# Gardeners - what flowers give you the biggest bang for the buck? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** gardening\ **Created:** [November 3, 2025, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardeners-what-flowers-give-you-the-biggest-bang-for-the-buck/1024529 "2025-11-03T15:50:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2025, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardeners-what-flowers-give-you-the-biggest-bang-for-the-buck/1024529/1 "2025-11-03T15:50:31Z")
Here in Zone 5 around Chicago, we are cleaning things up for winter. Most of the blooms are gone other than Russian Sage and some lavender. But the nasturtiums we started from seed back in May are still going strong! Plenty of cheery yellow and red blooms and strong green foliage. Of course, we haven’t had a hard frost yet. Not sure nasturtiums are my FAVORITES, but they sure outlasted the zinnias, marigolds, and cosmos that we started from seed. And none of our annuals provided such a consistently long-lasting show. What flowers gave you the most impressive show this year? Annual or perennial. Feel free to define however you want. And please provide your location/zone. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2025, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardeners-what-flowers-give-you-the-biggest-bang-for-the-buck/1024529/2 "2025-11-03T15:55:44Z")
In Waukesha, a whole side of our lot was planted with Lilacs. Lovely. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2025, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardeners-what-flowers-give-you-the-biggest-bang-for-the-buck/1024529/3 "2025-11-03T17:51:53Z")
I’m in Chicago/5b, too, and am proud of my annual pair of porch planters. In each, a dusty miller, a spike, dark leafy coleus & a big impatien. They’re drooping now but were 100% well into October. The planters are pretty big, 3-4 gals? and I water only about once a week. I’ve been using them for 15 years already and the soil is like a sandbox or dry sugar so planting in May is sinfully easy. Push open some dirt and drop in the rootball. Come fall, they easily yank right back out. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2025, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardeners-what-flowers-give-you-the-biggest-bang-for-the-buck/1024529/4 "2025-11-03T18:13:35Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > But the nasturtiums we started from seed back in May are still going strong! How? I’m in 5b and at best we get them as annuals that never come back the second year. Here in Colorado you cannot go wrong with bulbs although my irises never seem to take off like I want. But my tulips?! A couple of weeks a year my yard looks like a slice of Holland. And daffodils galore. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2025, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardeners-what-flowers-give-you-the-biggest-bang-for-the-buck/1024529/5 "2025-11-03T19:42:10Z")
Sorry if I was unclear. These are annuals. A couple of buck pack of seeds is still giving a good show. No idea whether/how well they will self seed. If not, I’ll spend another couple of bucks. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2025, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardeners-what-flowers-give-you-the-biggest-bang-for-the-buck/1024529/6 "2025-11-03T19:45:21Z")
We buy flowering bulbs at Trader Joes, and stick them in the ground when they are through. We have quite the flowerbed. It’s always a surprise to see what (and when! something) comes up. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2025, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardeners-what-flowers-give-you-the-biggest-bang-for-the-buck/1024529/7 "2025-11-03T21:04:27Z")
I enjoy all the responses. My OP was inspired by the long time period this year that the nasturtiums have continually bloomed. None of our other flowers have had such an extended blooming period. All the other annuals are long done. One arguable exception would be the various hydrangeas, which retain their faded, dried blooms. ---
**Author:** ![teelabrown](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teelabrown/32/8412_2.png) [@teelabrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teelabrown)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2025, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardeners-what-flowers-give-you-the-biggest-bang-for-the-buck/1024529/8 "2025-11-03T21:08:39Z")
Impatiens are practically foolproof, and they flower extravagantly for a long time into the fall. We just pulled ours, not because it was failing, but because we wanted their planter for some cyclamen for the winter. And a variety called New Guinea Impatiens is hardy and showy and looks almost like a different plant entirely than garden variety Impatiens. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2025, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardeners-what-flowers-give-you-the-biggest-bang-for-the-buck/1024529/9 "2025-11-03T21:40:51Z")
As a kid, I planted a tiny sunflower seed … and it grew to 6 feet high! ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2025, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardeners-what-flowers-give-you-the-biggest-bang-for-the-buck/1024529/10 "2025-11-03T22:14:11Z")
I was going to suggest zinnias, before seeing that the OP’s flowers were outperforming them. They’re still pretty high on the beauty to effort ratio, though. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2025, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardeners-what-flowers-give-you-the-biggest-bang-for-the-buck/1024529/11 "2025-11-03T22:24:45Z")
This year, the biggest bang (more like a never-ending sequence of many small explosions) has been provided by Salvias - ornamental sages. The most spectacular one has been [Salvia elegans ‘Golden Delicious’.](https://utgardens.tennessee.edu/october-2013-plant-of-the-month-pineapple-sage-salvia-elegans-golden-delicious/) 'Golden Delicious has masses of chartreuse-yellow foliage scented of pineapple. Since early September it has produced increasing numbers of vivid scarlet flowers. Together with its neighbor, the purple-flowered Salvia ‘Amistad’, the show has been fabulous. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2025, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardeners-what-flowers-give-you-the-biggest-bang-for-the-buck/1024529/12 "2025-11-03T22:26:19Z")
I had really good luck with Lantana. It lasts and lasts. I think it can be perennial. But it’s never done it for me. I think the birds get the dropped seed. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2025, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardeners-what-flowers-give-you-the-biggest-bang-for-the-buck/1024529/13 "2025-11-04T01:43:23Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I had really good luck with Lantana. On a trip to Kenya last year, we saw Lantana all over the place - the size of small trees. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2025, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardeners-what-flowers-give-you-the-biggest-bang-for-the-buck/1024529/14 "2025-11-04T01:48:48Z")
Here in zone 7b, I have some globe amaranth/gomphrena that’s been blooming since May. I think they’re really cool looking. [![](https://www.johnnyseeds.com/dw/image/v2/BJGJ_PRD/on/demandware.static/-/Sites-jss-master/default/dw51d244b5/images/products/flowers/04425_01_audraymix.jpg?sw=800&cx=302&cy=0&cw=1196&ch=1196) ](https://www.johnnyseeds.com/dw/image/v2/BJGJ_PRD/on/demandware.static/-/Sites-jss-master/default/dw51d244b5/images/products/flowers/04425_01_audraymix.jpg?sw=800&cx=302&cy=0&cw=1196&ch=1196) I had some beautiful coleus too, but it’s done now for the year, since we’ve had some nights close to freezing the last couple weeks. ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2025, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardeners-what-flowers-give-you-the-biggest-bang-for-the-buck/1024529/15 "2025-11-04T04:33:47Z")
In terms of efforts to results ratio, petunias are my favorite. Buy a small tray for 5 bucks at a garden center and at stick them in a container or sunny spot and and you have nice flowering plants to enjoy all season. They are annuals, but self seed fairly well. Or just spend another 5 bucks. ---
**Author:** ![MikeF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2025, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardeners-what-flowers-give-you-the-biggest-bang-for-the-buck/1024529/16 "2025-11-04T13:54:46Z")
Another vote for Lantana from coastal NJ. It blooms all summer and into the fall. Water it and it grows. It also attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2025, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardeners-what-flowers-give-you-the-biggest-bang-for-the-buck/1024529/17 "2025-11-04T14:06:40Z")
I was going to say zinnias as well. Zone 6a here and we sprinkled three packets of different varieties of zinnia seeds out in the front garden in the spring. We started getting our first flowers in late July and the flowers remained continuously up through mid-October. The ones that did best were the giant varieties that get like 3’ tall. ‘Peppermint stick’ was one. I think ‘county fair’ was another packet. I forget the third. we did nothing in terms of maintenance, apart from water weekly and weed a couple times during the season [Zinnia Varieties: 21 Different Types of Zinnias](https://www.epicgardening.com/zinnia-varieties/) ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2025, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardeners-what-flowers-give-you-the-biggest-bang-for-the-buck/1024529/18 "2025-11-04T14:55:10Z")
We have a lot of pots for flowers (along with parsley and basil) and we always do well with dahlia, zinnia, and geraniums (we also like to put sweet potato vine in some of the larger pots). But, this year we also tried two colors of Dipladenia and they were fantastic. They are climbers so you need to give them something to attach too, but both of them produced flowers non-stop and the self dead-head. These can be brought indoors and kept going, but our pots are too large to move so unfortunately the freezing has already got them. We’ll buy more and next year I’ll try to cut and propagate indoors before the freezing weather comes along. We are zone 6b. Our large patio is southern facing, but it gets quite a bit of shade because of our big beautiful fir in the back yard. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2025, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardeners-what-flowers-give-you-the-biggest-bang-for-the-buck/1024529/19 "2025-11-04T18:55:01Z")
I planted three blue & purple color/varieties of spiderwort 10 years ago and have enjoyed them quite a lot. The blooms only last one day but there are hundreds through the season and a new batch every morning. They’ve proven hardy and aren’t too common. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2025, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardeners-what-flowers-give-you-the-biggest-bang-for-the-buck/1024529/20 "2025-11-04T20:47:50Z")
I really like spiderwort. Mine was given to me. Deep purple. Blooms don’t last too long on mine, but I really like them. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardeners-what-flowers-give-you-the-biggest-bang-for-the-buck/1024529.md?page=2)