One of my missions is to bust the misconception that vegetable gardens aren’t attractive. I really think it is possible to have a vegetable garden that looks great and grows a lot of food.
Plant lots and lots of flowers among your vegetables. While annuals are my favorite, I also plant spring bulbs in my vegetable beds to add color early in the season.
Putting flowers in your garden will give it pops of color that draw the eye in and around the area. They will also attract lots of good bugs like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, and your neighbors will be amazed that they’ve never seen a vegetable garden look so good!
In this article, I’ll share the best flowers for raised beds. This list features my absolute favorite flowers I’ve been growing in my vegetable garden for many years.
When you pick a basket full of colorful vegetables you grew yourself, there’s nothing better than that feeling. For those of you who know what I mean, I’m sure you’ll also enjoy putting together a beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers.
Luckily, if you already grow vegetables, it’s very simple to add flowers to your raised beds. This way, you can get beautiful bouquets all summer long to give to friends and family.
Raised beds are the perfect way to create a beautiful and productive garden, even in a small space. With the right plant choices you can have stunning color greenery, and harvests all year long. Here are the top 18 all year-round plants to grow in raised beds.
Spring Stars
1. Peonies
Peonies are spring showstoppers, producing huge, fragrant blooms in shades like white, pink, red, and yellow. The lush, bushy plants reach 2-4 feet tall. Peonies thrive for decades with minimal care. Plant peony tubers in fall for blooms the following spring.
2. Bleeding Hearts
Bleeding hearts have delicate dangling blooms that live up to their name in spring. These shade-lovers produce mounds of green foliage and then pink red or white blooms from arching stems. Grow bleeding hearts from root divisions in spring or fall.
3. Tulips
Few spring bulbs can match the brilliance of tulips. Plant bulbs in fall for a kaleidoscope of color come spring. Fringed double, and striped tulip varieties extend the bloom season since they open later. Mix early mid, and late bloomers.
4. Violas
Violas are a cool weather crop that shines in spring and fall in raised beds. The edible flowers and leaves add pops of color. Plant violas from seed in early spring or use transplants. Deadhead to encourage reblooms. Pinch back leggy plants.
Summer Favorites
5. Zinnias
Few annuals can match zinnias for nonstop summer color. The daisy-like blooms come in every color except blue. Zinnias thrive in full sun and warm weather. Direct sow after the last spring frost or start seeds indoors for transplanting. Deadhead to prolong bloom.
6. Sunflowers
Sunflowers are summer icons. Mini varieties like ‘Elf’ work well in raised beds, reaching just 18 inches tall. Giant sunflower types can grow 8-12 feet tall! Plant sunflowers from seed in late spring, spacing 12-24 inches apart. Provide good drainage.
7. Lavender
Few plants evoke summer quite like fragrant lavender. Tuck lavender plants along the edges of your raised beds for color and scent. Prune plants lightly after flowering to maintain a compact shape. Protect plants in winter in cold climates.
8. Marigolds
Marigolds are carefree annuals that bloom nonstop from spring to frost. Plant marigolds from seed after danger of frost has passed, as marigolds dislike cold, damp soil. Deadhead to prolong bloom. The edible flowers add color and flavor.
Fantastic Fall Options
9. Kale
Beyond being super nutritious, kale looks fantastic in fall gardens. The frilly, blue-green leaves get sweeter after a light frost. Direct sow seeds in summer for a fall crop. Ornamental kale varieties like redbor and coral prince are edible too!
10. Pansies
Pansies give a burst of color in fall and will bloom well into winter in mild climates. Plant pansy transplants in early fall, spacing about 9 inches apart. Remove faded blooms to encourage new flowers. Use pansies for edging or in containers too.
11. Ornamental Cabbage
Ornamental cabbage adds great color and texture to fall gardens. Plant transplants of ornamental cabbage and kale in early fall, spacing 18 inches apart. The colorful heads last well into winter. Use them among pansies, kale, and other fall favorites.
12. Swiss Chard
Both the colorful stems and nutrient-packed leaves of swiss chard shine in fall gardens. The rainbow-hued varieties are particularly striking. Direct sow seeds in mid to late summer for a fall harvest. Pick outer leaves while allowing the plants to keep producing.
Winter Warriors
13. Evergreens
Evergreens like yew, boxwood, and juniper keep gardens looking alive even in the depths of winter. Try miniature evergreen varieties in raised beds, like dense dwarf mugo pine. Plant evergreens in spring or fall. Make sure to water them during winter dry spells.
14. Crocus
Crocuses are early spring bloomers but their foliage emerges in late winter, giving hope that spring is on the way. Plant crocus corms or bulbs in fall about 3 inches deep and 4 inches apart. The flowers and strappy leaves pop up through snow or frozen ground.
15. Angelina Stonecrop
Stonecrops form carpets of succulent foliage and are unfazed by winter’s worst. Angelina stonecrop has chartreuse leaves that turn reddish orange in cold weather. The low spreading plants work well spilling over raised bed edges. Plant them in spring or fall.
16. Rosemary
Rosemary’s pine-scented, needle-like foliage remains attractive throughout winter. Choose a winter hardy variety like ‘Arp’ or ‘Madeline Hill’. Plant rosemary in spring and provide excellent drainage. Mulch rosemary heavily for winter protection.
17. Kale
Ornamental kale is edible but also looks amazing with its frilly leaves in shades of white, pink, purple and green. It handles cold better than its edible cousins. Plant ornamental kale transplants in fall about 6 weeks before your first frost date.
18. Pines
Miniature pine varieties like ‘Blue Star’ juniper or ‘Sea Urchin’ mugo pine add greenery and structure to raised beds year-round. Plant them in spring, allowing plenty of space for the small evergreens to fill out over time. Pines grow very slowly.
With smart plant choices, your raised beds can look fabulous and be productive throughout every season, even winter. Focus on a mix of annuals, perennials, bulbs, edibles, and evergreens. Pay attention to sun exposure, Bloom times, mature plant sizes, and care needs as you plan out your all year-round raised bed gardens.
Favorite Flowers for Raised Bed Gardening
Zinnias
Nothing screams summer more than a handful of cheery zinnias. Available in a brilliant rainbow of colors, these cut-and-come-again plants are essential for any flower-loving gardener.
As one of the easiest flowers to grow, they are perfect for beginning gardeners. They also do well in a wide range of climates and growing zones.
Favorites include:
6 Container Combinations to Love! // Garden Answer
FAQ
What is a plant that lasts all year round?
What is the best thing to plant in a raised garden bed?
Are raised beds a good idea?
Raised beds are for more than just vegetables! They also make a great home for flowering perennials, especially if you have poor soils. Adding perennials to your raised bed gardens is a great way to guarantee beauty year after year. Another benefit is the ability to grow some ornamentals that you otherwise would not have been able to.
What plants can grow in a raised bed?
Pumpkins and squash, for example, may flourish, but they’ll take up tons of space. Sunflowers are lovely, but their enormous roots may hog nutrients, and they’ll shade out smaller species. Many garden staples form top-notch communities in raised beds, especially those that are known as companion plants. Planning your garden?
Are raised beds good for perennials?
Raised beds are a perfect vessel for perennial gardens. Most perennials will grow nicely in raised beds, while others may need more space to spread out. In this article, gardening expert Jill Drago will list 27 perennials that are perfect for your raised beds. Raised beds are for more than just vegetables!
What are the best year-round shrubs?
Grow these Year-Round Shrubs according to seasons and fill your garden with colors! Plant these Shrubs According to Different Seasons to Get Blooms All Year. These plants are low maintenance, flower beautifully, and look fantastic in pots too! 1. Azalea 2. Bridal Wreath Spiraea 3. Brandywine 4. Witch Hazel 5. Lantana 6. California Lilac 7. Hibiscus
Which shrubs bloom all year?
Here’s an exclusive list of Shrubs that Bloom All Year! Grow these Year-Round Shrubs according to seasons and fill your garden with colors! Plant these Shrubs According to Different Seasons to Get Blooms All Year. These plants are low maintenance, flower beautifully, and look fantastic in pots too! 1. Azalea 2. Bridal Wreath Spiraea 3. Brandywine
How many plants should you grow in a raised bed?
Gardening enthusiast Emily Estep names and explains 15 plants you should be growing in raised beds. You can’t overstate the benefits of raised bed gardening. This method gives you complete control over soil composition and structure, increases the length of your growing season, and protects your plants from foot traffic.