List of Common Garden Flowers

A number of annual and perennial garden flowers prove to be reliable additions to a home flower garden year after year, according to the University of Illinois Extension. Plant common garden flowers in groups according to similar water, feeding and lighting needs in order to have a successful flower garden.

African marigold (Tagetes erecta), hardy in all U.S. Department of Agriculture zones, is also called American marigold. Marigolds produce blooms in shades of orange, white and yellow and make good cut flowers. This common and reliable garden flower grows to heights ranging from 1 to 3 feet. Marigold is a tender annual with a bushy growth habit that blooms from May through October, according to the University of Illinois Extension. Plant in a location that receives full sun. Marigolds thrive in moist, well-drained soil.

Bachelor's button (Centaurea cyanus), hardy in USDA zones 3 through 10, grows to heights ranging from 12 to 18 inches. This common annual flower produces blooms in shades of blue, lavender, red, white and pink. Bachelor's buttons are good as border plants and cut flowers. This hardy annual blooms from June through October. They thrive in locations that receive full sun and prefer moist, well-drained soil.

Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus)is hardy in USDA zones 9 through 10 but performs well as an annual as far north as zone 5. It can grow to heights ranging from 12 to 24 inches--and sometimes taller under ideal conditions. This common, low-maintenance garden flower produces blooms in shades of red, pink, white and yellow. Cosmos, an annual, thrives in full sun and moist, well-drained soil. They prefer poor soil. Fertile soil leads to fewer blooms. Cosmos bloom from June through October. They attract birds and butterflies, reports the University of Illinois Extension. They make good cut flowers and wildflowers.

Bearded iris (Iris x hybrida), hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 3 through 10, grow to heights ranging from 8 inches to 3 feet. This common garden perennial produces bi-colored blooms in shades of blue, peach, lavender, pink, red, purple, yellow and white. Plants bloom from June to July and again in the fall. They require full sun and moist, well-drained soil. They can tolerate short periods of light shade.

Blanket flower (Galardia x grand flora), hardy in USDA zones 2 through 10, grows to heights ranging from 18 to 24 inches. They produce daisy-like, bi-colored blooms in shades of red, yellow and orange. They thrive in locations that receive full sun. This common garden flower is heat and drought tolerant. Deer do not like to eat blanket flower, reports the University of Illinois Extension. Blanket flower requires very well-drained soils on the dry side.