Best Flowers & Flowering Plants for the Middle Atlantic Region
May 25, 2010 by admin
Filed under Flower, Gardening Tips
The Middle Atlantic Region includes New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, the District of Columbia, sometimes Virginia and West Virginia, and, of course, New Jersey, the state that calls itself “The Garden State.” So what are the best flowers and flowering plants for the Garden State and its neighbors? Let’s consider the climate first.
The Middle Atlantic, or simply Mid-Atlantic, region features a wide variety of growing zones, according to the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. The northern reaches of the region include Northern New York state, where some of the terrain is designated zone 3! That’s one of the coldest zones represented in the U.S. The southern parts of the region, and those moderated by the ocean, are designated 6 or 7. All the areas of the Middle Atlantic region get very adequate rainfall – more rain than many of you would like! But it does make for some beautiful flower gardens! Let’s take a look at this unique region and we’ll help you decide which are the best flowers and flowering plants for your area.
If you live in the northern parts of this region, including upper New York and colder parts of Pennsylvania, then focus on plants that grow best in zones 3 and 4. We like to build a garden’s foundation with perennials, since they come back year after year, becoming old friends you rely can upon and always look forward to seeing. These do very well: Aster, Astilbe, Baby’s breath, Balloon flower, Basket of Gold, Bee Balm, Bleeding Heart, Blue Star, Cardinal Flower, Chamomile, Columbine, Coneflower, Black-Eyed Susan, Day Lilies, Hellebore, Hosta, some Iris, Lupine, Meadowsweet, Phlox, Poppy, Primrose, Sage, Violet, Windflower, and Sunflower.
Much of the region, including lower New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia feature zones 5 and 6. Warm, humid days, and plenty of rain, are the norm. If this is your neck of the woods, start your garden choices with these flowers. They’ll love the weather: Alumroot, Aster, Astilbe, Barrenwort, Basket of Gold, Beardtongue, Bee Balm, Bell Flower, Bergenia, Black-Eyed Susan, Blanket Flower, Bleeding Heart, Boltonia, Bugbane, Bugleweed, Campion, Carnation, Chamomile, Chrysanthemum, Columbine, Coreopsis, Daylily, Flowering Onion, Gas Plant, Goatsbeard, Golden-ray Hosta, Hyssop, Iris, Lamb’s Ear, Lavender, Lily, Lupine, Meadow Rue, Phlox, Pincushion, Primrose, Sage, and Salvia, Sunflower, Violet and Yarrow.
Zone 7 growing characteristics can be found in parts of the Mid-Atlantic Region, where hot, sticky summer days, late afternoon thunder showers, and sultry nights are the norm. This is a perfect environment for growing fantastic flowers. All those mentioned above will work well here. In addition, you’ll get excellent results from these flowers and flowering plants: Angel’s Trumpet, Barrenwort, Bugloss, Calamint, Canna, Dianthus, Globeflower, Lady’s Mantle, Leopard’s Bane, Liriope, Pearly Everlasting, Sandwort, Valerian, Sea Lavender, and Solomon’s Seal.
A nice variety of flowering plants and shrubs also thrive in the Middle Atlantic Region. These make for lovely rows, or look great interspersed with evergreen shrubs like Arborvitae. The flowering plants and shrubs that do well here include Forsythia, Cinquefoil Bush, Chokeberry, Honeysuckle, Jasmine, Lilac, Rose, Summersweet, Viburnum, Winterberry, and Witch Hazel.
Take time to get to know the suggestions here, selecting the ones that please your eye. Add them to your garden, flower beds, and general landscape. In the Mid-Atlantic region you’ll be able to enjoy blooms 10 or 11 months out of the year in many places. These selections will keep your yard colorful the entire growing season when you choose early, middle and late flowering plants from this list.
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