It’s not uncommon for people to wonder what flowers grow well in Missouri. Afterall, choosing plants suitable for your garden and local weather conditions can take some time and research.
In this article, I’ll go over some of the best low-maintenance flowers that you can grow without spending a lot of your time, effort or money in Missouri. Let’s get to it!
Some of the flowers that thrive in Missouri include the native Cardinal flowers, Black-eyed Susans, blue lobelias, and more. Meanwhile, others aren’t native but are perfectly adaptable, like Daisies, lilies, and Zinnias. I’ll delve into further details on these and more below.
Best Flowers to Grow in Missouri
Missouri state is known for its continental weather and strong seasonality. Because of its location, the state is often prone to frequent temperature changes. Its summers are hot, humid, and sometimes rainy, while the winters are long, cold, and harsh.
However, you can categorize its climate as USDA zones 5-7.
That said, many types of flowering plants can grow just fine in these conditions and give you beautiful, colorful, and thriving blooms.
You’ll still need to give them some extent of care, like regular pruning with sharp shears and a mild insect control spray, though.
Here are 10 of the prettiest flowers you can grow in Missouri:
1. Daisies
When we think of daisies, the picture that usually pops up in our minds is the classic bright white flower with a yellow center.
However, daisies have a wide variety of vibrant colors, and some even have unusually shaped petals. A lot of those are compatible with Missouri’s USDA hardiness zones.
For one, the Mt. Hood Shastas have prolific delicate blooms of white flowers and green foliage. They start to bloom in the summer and grow to 16 inches tall and 20 inches wide.
Meanwhile, the Early Bird Gold Gloriosa looks a lot like Black-Eyed Susans, with bright yellow flowers and darker brown centers. Those are only slightly larger than the Shastas, and they have better tolerance to heat and drought.
If you’re looking for something dramatic, you could consider the Ostic Bronze African variety. Their bronze-tipped violet petals are quite the head turners.
To get a late spring bloom, look into the Lemon Puff Shasta. The flowers will hold on till the mid-summer, too.
All in all, you can’t go wrong with any of those daisies. They’re all fairly easy to grow, handle the sun well, and their water needs are moderate to low.
2. Zinnias
Just like daisies, zinnias have several types that are suitable for Missouri’s climate. They come in shades of white, red, yellow, purple, and more. Some types even have bicolored petals!
Zinnias are considered dwarf plants with huge flowers and vibrant colors. This is what makes them perfect for planting in indoor pots, flower beds, or beside fences.
They’re easy to grow and care for in full sun exposure with well-drained soil. After they’ve been established, they don’t require a lot of frequent watering either.
Zinnias start to bloom mid-summer, grow up to 10 inches tall, and they’re hardy for all USDA zones.
3. Marigolds
Marigold flowers have cheerful yellow and orange shades to match their big double blooms and full foliage.
They’re easy to grow and care for, and they tolerate low moisture and extended sunlight. Just make sure you provide some shade during harsh summer days.
Another upside is that they have a long blooming season from early spring to late fall. Imagine long-lasting flowers on a marigold that grows to 12 inches tall and 15 inches wide!
Marigolds are hardy for all USDA zones when they’re planted as annuals.
4. Cardinal flower
Cardinals are wildflowers that are surely distinct-looking and will stand out in your garden. They’re, hands down, one of the most intensely-red flowers you’ll ever see!
The flower itself grows in spikes, where each one has three spreading lower petals and two upper petals.
The key to growing those red beauties is partial shade and a whole lot of water. When they grow in the wild, it’s almost always around ponds and marshes. After all, they’re not particularly tolerant to drought, so you’ll need to water them regularly.
They usually start to bloom from early summer to fall, and they’re hardy in USDA zones 1-10.
5. Daylilies
Daylilies are another popular choice for gardeners, especially beginners because they give you such a cheerful variety of colors with little care.
These pretty flowers can come in many shades of yellow, pink, and burgundy. Some can have multi-colored petals, too.
They can take in some heat and drought. Plus, they tolerate different types of soil as long as there’s proper drainage.
Daylilies begin their blooming season from spring to late summer. However, they’re a bit large at 5 feet tall and 4 feet wide.
As a general rule, a daylily plant is hardy for USDA zones 3-10.
6. Alyssum Flowers
Alyssum flowers are also known as the Basket of Gold because of their bright golden-yellow blooms.
Even though the flower itself is relatively small, these shining flowers bloom in large clusters. They can grow well in containers, flower beds, or alongside borders.
The best planting conditions for them are well-drained soil, moderate irrigation, and full sun exposure.
Alyssum flowers start to bloom from winter to spring, and they thrive in USDA zones 4-9.
7. Lavenders
Who doesn’t love lavender’s calming fragrance? After all, there’s a reason why they’re used in aromatherapy!
In fact, growing lavender is becoming more prevalent in Missouri. Recent research found that the flower can adapt well and grow in the state’s weather conditions.
It gets its adaptability from the fact that lavender is native to hot and dry Mediterranean climates. That’s why its maintenance is all about full sun exposure and soil drainage.
You also need to give it enough space to spread. The plant can grow up to a whopping 2 feet tall!
Lavender flowers start to bloom from late spring to the end of summer, then it leaves behind silvery foliage. Keep in mind that the charming lavenders are hardy for USDA zones 5-9.
8. ‘Spot On’ Lungwort
When it blooms, there’s no hiding the lungwort’s clusters of cobalt-blue and purple flowers. The petite blooms are contrasted with multicolored foliage with silver dots all over!
Unlike most flowers on the list, the lungworts like to grow in partially to fully shaded areas. They also thrive in evenly moist but well-drained soil with regular irrigation.
On average, the plant will grow to 1 foot tall and 2 feet wide. You can expect to see their bloom in the spring on the plant if you’re in USDA zones 4-8.
9. Virginia Bluebells
Yet another blue beauty you’d probably love to add to your garden is the Virginia bluebell flower.
Virginia bluebells get their name from the bell-shaped flowers with shades of blue and soft velvet, coming out of pink buds!
However, the bluebells don’t get along well with direct sunlight. It needs full shade with moderate irrigation.
The delicate flowers appear around the spring, given that the Virginia bluebells are hardy for USDA zones 3-9.
10. Lenten Roses
Lenten roses come in a variety of pretty colors, such as white, light pink, and dramatic dark burgundy. Some types have petals with mixed colors.
Caring for the lenten rose isn’t complicated. It mainly needs regular watering and protection from direct sunlight.
They start to bloom in early spring, as long as they’re planted in USDA zones 4-9.
Wrap-Up: What Flowers Grow Well in Missouri
Building your own garden can take a lot of planning before you commit to the plants that are most suitable for your garden’s needs and conditions.
The first step is always knowing your local USDA Hardiness Zone. Once you know this classification, you’re ready to get your garden started.
By now, figuring out what flowers grow well in Missouri should be fairly easy. Just look for plants that are hardy around zones 5-7.
With little effort, you’ll get to enjoy some pretty blooms!
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