Garden Club of Cape Coral | Create a beautiful, low maintenance cottage garden with self-seeding plants
By CAROLE KERNS
Each morning, as I take my dog for a walk, I pass my neighbor’s cottage garden, which always seems alive with blooms. The vibrant colors catch my eye and lift my spirits. I asked her to reveal her secret, and she answered, “self-seeding plants.”
Self-seeding plants produce seeds which can be collected or allowed to fall on the ground for a new generation of plants. These plants, while genetically connected to the mother plant, often have distinctive features of their own. Gardens that are filled with self-seeding plants tend to bloom again without the assistance of a gardener.
Many self-seeding plants require very little water and prefer full to partial sun during the day. These plants tend to do well in a variety of soil conditions from acidic to alkaline soils.
Pollination and germination of self-seeding plants typically occurs during the fall, winter and spring seasons. Unlike up north, Southwest Florida does not hold true to the maxim that many seeds need to store nutrients during cold weather to assist warm weather germination.
Plants that grow from seeds dropped by previous plants are called “volunteers.” We can expect them almost year-round, depending on the numbers and variety of plants that adorn your garden. Plants that flower early produce more seeds and give several generations per year. If the plants become too prolific, simply thin them out and move them to other spots in your yard.
Self-seeding plants are typically annuals, though some varieties of perennials have this quality. Perennials typically have a shorter blooming period compared to annuals, so gardeners may use a combination of both in their gardens.
As you select plants for your garden, consider your hardiness zone. A hardiness zone is a geographically defined area based on the average winter temperature. The hardiness zone for Cape Coral and Fort Myers is Zone 10A, so let’s look at some self-seeding plants which are suitable for this zone.
• The garden cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus) features daisy-like flowers atop tall stems with lacy foliage. They come in a variety of colors and grow best in a sunny spot, with well-drained soil and protection from wind.
• Pentas (Pentas lanceolata) are perennial plants, aptly named because of the five-pointed petals on the flowers. The plants come in a profusion of colors and attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Pentas are low maintenance plants, provided they get plenty of water and sunshine.
• Native milkweeds (Asclepias syriaca) are essential for monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) caterpillars and support a diversity of pollinators. It can grow in full to partial sun and thrives in well-drained soil. Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) is one of the most available and popular native species of milkweed. It grows as a perennial and produces vibrant orange or yellow flowers.
• Gaillardia (Gaillardia pulchella), also known as blanket flower, is a perennial that blooms throughout the spring, summer and fall. It is a Florida-Friendly plant and is an excellent source for nectar and pollen. The flowers are generally reddish purple or orange red with yellow tips, but can also be solid yellow, orange or red. Gaillardia tolerates extreme heat, sun, sandy soils and salt, making it a good choice for coastal areas.
• Coreopsis (Coreopsis leavenworthii), commonly known as tickseed, is Florida’s state wildflower. It is a native perennial and blooms in the spring and summer. Most are daisy-like with a ring of yellow petals surrounding a brown or yellow center. This Florida-Friendly plant needs a sunny spot and once established, is drought tolerant.
• Zinnias (Zinnia sp.) are annual flowers that come in a variety of colors. The most common zinnia is Zinnia elegans. They come in dwarf forms, only 6 inches tall, or tall forms, growing up to 3 feet. The flower types can vary. Zinnias are drought tolerant and need full sun. For longer flowering, remove the old blooms and pinch back the plant to encourage new growth.
Other self-seeding plants you may want to consider are ageratum (Ageratum houstonianum), black-eyed susan (Rudbeckia hirta), flat-topped goldenrod (Euthamia caroliniana), and borage (Borago officinalis). All of these plants thrive in full sun.
Summer is officially here and with it comes heat and humidity. It is challenging to work in the garden when the humidity is high, and the heat rises above 90 degrees. But there is a solution. We can sit back, relax, and let the “volunteers” take over.
Carole Kerns is a Lee County Master Gardener Volunteer and a volunteer at the Berne Davis Botanical Garden.