The primrose is the first flower to bloom in winter! Although a low-growing herbaceous perennial flower, the primrose is mainly planted as an annual ornamental and gives us its wonderful flowers from early January to late spring. The primula has characteristic lanceolate foliage that grows in the form of a rosette and is an ideal plant to plant in a pot on the balcony, as well as in the garden to create impressive color compositions. The name primrose comes from Latin and means first, confirming its early flowering in the heart of winter. There are, of course, some varieties of primrose that bloom in the autumn months. The leaves of the primrose resemble lettuce leaves, which is why many call it “lettuce”. There are many types of primroses with a wide variety of colors to choose from, from white, red, purple, yellow, pink, orange, blue, as well as striking bi-color varieties that have been created in recent years.

There are many types and varieties of basil to choose from. We come across hundreds of varieties of basil, others with smaller or larger leaves, with different colors, tastes and aromas. It is important to mention that most varieties of basil are annuals while there are also some perennials. Depending on our preferences, we can choose curly, broad-leaved, Genovese, nightshade, red (purple), saint or tree basil.

Salvia is a perennial herbaceous plant, cultivated as an annual. It is also called “fire” because of the arrangement and crimson color of its flowers. It belongs to the Labiatae family. The genus Salvia includes about 500 species of plants. Among them is the Mediterranean aromatic sage S. officinalis. Many varieties and hybrids have been created including Salvia x superba with its impressive purple-blue flowers. Salvia is native to Brazil and remains in bloom throughout summer and fall. Its decorative value is due to the rich flowering but also to the contrast created by the red flowers with the lively green foliage. It is planted in groups in rock gardens, lawns, flower beds and plant containers, alone or in combination with other annual plants. The combination of salvia and yellow amber is excellent!

Zinnia is an annual ornamental plant that impresses with the variety of colors and shapes of its flowers. The zinnia has upright strong shoots with a length of half to one meter and large flowers that remain in bloom throughout the summer. We can find tall and short varieties of zinnia and plant them in a pot but also in a rock garden, on the lawn, and in flower beds, in various combinations with other herbaceous flowering plants.

The Snapdragon, a favorite ornamental plant with wonderful flowers, is planted in the spring and is a characteristic plant of the Mediterranean, with rich vegetation. We will find Snapdragon in dwarf varieties from 20-40 cm, medium height from 40-60 cm and tall varieties from 60-120 cm. Although a perennial plant, it is usually planted as an annual in gardens and in pots on the balcony to give us rich flowering and impressive color combinations. Snapdragon thrive in full sun, although they can adapt and thrive even in shady areas.

Carnations, one of the classic and much-loved flowers that are traditionally found in the gardens, yards and balconies of Greek homes. The carnation (carnation or dianthus) stands out for its lush vegetation with its characteristic elongated lance-shaped leaves and its rich flowering in impressive colors. There are single color carnation varieties in shades of pink, red, yellow and white, as well as bicolor carnations with wonderful color combinations. This is an extremely popular ornamental plant that, especially in previous decades, was not missing from any home. After all, the carnation has been cultivated since ancient times and was known by the name Dianthos, which means the flower of Zeus. The carnation is planted in the spring and gives us the rich flowering from April to November.