You don’t need a huge gardening budget to create a yard full of flowers. A few inexpensive seed packets or small starter plants can fill beds, borders, containers, and empty corners with plenty of color.
A 2023 National Gardening Association survey found that 67 percent of American gardeners chose money-saving plants when beautifying their outdoor spaces. Gardening has also been linked with better well-being in research published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology.
The trick is to choose flowers that give you plenty of blooms without demanding a lot of time, money, or special care. Marigolds and zinnias, for example, can cost only a few dollars for a packet of seeds and can produce flowers for much of the growing season.
If you’re looking for inexpensive ways to make your garden more colorful, these 15 flowers are worth a spot on your list.
Marigolds
Marigolds are an easy choice for adding warm shades of yellow, orange, and red to garden beds. They grow well in sunny locations and can produce plenty of flowers from a relatively small investment in seeds.
Many gardeners also plant marigolds near vegetables because their scent may help discourage certain garden pests. Deadheading spent flowers encourages the plants to keep producing new blooms throughout the season.
A single packet of seeds can provide far more plants than you’d get from buying mature flowers individually, making marigolds a good pick for filling a larger space on a small budget.
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Zinnias
Zinnias are fast-growing annuals that come in a huge range of colors, from soft pink and white to bright red, orange, and yellow. Some varieties stay fairly short, while others can reach around 3 feet tall.
They also make a great food source for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. The National Gardening Association reports that zinnia seeds can germinate within 5 to 7 days and continue blooming for up to 10 weeks.
Give the plants plenty of room for air circulation. Spacing seeds about 4 to 6 inches apart can help reduce the risk of powdery mildew while giving each plant enough room to grow.
Petunias
Petunias are a favorite for hanging baskets, window boxes, containers, and garden beds. Their trumpet-shaped flowers come in many colors, and trailing varieties can spill beautifully over the edges of pots.
They prefer sunny locations and can bloom from spring into fall with regular care. Since petunias are relatively inexpensive bedding plants, they’re a practical way to fill a lot of space without spending much.
Keep them watered, remove faded flowers when needed, and give container-grown plants regular feeding during the growing season. With basic care, they can keep producing flowers for months.
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Nasturtiums
Nasturtiums bring fiery shades of red, orange, and yellow to the garden, and there’s another reason to grow them: the flowers and leaves are edible.
They can tolerate dry conditions once established, making them useful for gardeners who don’t want plants that need constant watering. Some gardeners also use nasturtiums as companion plants around vegetables because they may help draw aphids away from other crops.
A single packet can cover a surprising amount of garden space. Soaking the seeds overnight before planting can help speed germination.
Cosmos
Cosmos produce delicate, daisy-like flowers in shades of pink, white, and purple. Some varieties can grow several feet tall, making them useful for adding height to a flower bed without spending much.
They are also prolific self-seeders. If you allow some flowers to go to seed at the end of the season, new plants may appear the following year.
Cosmos don’t need rich soil to perform well. In fact, soil that is too fertile can encourage lots of leafy growth at the expense of flowers. Give them plenty of sunlight and avoid overfeeding them.
Sunflowers
Few flowers make a statement quite like a sunflower. You can find compact varieties that work well in containers and small gardens, along with tall varieties that can grow more than 10 feet.
Sunflower seeds are inexpensive, and the plants grow quickly when given plenty of sun. Their flowers also provide food for bees and other pollinators, while mature seed heads can attract birds.
Plant the seeds about 1 inch deep in well-drained soil and keep the area moist while they’re getting established. Once they’re growing well, sunflowers are fairly easy to care for.
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Pansies
Pansies are a good choice for gardeners who want color during the cooler parts of the year. They are often planted in early spring or fall and can handle light frost.
Their cheerful flowers come in many combinations of purple, yellow, blue, white, and other shades. They’re also compact enough for containers, borders, and smaller garden beds.
Keep the soil consistently moist without leaving the roots sitting in water. Good drainage is important because overly wet conditions can lead to root problems.
Pot Marigolds
Pot marigolds, also known as calendula, produce bright yellow and orange flowers that can bring a sunny look to garden beds and containers. They’re easy to grow and can tolerate a little cold, making them useful for extending the flowering season.
Calendula has also been used in traditional skin preparations and teas. If you grow it for culinary or herbal use, make sure you’re working with a variety that is appropriate for that purpose.
Remove faded flowers regularly to encourage the plant to produce more blooms.
Sweet Alyssum
Sweet alyssum stays close to the ground and produces clusters of tiny, fragrant flowers. It works well along garden edges, between taller plants, and in containers where its trailing growth can spill over the sides.
The flowers attract bees and other beneficial insects, while the dense growth helps cover bare soil. Its low-growing habit also makes it useful for filling gaps between larger plants.
Plant sweet alyssum in well-drained soil and pair it with taller flowers for a layered garden bed. It can spread nicely without requiring much attention.
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Black-Eyed Susans
Black-eyed Susans bring bright yellow petals and dark centers to the garden, often flowering from midsummer into fall. They’re hardy perennials that can handle dry conditions once established.
Bees and butterflies visit the flowers, and the seed heads can provide food for birds later in the season. Since black-eyed Susans are native to North America, they can be a good choice for gardeners interested in plants that support local wildlife.
Mature clumps can be divided every three to four years. This gives you more plants for other parts of the yard without buying new ones.
Dianthus
Dianthus, often called pinks, produces small flowers in pink, red, and white shades. Many varieties also have a pleasant fragrance.
These plants prefer sunny locations and well-drained soil. Their compact growth makes them useful for edging paths, filling containers, or adding color around the front of a flower bed.
Dianthus can tolerate relatively dry conditions once established. Remove spent flowers regularly to encourage another round of blooms.
Impatiens
Impatiens love the shade, which makes them useful for parts of the yard where sun-loving flowers struggle.
They can produce masses of red, pink, white, purple, and other colorful blooms in shady beds, containers, and hanging baskets. They prefer moist, well-drained soil and need regular watering during hot weather.
Keep the soil moist without making it soggy. Too much water can contribute to root problems, while letting the plants dry out for too long can leave them wilted.
Geraniums
Geraniums are versatile plants that work in containers, hanging baskets, window boxes, and outdoor beds. Their flowers come in shades such as red, pink, white, and salmon.
They can handle full sun and partial shade, though their needs vary by variety and growing conditions. Container-grown geraniums can also be brought indoors before cold weather, allowing you to keep them from year to year in suitable climates.
If the stems become long and thin, trim them back to encourage fuller growth. Regular removal of faded flowers can also keep the plants looking tidy and encourage more blooms.
Snapdragons
Snapdragons bring height and color to garden beds with their tall flower spikes. The blooms come in many shades, including pink, yellow, red, white, orange, and combinations of multiple colors.
They prefer cooler weather, so they’re a great fit for spring and fall gardens in many areas. Depending on the variety, plants can reach around 3 feet tall.
Plant them in well-drained soil and add a layer of mulch around the base to help hold moisture and keep the roots cooler. Removing faded flower spikes can encourage additional blooms.
Begonias
Begonias are a dependable choice for shady areas where many flowering plants struggle. Their flowers can appear in red, orange, pink, and white, and their foliage can also add plenty of visual interest.
They work well in containers, hanging baskets, and garden beds. Many varieties can be grown from tubers, which can be stored over winter in suitable climates and replanted the following year.
Begonias prefer moist soil but don’t like to sit in water. Water at the base of the plant rather than over the leaves to help reduce the chance of leaf problems.
With a mix of annuals and perennials, seed-grown flowers, and plants that can be divided or saved from one season to the next, you can fill a garden with color without spending a fortune. The best part is that many of these flowers are easy enough for new gardeners while still giving experienced growers plenty to enjoy.
