Classifying flowering plants

You should be familiar with the plants you intend to plant. Your knowledge in classifying and naming plants would give you the right choice to select which one is suited to your place, soil, temperature, and other requirements your plants needs in their growing period.

Different flower plants varies in their growth patterns. This is critical in your decision making before you endeavor in flower gardening.

Therefore, don't be in a haste to enter into flowering gardening unless you're sure you have already the knowledge to enter into.

Classification of flowers based on their growth cycle.

Annuals

Flowers in this classification lives only in one growing season, completing its life cycle (seed, flowering, fruiting, and death) in that period.

This group includes many weeds, vegetables, and wild flowers.

The duration of a cycle is varied, it may be a few weeks to several months, depending on the species. These flowers are produced for use in the landscape including some vegetables.

Some popular flowers includes, Geranium (Geranium spp.), Zinnia (Zinnia elegans), Marigold (Tagetes spp.), and Pansy (Viola tricolor).

This class of plants is again divided by the cultivator into two classes, - the Hardy, and the Half-hardy or tender kinds.

Hardy Annuals are those which require no artificial heat at any period of their growth, every stage of their development, from germination to ripening of the seed, being-passed in the open ground.

They are the most easily cultivated of all plants; the number of their varieties is large, and their flowers, when properly grown, are frequently of most attractive beauty and elegance. It is only to be regretted that they are not generally cultivated to that extent to which their merit justly entitles them. The seed may be sown from, the first of April to the middle of June, along the border, in little patches four or six inches square, or in drills, on the spot where they are wanted to blossom; and in doing so, care should be taken to have the different varieties arranged in such a manner as to produce a pleasing effect when they are in bloom.

Half-hardy Annuals are those species that flower and ripen their seeds in the open air, but need the assistance of artificial heat in the earlier stages of their growth. They should be sown in a hot-bed, or in pots in a green-house, if one is available, or in a sunny window. Keep them well shaded, which will prevent absorption by the rays of the sun, and the consequent necessity of frequent watering, which bakes the soil, and does much mischief to seeds of slow growth. Toward the middle or end of May, many of the seedlings will be ready for transplanting to borders; but previous to this exposure, it will be necessary to harden them, preparatory to removal, by gradually admitting air to the frame both day and night.

Biennials

This plant completes its life cycle in two growing seasons. The first season, it produces only the basal leaves, grows its stem, produces flowers and fruits, and dies in the second season.

The plant usually requires some special environmental condition or treatment such as exposure to a cold temperature (Vernalization) to be induced to reproductive phase.

Although annuals and biennials rarely become woody in temperate regions, these plants may sometimes produce secondary growth in their stems and roots.

Perennials

They are herbaceous or woody and grows year-round through the adverse weather condition of their non-growing periods (winter, summer, winter, and fall) and then flower and fruit a variable number of years of vegetative growth beyond the second year.

Perennials survive the unfavorable season as dormant underground structures (e.g. roots, rhizomes, bulbs, and tubers).

Examples are bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon), daylilies (Lilium spp.), and Irises (Iris spp.).