These blooming beauties have stood the test of time. It’s no wonder they made our list of must-have favorite old-fashioned flowers!
Digitalis, Zones 3 to 10
A proficient self-sower, foxglove is a biennial or short-lived perennial that generally doesn’t flower until the season after it’s planted. Leave the spent flower spires in place, and you’ll be treated to a new crop of foxgloves each spring. The colorful group of Excelsior hybrids is fantastic for cutting.
Centaurea cyanus, annual
Also known as the cornflower, this charmer is longlasting when cut and holds its color when dried. Growing best in full sun, bachelor’s button comes in several colors, including blue, pink, red, white and purple. Though considered an annual, it’s a successful self-seeder, so make room for volunteers each summer.
Campanula spp., Zones 3 to 9
This dainty plant, available in annual, perennial and biennial cultivars, enjoys moist soil and thrives in full sun to partial shade. In late spring and early summer, it unveils bell-shaped flowers in colors ranging from blue to purple to white. Some varieties, like the Serbian bellflower, have long-lasting blooms and evergreen foliage in Zones 8 and 9.
Dicentra spectabilis, Zones 3 to 9
Long-lasting blossoms open in late spring, covering this plant with gorgeous floral pendants in shades of rose pink and creamy white. Bleeding heart goes dormant by midsummer, so it’s best planted at the back of a border, where later-blooming flowers can camouflage the dying foliage.
Aquilegia, Zones 3 to 9
One of the easiest wildflowers to cultivate, columbine sports distinctively shaped flowers that hummingbirds can’t resist. Growing 8 inches to 3 feet high, the plants blossom in many shades of red, yellow, blue, purple and white.
Dianthus, Zones 3 to 10
One of the world’s oldest cultivated flowers, dianthus is prized for its ruffled petals, pleasant scent and generous spring and summer blooming period. Ranging from just 4 inches to 36 inches high, dianthus grows well in full sun.
Primula vulgaris, Zones 4 to 8
In spring, tight clusters of colorful, often fragrant blossoms appear on compact bright-green plants that grow only about 8 inches high. Though this primrose does best in partial shade, it can tolerate full sun if the surrounding soil remains moist.
Alcea rosea, Zones 3 to 9
These old-time favorites unfurl richly colored single or double flowers on lanky stems that can reach 8 feet in height. Hollyhock is a biennial, which means it grows foliage on short stems its first year but doesn’t flower until the following year. Be sure to plan accordingly.
Paeonia, Zones 3 to 9
Gardeners can choose from hundreds of peony hybrids in a wide range of sizes and colors. The herbaceous peony dies back to the ground in fall, then re-emerges in spring. It benefits from stakes or rings to keep it from flopping over under the weight of its showy, delightfully fragrant blooms.
Lathyrus odoratus, annual
This fragrant flower is easy to grow and provides flowers for cutting all season long. Like edible peas, sweet pea prefers the cooler weather of spring and early summer, gradually declining in the heat of August. A few cultivars, including the Royal and Old Spice mixes, are exceptionally heat-tolerant.
Connie says
Thanks so much for identifying the hollyhock. Grandma had these in her Chicago garden, and I couldn’t remember the name!
Hilde says
Have ‘black’ hollyhocks.
Evy says
My Grandmother grew the Hollyhocks in Texas.
lou Harrel says
Dangerous, but beautiful
sadie says
I have these growing in the phoenix area, they take the heat and wind and look gorgeous.
Fran Wheeler says
There is no such thing as an “old fashion” flower.
Charlie says
Mine never seems to come back every year. I live in Zone 6/7 ( right on the edge of it ) But I try every year, maybe next year.
Susan says
They usually reseed; maybe try heavy mulch during winter.
Marjorie says
This plant is used to make digitalis (a heart medication – shouldn’t grow if you have young children who might ingest part of this plant.
Brenda says
Believe it or not, I have grown them all. Peonies my favorite.
Bobbie Murphy says
I wonder how difficult it is to grow the columbine, bc I think it’s beautiful.
notfromhere says
I live in Seattle, WA and I can grow columbines, so I imagine anyone can. The plants grew every summer for 2-3 summers and this year they finally bloomed. And I’m pretty sure they would like more sun than they get, but we’re all doing our best.
Marianne Jackson says
It would be good if BIRD AND BLOOMS identified, both online, and in the beautiful magazine, the health dangers to dogs and cats each time a toxic flower, herb, shrub, or tree is mentioned.
Carol Norwood says
Hollyhocks ALWAYS evoke memories of the farm where I grew up! They were growing in several different places around the farm and I always loved them!
Rose says
Note also that both deer and rabbits LOVE hollyhocks. But they are definitely worth the trouble most of the time.
And foxglove is one that they do not like. I guess the very fuzzy leaves are a turn-off. I have had great luck the past few years with foxies overwintering. I try to cut the spent blossoms off as soon as the spike finishes, and then clean them up (removing the dried older bottom leaves), and they come back in the Spring here in southern Indiana. I also plant a few saved seeds just in case—
Evy says
I remember Chester talking on the Gunsmoke show about the Columbine flower.
Rose says
Boy, do the slugs ever love those primulas. But the only ones we can get to repeat (every year) are the red/rusty colored ones. And the columbines should not be a problem for most of you. Try to buy the seeds that feature columbines with the long spurs. They are doubly gorgeous.