Flowering Plants for Kids to Enjoy
Easy-to-Grow Plants That Preschoolers and Young Children Can Grow
Children can be successful gardeners, growing bright flowering plants and aromatic herbs with joy when careful plant selections are made for them.
Geranium - What we typically think of as Scented Geraniums are actually annual plants known by the scientific name Pelargonium. Geraniums are popular with children because of the large, scented leaves and colorful flower clusters. Deadheading these tropical plants throughout the growing season will allow months of flowers for the child to enjoy! Geraniums are easy to grow with moderate watering and medium fertile soil and flower best in full sun with afternoon shade to protect from overwhelming summer heat.
Lavender - Zones 5-8. This silvery-leaved, aromatic herb is hardy and tolerates some neglect making it a perfect plant for young children or preschoolers in learning to garden. Lavender is a good choice for containers which puts the plant at easy reach of the child. The fragrant leaves and scented flowers are highly enjoyable so children feel successful even when the lavender plant is not in bloom. See more information about Selecting Lavender Plants to give your child the best chance for success.
Marigold - Annual plant. These bright bedding plants are readily available from nurseries and garden centers in the late spring. Marigolds are relatively inexpensive and have long been used as companion plants in vegetable gardens to help discourage bugs and pests from coming into the tomato and lettuce plants. Children will love the bright marigold flowers which will bloom almost continuously with careful deadheading. Easy to grow in full sunlight and moderate soil, preschoolers and young children can grow marigold flowers in a special children's garden or make them their contribution to the "grown- up" vegetable plot.
Nasturtium - Nasturtiums are summer-blooming annual plants that grow quickly from seed and make excellent hanging basket plants. Children feel very successful cultivating nasturtiums because the seeds germinate quickly and the plant grows at a fast rate. Nasturtium blooms attract butterflies and hummingbirds so consider hanging your preschooler's and child's nasturtium basket outside a bright, sunny window where the kids can enjoy the butterflies and birds visiting "their" flowers!
Pansy - Children can enjoy blooms even in cold winter months in many areas with the cheerful Pansy flowers. Give the pansies rich or average fertile soil and full sun or light afternoon shade and expect several weeks of blooms during the cool months of fall and winter. Kids will likely enjoy the instant success of planting pansies as already started bedding plants but they are fairly easy to grow from seeds so older children might enjoy the challenge of starting their own plants.
Primrose - Zones 4-8. These spring blooming perennials prefer cool temperatures and full sun. Since primroses do well with consistantly moist soil they make a great choice for indoor gardens for your children. Primroses are mentioned throughout Shakespearean literature as well and having children tend the primrose plants can be a great way of introducing Shakespeare's plays and some famous passages to older, school-age kids.
