Smart flower choices

Flowers are more than just a pretty addition to the garden. Once I began planting them among my edibles, they attracted a wonderful array of garden visitors—from bees and butterflies to ladybirds and other beneficial insects—revealing the hidden life that blooms can bring.

Picking the right mix

I like to plant a mix of annuals, perennials and natives – each one has its own place and benefits in the garden.

Flowers that are quick to bloom: Annuals

Fast-growing and quick to bloom, annuals are great for filling in gaps in the patch or changing up the look of your garden with potted displays. Some will self-seed reliably but others need to be replanted each season, so they can be a bit more work. For example: cosmos, zinnias and sunflowers.

Flowers that provide reliability: Perennials

The backdrop flowers of my garden, perennials are steadfast and reliable, flowering on cue every year. Even when they’re looking unkempt when not in flower, they provide crucial habitat for insects. For example: agastache, echinacea and wallflowers.

Flowers that require little maintenance: Natives

These plants feed native bees and insects. They’re well-adapted to our Aussie climate and once established, are low maintenance, often just needing an annual prune. Some native insects rely exclusively on specific host plants. For instance, the larvae of the endangered Eltham copper butterfly (Paralucia pyrodiscus lucida) in Victoria, feed only on sweet bursaria (Bursaria spinosa). For example: cut-leaf daisy (Brachyscome multifida) and everlasting daisies.

Top tip

Continuous flowering across the seasons creates a permanent food source for predators and pollinators, encouraging them to stay in the garden year-round.

To learn more about the many flowers you can add to your garden to create a buzzing haven for pollinators and healthy harvests, get a copy of Early Spring 2026 issue on sale at newsagents and selected supermarkets. You can also subscribe and get a copy delivered to your door!