Top Recommended Rapid-Blooming Flowers to Sow in June, According to Professionals
Get your gardening gloves ready, folks! June is the perfect month to spruce up your outdoor space with fast-growing flowers. These bad boys will have you basking in blooms in no time.
We tapped two gardening gurus—Jennifer Petritz, a horticulturist, garden coach, and small garden design expert, and Angela Judd, a certified master gardener and author of "How to Grow Your Own Food"—to dish on their top picks for speedy summer blooms.
1. Spider Flower
As the name suggests, spider flowers (Cleome) are all legs and petals, resembling, well, spiders—just the friendly kind! According to Jennifer, they're perfect for tall-growing, wispy additions to your summer borders, especially the Queen series. These speedy innovations' seeds germinate quickly in warm temperatures, and by sowing in June, you'll be flaunting flowers by August.
- Zones: 2 to 11
- Size: 4 to 6 feet tall x 3 to 5 feet wide
- Care requirements: Best in full sun and moist, well-drained soil
2. Mexican Sunflower
Mexican sunflowers (Tithonia rotundifolia) might just be the ultimate pollinator-pleaser. With their stunning, orange blossoms, they're a vibrant addition to any garden. Seeds germinate rapidly in warm conditions and full sun. Plus, they make for fantastic cut flowers!
- Zones: 2 to 11
- Size: 3 to 6 feet tall x 2 to 3 feet wide
- Care requirements: Requires full sun and well-drained soil
3. African Marigold
To really ramp up the speed factor, Jennifer recommends the 'Kilimanjaro White' variety of African marigold (Tagetes erecta). These marigolds are taller with enormous, creamy-white, fluffy flowers that blend effortlessly with any other hue. Seeds typically germinate in just five days, making them an excellent choice for continuous blooms through frost.
- Zones: 2 to 11
- Size: 1 to 4 feet tall x 1 to 2 feet wide
- Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; keeps the soil well-drained
4. Zinnia
Bold, vibrant hues and spherical, ruffled shapes? Yes, please! Zinnias (Zinnia spp.) will shine in any garden. Angela raves about them because they grow as quickly as they add color to your landscape. From simple to fancy, there's a zinnia for everyone!
- Zones: 3 to 10
- Size: 14 to 18 inches tall x 20 to 24 inches wide
- Care requirements: Loves full sun and well-drained soil
5. Sunflower
Giant, cheerful sunflowers (Helianthus) might seem intimidating, but they're another excellent option for rapid blooms. Your choice of variety will depend on what you're after, whether it's seeds or branching types for a floral show and shade. Maturing times vary, but there are some varieties that will bloom in around 50 days.
- Zones: 3 to 9
- Size: 1 to 10 feet tall x 1 to 3 feet wide
- Care requirements: Requires full sun and sandy or loam, well-drained soil
Fast-Blooming Honorable Mentions
Don't forget about these beauties:
- Nasturtium: Bright, bell-like flowers with pest-repelling powers. Plus, some varieties are climbers that'll turn your trellis into a colorful spectacle.
- Calendula: Dainty flowers in autumn-inspired shades of gold, orange, white, and tan. Deadheading is key for continuous blooms.
- Bachelor's Button: Petite, round blossoms with plenty of charming foliage. yielding blue-purple flowers.
- Cosmos: Start with fern-like foliage, then enjoy their daisy-like flowers. They grow quickly and thrive in hot conditions.
- Tickseed: Many cultivars with shades of yellow, orange, red, and purple. Low-maintenance and a reliable color source.
Martha Stewart suggests adding the rapid-blooming Spider Flower (Cleome), Mexican Sunflower (Tithonia rotundifolia), African Marigold ('Kilimanjaro White' variety), Zinnias (Zinnia spp.), and Sunflower (Helianthus) to your flower gardens for a vibrant summer display. These fast-growing plants provide a variety of colors, textures, and heights, perfect for gardening enthusiasts seeking quick results. Gardeners can also consider Nasturtium, Calendula, Bachelor's Button, Cosmos, and Tickseed as fast-blooming honorable mentions to complete their home-and-garden lifestyle.
