers Day.

Craspedia was a new flower I grew in the 2022-2023 season. I was blown away, to say the least. They produced strong, loli-pop blooms that were the perfect addition to all my spring bouquets. The plants stayed on the short side, like a clump of grass, with blooms reaching 18” tall. some people call this flower ‘drumstick flower’ or ‘Billy balls’. This flower dries perfectly, it’s as beautiful dried as it is fresh.

Statice is one of my favorite filler flowers and can be used fresh or dried to make some magical arrangements. I love using them for wreath making. They start blooming in April and I am harvesting them typically through June here in the Low Desert. I’ve seen these flowers survive the summer, and bloom again the following spring. I don’t rely on them to do this, but can be an added bonus.

Creating healthy, vigorous seedlings is so essential when bringing seedlings to life. A properly cared for seedling will translate to the future success of the plat. Here is an overview of how I start a lot of my seeding for my operation, and the products that I use to do so.

Sunflowers are an American classic, they are easily recognized for their bright cheerful colors. They come in lots of different colors now and are easy to start from seed. They are native to North America and are commonly found growing wild in parts of Arizona.

Basil is a lovely foliage to have throughout the warm growing season. There are so many different kinds of basil, that each has unique qualities to them. 

Amaranth is technically an edible grain, but we are cut flower growers who use or ornamentally for its beautiful autumnal plumes. They thrive in poorer soils and come in shades of green, copper, red, magenta, and blush.

Celosia is some of my favorite flowers to have in the field for late summer and Fall. They come in colors from pink to orange and red. They also make great dried flowers for crafting projects. These flowers can re-seed readily in the garden, which I don’t think is a bad thing!

Monsoons are seasonal rains here in Arizona during the summer months. This season officially starts on June 15th, but we typically don’t see rains start until after the 4th of July. Monsoons bring slightly higher humidity levels, which makes it a great time to sow warm-loving annuals. With a few Tips and tricks, you can have some great flowers to cut from this late summer into fall.

Lisianthus are one of Phoenix's best-kept secrets! These flowers take the heat, and will actually last a few years with proper care. Dwarf lisianthus are relatively new to the market, and they are coming out with better and better varieties every year.

Lisianthus are one of Phoenix best kept secrets! These flowers take the heat, and will actually last a few years with proper care. They flower in the summer and can give you multiple flushes per plant. They can come in an array of colors from blue to peaches & pastels.

Zinnias are one of the quintessential summer flowers that THRIVE in the summer heat, even here in Phoenix. They come in a rainbow of colors, from bright neons to soft blushes. Zinnias come in dwarf forms perfect for a container or border, to tall giant forms perfect for your cut flower garden. They love the dry heat that phoenix offers, you just have to make sure to water them to keep them happy.