Looking to brighten up your garden quickly? There are fast-growing flowers that will fill your garden with vibrant colors in no time.
These flowers are perfect for adding a splash of brightness and beauty to your outdoor space. With their quick growth and easy care, you’ll have a stunning, colorful garden before you know it.
1. Zinnia (Zinnia elegans)
- Growing Time: Approximately 60-70 days from seed to bloom.
Zinnias are vibrant and versatile flowers that come in a variety of colors, including red, pink, orange, yellow, and white. They are known for their daisy-like blooms and sturdy stems.
They thrive in full sun and can quickly fill a garden with bright, cheerful color.
2. Geranium (Pelargonium × hortorum)
- Growing Time: About 70-80 days from seed to bloom.
Geraniums are popular for their colorful and abundant blooms, available in shades of red, pink, white, and purple. They have rounded, often aromatic leaves and are well-suited for containers and garden beds.
They prefer full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil.
3. Petunia (Petunia × hybrida)
- Growing Time: Approximately 60-70 days from seed to bloom.
Petunias are known for their large, trumpet-shaped flowers that come in a range of colors, including purple, pink, red, white, blue, and bicolor. They are excellent for hanging baskets, containers, and garden beds.
Petunias thrive in full sun and can quickly provide a vibrant display.
4. Marigold (Tagetes erecta, Tagetes patula)
- Growing Time: About 45-60 days from seed to bloom.
Marigolds are hardy annuals that offer bright, cheerful blooms in shades of yellow, orange, and red. They are known for their easy care and ability to repel pests, making them a popular choice for garden beds and borders.
They prefer full sun and well-drained soil.
5. Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)
- Growing Time: Approximately 50-60 days from seed to bloom.
Nasturtiums are vibrant, trailing or climbing plants with edible flowers and leaves. Their flowers come in shades of red, orange, yellow, and even bicolor varieties.
They are great for adding color to hanging baskets, containers, and garden beds. Nasturtiums thrive in full sun to partial shade and are tolerant of poorer soils.
6. Calendula (Calendula officinalis)
- Growing Time: Approximately 50-60 days from seed to bloom.
Calendulas, also known as pot marigolds, feature bright, daisy-like flowers in shades of orange and yellow. They are valued for their medicinal properties and ornamental appeal.
Calendulas are hardy and can grow in a variety of soil types, preferring full sun or partial shade.
7. California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica)
- Growing Time: About 50-60 days from seed to bloom.
California poppies are renowned for their vibrant, orange to yellow blooms and feathery, gray-green foliage. They are drought-tolerant and thrive in full sun, making them ideal for low-maintenance gardens.
Their cheerful flowers open in the morning and close at night.
8. Pansy (Viola × wittrockiana)
- Growing Time: Approximately 70-80 days from seed to bloom.
Pansies are beloved for their wide range of colors, including shades of purple, blue, yellow, and white, and patterns of little faces on their petals.
They are a favorite for adding bright spots to garden beds and containers and their preference for cool weather and partial shade.
9. Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus)
- Growing Time: About 50-60 days from seed to bloom.
Cosmos are tall, airy plants with delicate, daisy-like flowers in shades of pink, white, and red. They are easy to grow and add a light, whimsical touch to gardens.
Cosmos thrive in full sun and well-drained soil and are known for their long blooming period.
10. Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)
- Growing Time: Approximately 70-90 days from seed to bloom, depending on the variety.
Sunflowers are known for their large, bright yellow blooms and tall, sturdy stems. They can grow to impressive heights and follow the sun’s movement throughout the day.
Sunflowers are best suited to full sun and are relatively easy to grow, adding a dramatic splash of color to any garden.
11. Snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus)
- Growing Time: Approximately 60-70 days from seed to bloom.
Snapdragons radiate charm with their unique, tubular flowers that resemble dragon mouths. They come in a wide range of colors, including pink, red, yellow, white, and purple.
Snapdragons add vertical interest to garden beds and containers and thrive in full sun to partial shade with well-drained soil.
12. Morning Glory (Ipomoea tricolor)
- Growing Time: About 60-70 days from seed to bloom.
Morning glories are admired for their large, trumpet-shaped flowers that bloom in the morning and close by afternoon. They come in shades of blue, pink, purple, and white.
Morning glories are vigorous climbers, making them ideal for trellises and arbors. They prefer full sun and well-drained soil.
13. Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritima)
- Growing Time: Approximately 30-45 days from seed to bloom.
Sweet alyssum is cherished for its small, fragrant flowers that form dense clusters, typically in shades of white, pink, or lavender. It creates a lovely ground cover and is excellent for containers and hanging baskets.
Sweet alyssum thrives in full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil.
14. Impatiens (Impatiens walleriana)
- Growing Time: About 60-75 days from seed to bloom.
Impatiens are popular for their bright, colorful blooms that come in a wide variety of hues, including red, pink, white, purple, and orange.
They have a bushy growth habit and are ideal for shaded garden areas and containers. Impatiens thrive in partial to full shade and moist, well-drained soil.
15. Cleome (Cleome hassleriana)
- Growing Time: Approximately 70-90 days from seed to bloom.
Cleome, also known as spider flower, features distinctive, spidery blooms in shades of pink, purple, and white. The flowers are arranged in tall, airy clusters that add a unique vertical element to gardens.
Cleome is a robust plant that thrives in full sun and well-drained soil.
16. Lantana (Lantana camara)
- Growing Time: Approximately 60-70 days from seed to bloom.
Lantanas are known for their vibrant, multi-colored flower clusters, which can include hues of orange, pink, yellow, and red. They are hardy, heat-tolerant, and attract butterflies.
Lantanas thrive in full sun and well-drained soil and are great for adding a splash of color to garden beds and containers.
17. Coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata)
- Growing Time: About 50-60 days from seed to bloom.
Coreopsis, or tickseed, is appreciated for its bright, daisy-like flowers in shades of yellow, orange, and red. It has a long blooming period and works well in sunny garden beds and borders.
Coreopsis is drought-tolerant and prefers well-drained soil.
18. Verbena (Verbena × hybrida)
- Growing Time: Approximately 60-70 days from seed to bloom.
Verbenas are known for their vibrant, colorful flower clusters, which come in various shades including purple, pink, red, and white. They are excellent for hanging baskets, containers, and garden beds.
Verbena prefers full sun and well-drained soil and is a good choice for attracting pollinators.
19. Dianthus (Dianthus chinensis)
- Growing Time: About 60-70 days from seed to bloom.
Dianthus, or China pink, features charming, fringed flowers in shades of pink, red, white, and purple. They have a spicy fragrance and are suitable for garden beds, borders, and containers.
Dianthus thrives in full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil.
20. Phlox (Phlox drummondii)
- Growing Time: Approximately 60-70 days from seed to bloom.
Phlox are known for their dense, colorful flower clusters, which come in shades such as pink, red, white, and purple. They are excellent for adding vibrant color to garden beds and borders.
Phlox prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil.
In just a few weeks, these fast-growing flowers can transform your garden into a colorful paradise. They are easy to grow and care for, making them a great choice for anyone looking to add vibrant hues quickly.
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Nancy has been a plant person from an early age. That interest blossomed into a bachelor’s in biology from Elmira College and a master’s degree in horticulture and communications from the University of Kentucky. Nancy worked in plant taxonomy at the University of Florida and the L. H. Bailey Hortorium at Cornell University, and wrote and edited gardening books at Rodale Press in Emmaus, PA. Her interests are plant identification, gardening, hiking, and reading.