Globe flowers pictures.

white globe flower.

   blossoms with perfectly round flower heads atop ribbed stems. Plants grow two to five feet tall and almost as wide. The spiny-edged leaves are white and woolly underneath.

 Globe thistles require full sun for strong growth but are not fussy about soil. Once established, they are very drought-resistant. Protect plants from aphids, and stake them if necessary.

 The larger species are impressive when used in background plantings or when grown as specimen plants. The smaller types are attractive in a bed, border, or wild garden.

purple globe flower.

Cone flowers pictures.

About Coneflowers

Cone flowers grow a beautiful flowerhead with a round central disk surrounded by long, thin pedals. These plants are native to North America and they look lovely in home gardens. There three different varieties of cone flowers with a vast array of colors.

 Coneflower Varieties

There are 3 main varieties of Coneflowers:

Echinacea - Commonly called the purple coneflower. 
Ratibida - Commonly called the prairie coneflower.
Rudbeckia - Called coneflowers or black eye susan.

 Planting Cone flowers
Coneflowers can handle limited water and poor soil conditions, although they prefer fertile soil. Their tolerance and hardiness makes them great choices for a low-water garden. These flowers grow in full sun to partial shade, preferring well-drained soil with lots of air circulation around their stems to prevent rot.

 Height: 2-5" feet
Spacing: 12-18" inches
Depth: 1/4" inch
Germination: 10-14 days

 Rake a fine soil and then spread your daisy seeds over the soil. Place 1/4" inch of fine soil over the seeds. Water gently and be sure not to disturb the daisy seeds.

Growing Coneflowers

Cone flowers are very easy to care for needing little to no care. They will grow great no matter the heat, humidity, drought, or cold weather! The only thing needed keep them looking good is mow them down in the fall. For the botanically interested, you can also propagate this one by root cuttings.  So, if you have one of the nicer forms that doesn't come true from seed, division or root cuttings will easily increase the numbers. Cone flowers, which not only provide nearly foolproof, perennial garden colour and fragrance but also long-lasting cut flowers. The bright blossoms are beloved by butterflies; the cones of seeds that remain after the petals drop attract goldfinches and other songbirds.

Lobelia flowers images.

Type
annual

Propagation
seeds

Light
full or partial shade

Flower Color
various

Bloom Time
summer

Height
3-9 inches

Width
6 inches

Soil Requirements
neutral pH, well drained, moist

Zones
1-11

Uses
window boxes, hanging baskets, planters, groundcover, border edging

 Lobelia was introduced more than 200 years ago from the region around the Cape of Good Hope. The original wild forms of lobelia have been bred to bloom more profusely. There are both trailing varieties, with billowing masses of blossoms, and more compact bedding types, seldom exceeding 6 inches in height.

 The 1/2- to 3/4-inch-wide flowers, borne along each stem, are blue on the common varieties, but white and carmine types have also been developed.

 Lobelia is prized for window boxes, hanging baskets, planters, and ground covers. Although the plants do best in full sun and moist, rich soil where summers are cool, they will grow surprisingly well in hot areas if given partial shade.

 Lobelia is not sown directly in the garden because it does not begin to flower until two months after seed is planted. Start the seeds indoors 10 to 12 weeks before the last frost is due; since the seeds are very small, plant them on top of finely prepared soil without covering them. Most nurseries and garden supply stores offer started plants already in bloom. 

Transplant after all danger of frost is past, spacing them 4 to 6 inches apart. Remove flower spikes after blooming to produce further growth. 'Rosamund' is the pictured cultivar.