India’s winter blooms

India is happier during its winters

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By Horti Culturist

India is happier during its winters. The rate of diseases plummet we are talking about those beyond the coronavirus category the weather is healthier, the food is better, the sky is really blue and the flowers are prettier. India is a place for flowers, of hundreds of varieties, of smells and feelings.

This is the time to look at some of the better winter flowers of India. As the temperatures drop, it becomes the happiest time for all the gardening lovers in northern India. As the heat subsides, the delicacies of flowers take root.

Petunias
Let us start with the most innocent, yet the most vibrant ones, the Petunias. These flowers come in so many special colours that it is always a gardener’s favourite. These are not the big tag flowers, but surely the show-stealers. These flowers are big, with vibrant colours and bloom in bulk. These are the flowers that can decorate the railings, as well as hanging planters.

Four species of petunias include hundreds of cultivars and offer a perfect addition to the home landscape: Grandiflora petunias are the most common type of growing petunias. This species features 3 to 4 inch (7.5 to 10 cm) blooms which often grow upright, but may spill over the side of your container or window box. Multiflora petunias have smaller flowers and a more abundant bloom. Milliflora petunias are miniature versions of growing petunias; they are compact and re-blooming. Spreading petunias are only 6 inches (15 cm) tall and can rapidly cover a selected area to function as a blooming ground cover.

Petunias

Rose
The most common flowering plant found in almost every Indian house, roses are naturally placed first on this list. While the most commonly found colour is red, this weather is great to add a number of pinks, oranges, yellows and shaded roses to your garden.

Rose bushes come in a variety of forms, from climbing roses to miniature rose plants. Old roses also called “old-fashioned roses” and “heirloom roses”are those introduced prior to 1867. These are the lush, invariably fragrant roses found in old masters’ paintings.

Modern hybrid roses, introduced after 1867, are sturdy, long-blooming, extremely hardy and disease-resistant, and bred for colour, shape, size, and fragrance. The hybrid tea roses, with one large flower on a long cutting stem, are one of the most popular hybrids.

Species, or wild roses, are those that have been growing wild for many thousands of years. These wild roses have been adapted to modern gardens and usually bloom from spring to early summer. Most species of roses have single blossoms.

White Rose

Hollyhocks
The stalked flowering plants are one of the most underrated plants in India. If grown with proper planning, they can be the highlight of your garden. They can grow to a height of more than 5 feet and are usually perfect for landscape gardens. They are very hardy plants that come in a variety of colours as well as structures including single and double petals.

Hollyhocks

Calendulas
The vibrant mustard and orange flowers are the easiest to grow and can bring a lot of contrast to any garden. They make for great pot plants as well as look stunning when planted on borders along with other winter beauties. The flowers are not just aesthetically pleasing but also have a lot of health and beauty benefits.

More Varieties of Calendula: ‘Candyman Orange’ calendula; ‘Daisy Mix’ calendula; ‘Spring Surprise’ calendula.

Calendulas

Dahlias
Officially the ‘king of winter flowers, the huge blooms of dahlias can transform any garden. They come in different varieties that range from single-petalled to multi-petalled, dwarf as well as button. They are very beautiful flowers that are the main attraction for butterflies and birds.

Dahlias

Marigold
An Indian staple and a must-have in every Indian garden, marigolds are the most easily available plants around in India. They are loved by everyone and are great for bees. They bloom profusely, adding a rich burst of yellows and oranges wherever they are planted. They are considered auspicious in Indian households and can be used for various purposes.

Height : Plant height varies with the cultivar. Marigolds cover a full range of sizes from about 6 inches to 3 feet tall.

Ornamental Features : Marigolds have cherry, pom-pom, anemone, or daisy-shaped inflorescences in colors ranging from yellow and gold to orange, red, and mahogany. Some unique cultivars have striped, bicolor, or creamy white blooms. The two main species grown in home gardens are the French marigold (Tagetes patula) and the African marigold (Tagetes erecta).