Idaho is known for having a mesmerizing landscape. Being the home of the Rockies, the mountainous terrain in Idaho creates a variation in the state’s climate. This makes for a wide range of hardiness zones.
So what flowers grow well in Idaho? Flowers like Peonies, Lungworts, Shasta Daisies, Phlox, and Geum (Avens) do very well in Idaho. Each species has many varieties that can grow and thrive in hardiness zones 3–6, depending on the specific area you live in.
Let’s discuss each one of them in detail, and hopefully, you’ll find the flower variety you want to plant next!
1. Peonies
The fluffy, soft blooms of peonies are a wonderful addition to any garden. Aside from coming in many beautiful shades, they’re hardy in USDA hardiness zones 3–7, which makes them perfect for planting in any part of Idaho.
Peonies are perennials that come back year after year and flourish even in the winter. In fact, the buds require some cold to form properly. They come in different varieties that form simple or double-petaled flowers, including Japanese, anemone, single, semi-double, double, and bomb.
What you need to plant peonies with success is plenty of sunshine and neutral, well-draining soil. Make sure the area you’re planting your peonies is where you want them, as they don’t transplant well.
Fall is when you want to start planting the peony bare roots. If you must transplant a mature peony, do so in the fall as well as the plants go dormant by the end of the summer.
Avoid planting them near other trees or shrubs as they don’t thrive when competing for food or sunlight.
2. Pulmonaria (Lungworts)
Pulmonaria or Lungworts are the names for 18 perennial plants found in the wild in parts of Europe and Western Asia. The most common ones used for decorative gardening are P. saccharata, P. angustifolia, and P. longifolia. They’re often crossed to get new cultivars.
These exotic beauties are a double feature; not only do they have beautiful bloom clusters, but they also make for wonderful foliage when the flowers fade. Their silver-speckled leaves are just as beautiful as the bright pink or violet flowers. They’re winter hardy in zones 3–8.
Pulmonaria flowers thrive in partial shade. That’s why they’re great for corners in the garden that don’t get a lot of direct sunlight. You can plant them successfully in the fall or springtime.
Put the nursery potted plants in rich soil that’s moist but well-draining to discourage root rot. Make sure the soil pH is neutral to very mildly alkaline (7.0 to 8.0). The blooms actually change color during the season from pink to bluish violet depending on soil alkalinity.
Prune the Lungwort plant by removing any faded flowers to encourage new growth. In the summer, you can leave the roots in the soil and remove the dead, yellowed foliage. The roots should grow back with leaves and blooms when the weather cools down.
3. Shasta Daisies
Shasta Daisies are a beautiful hybrid that combines bright, cheerful daisy blooms with evergreen foliage.
The scientific name for them is Leucanthemum x superbum because they’re a cross between several types of daisies. They come in several cultivars that vary in height, with some being 3-feet tall.
The classic white petals and sunny interior tip you off that this plant loves sunlight. You can either sow seeds or get a nursery potted plant. Planting should be in the spring or early fall, with blooms appearing in the following spring.
Make sure you have soil that’s both well-draining and fertilized. However, don’t overdo the fertilizer or you’ll get more leaves than flowers.
The nursery plants also need room for their roots to grow, or else they’ll become root-bound and fail to thrive. Place them 1–2 feet apart and water them well.
Once established, Shasta Daisies can tolerate relatively dry conditions. Just check on the plants to make sure the sun isn’t burning the leaves and water if necessary. Spent flowers should be deadheaded frequently to encourage further blooming.
You can plant more Shasta Daisies as the seasons go by. They’re short-lived perennials, which means you get a few seasons out of them before they die. Adding new plants can help them colonize and establish themselves.
4. Phlox
Phlox is a group of 67 annual and perennial plants that are native to North America. They have gorgeous, star-shaped flowers that come in different bright shades of white, pink, violet, and blue.
Phlox can come in the form of tall, garden varieties that can grow up to five feet, and creeping varieties that can form beautiful, fragrant ground coverings. They all thrive in rich, moist soil and shady conditions. However, avoid letting the clippings sit in soggy, stagnant soil, or they’ll rot.
You can grow Phlox from either transplants/clippings or seed—though the former is easier. Start planting them in late April when all threat of frost has passed, or in September, a month before the first frost. You should get flowers by the following spring.
Till the soil to loosen it about 12–15 inches deep and mix in about 2–5 inches of compost. Place the clippings about two feet apart, especially for the creeping varieties, to allow root extension. Water regularly, but make sure the soil drains well so the roots aren’t sitting in water.
To keep your Phlox flowering and beautiful, deadhead any spent blooms. Most Phlox varieties are perennial, except for Phlox drummondii, or Annual Phlox.
For the perennial varieties, you can leave the roots in the soil overwinter. Just remove any above-ground yellow foliage to keep it from rotting.
5. Geum (Avens)
Geum or Avens is a group of rose-like, brilliant flowers that come in fiery shades of orange and red, as well as yellows and pinks. They’re hardy in zones 3–7 and can tolerate frost, but thrive in partially sunny conditions.
Avens flowers from spring to summer but can remain in bloom till early fall if deadheaded regularly. All you need to do is create a moist but well-draining growing medium for the plant. The plants aren’t pH-sensitive but can’t tolerate excessively dry soil.
Geum is a genus in the rose family, so their plants look similar to rose shrubs. They also attract pollinators like butterflies and other insects much like roses do. They grow from rhizomes, so propagating them is fairly easy by dividing offshoots from the rhizomes and replanting them.
Although they’re easy to grow and mostly not fussy, they tend to attract vine weevils. You’ll know they’ve fallen victim to these beetles when you notice irregular notches on the sides of leaves. Since the larvae mostly feed on the roots, you might not be able to save the plant they infested.
The adult vine weevils are active only at nighttime. So if you suspect the plant is infested, check the plants with a flashlight after dark. The adult beetles are about a third of an inch and are a dull black color.
You can get a biological control for the pest if you find it in the roots, which is a kind of nematode that feeds on beetle larvae.
Wrap Up On What Flowers Grow Well in Idaho
Idaho is home to different hardiness zones depending on the varied topography of the state. Nevertheless, you can find various flowers that grow well in Idaho whether you’re in Boise or Idaho Falls.
Flowers like Peonies, Pulmonaria, Shasta Daisies, Phlox, and Geum are all great choices for hardiness zones 3–6, where the state lies. They tolerate frost and remain in bloom almost all summer when the weather is nice, which is a great plus.
To get the most out of your plants, especially perennials, make sure the soil is moist but not soggy. And remember, some plants like full sun exposure while others thrive in shady conditions, so take this into consideration when planning your garden layout.
Back to Petals And Hedges home page
Read more from our wedding flowers ideas category