7 Old-Fashioned Flowers You’ve Never Heard Of (But Should Grow This Year)
These exquisite old-fashioned flowers have the most irresistible names!
Nostalgia gardening is having a moment in a big way. Perhaps it’s because we’re seeking a simpler time when neighbors all knew each other and people chatted over the garden gate. For me, it’s about recapturing the feeling of growing up safe and cherished in my grandparents’ garden, where I fell in love with many of the old-fashioned flowers they planted.
Some of these classic flowers went out of favor for a while but have since made a comeback as gardeners realize how unique and charming they are, as well as how easy they are to grow. Pollinators also love them!
I enjoy growing these flowers not only for their beautiful blooms—many of which are must-haves in my cutting garden—but for their charming names, which often tell a story. For me, the flowers are the perfect combination of beauty and whimsy.
These annual flowers grow well from seed, so it’s also not a huge investment to fill your garden with color. It’s also easy (and free!) to gather seeds from the faded flowers to save and plant next year, just like my grandmother taught me to do.
Read on to learn what old-fashioned flowers you may never have heard of—but that you need to plant in your garden this year:
Johnny Jump Up (Viola tricolor)
Also known as viola or heart’s ease, I’ve always had a special fondness for this flower because my own grandfather’s name was John. This tiny spring charmer with white, purple, and yellow petals is the heirloom variety. It’s a profuse self-seeder that will “jump up” again next spring, so you need only plant it once in a sunny area.
Four O’Clocks (Mirabilis jalapa)
The fragrant trumpet-shaped blooms of these flowers come in an array of colors ranging from pink, yellow, purple and multi-color. As you may have guessed, they don’t open until late afternoon or early evening, making them a very special treat to enjoy after a long day.
Kiss Me Over the Garden Gate (Polygonum orientale)
This charming plant has pretty pink tassel-like flowers in late fall. This plant is an aggressive seeder and is considered invasive in some regions, so plant it in a pot where you can contain its spread. It may have earned its common name from the way the flowers drape elegantly over a fence.
Loves-Lies-Bleeding (Amaranthus caudatus)
Popular with Victorians for whom flowers symbolized different aspects of love and friendship, this flower is truly eye-catching with its dramatic, long, red tassels that appear in mid to late summer. Also known as amaranth, this is a showstopper in any garden! It’s stunning in dried arrangements.
Love-in-a-Mist (Nigella damascena)
Also known as nigella, this elegant-looking star-shaped flower comes in white, pink, or shades of blue. The airy, delicate foliage surrounds the flower, as if it were in a mist. Plant this where you can enjoy the intricacy of each bloom. The adorable seedpods look amazing in dried arrangements, too.
Bishop’s Flower (Ammi spp.)
Also known as ammi or false Queen Anne’s lace, these flowers have long sturdy stems topped by lacy flowers, which make a gorgeous filler in bouquets. Bishop’s flower is found in shades of white, pink or pale green. It may have gotten its common name because it resembles the lacework on religious garments.
Touch-Me-Not (Impatiens balsamina)
These heirloom plants boast pink, white, red or salmon flowers from summer to first frost. Thomas Jefferson planted and wrote about these flowers. Also called balsam, this flower is known as touch-me-not because the seed capsules burst open when handled.
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