Tall Flowers That Add Impact to Your Garden

Time is money, which means that many gardeners are increasingly seeking solutions that don’t require them to sweat like an exorcist during the Crusades. Those days, if you want something ancient, prestigious, and towering over commoners, tall flowers are the best ways to add dramatic impact. Much like the tapering silhouette of a Victorian gentleman, they command attention. They are used to fill unsightly areas, line borders, or chosen as focal points in raised garden beds. 

If your garden is feeling a bit flat, it’s time to introduce high-impact flora that refuse to be overlooked. Here are 9 tall flowers that combine elegance with drama. 

 

1. Hollyhocks     

In medieval England, hollyhocks were more than backyard decoration; they were a staple of the crusader’s pharmacopeia. Known historically as "holy hock" (holy mallow), its soothing sap was allegedly used to treat the irritated legs of horses returning from the Holy Land. They are the quintessential backdrop plant, traditionally grown against old brick walls or rustic fences, which also help shield them from heavy winds. 

2. Delphiniums

Known for its indigo spires, delphinium is the undisputed royalty of the summer border. In the language of flowers, they symbolize lightheartedness and an open heart – a poetic sentiment for a plant that requires a rather strict, aristocratic regimen to thrive. These vintage blooms are notoriously finicky, demanding rich organic matter amended with lime, staking against the wind, and a constant supply of moisture. Yet, the reward is unmatched. They bloom in a rare shade of true electric blue that remains unrivaled. The flourish in cool-to-temperate environments, bringing to mind foggy mornings and cool nights, and will wither in heat, so make sure to water regularly.

3. Hydrangeas   

Although not known for its singular stalks, hydrangeas are known to grow quite tall, serving as the foundation for many gardens. Incrediball® Hydrangeas are low maintenance, though they benefit from compost amendments. You will rarely come across a bigger bloom – Incrediball hydrangeas open to enormous snowballs, nearly the size of basketballs. Hydrangea paniculata varieties, inured to cruel winters, are recommended for northern gardeners, and though they may lament their lack of opportunity to grow the showier hydrangeas, Vanilla Strawberry™ Hydrangea is a panicle variety that offers plenty of shine. 

4. Foxgloves 

Foxgloves are another towering, majestic flower that can reach 5 to 6 feet. They look like rows of elegant, speckled bells, but they contain deadly cardiac glycosides, a reminder that beauty and cardiac arrest often go hand-in-hand. Foxgloves tend to take on a ragged appearance late summer, which is why some gardeners remove their plants after flowering. A hori hori knife is an excellent tool for removing spent flowers. 

5. Red Hot Pokers 

Red hot pokers, markedly different from the sedated blooms of tomorrow, lend an architectural, almost prehistoric flair to sunny borders. They are exceptionally drought-tolerant once established. Sitting in soggy soil is a death sentence for red hot pokers, and it’s best not to let the plant stagnate. Raised garden beds are useful for handling poor drainage. 

6. Sunflowers  

Sunflowers are the uncanny valley of flowers – there is something creepy about a patch of almost sentient stalks, attuned to the sun while looking good doing it. Classic cultivars like 'Mammoth Grey Stripe' shoot skyward, above the 12-foot mark. They handle the sun better than most, including darker varieties such as 'Chocolate Cherry'. Come autumn, their massive, seed-packed heads become a feeding frenzy for local birds. Just be sure to give them the sunniest spot in the yard to prevent them from leaning. 

7. Amaranth 

Once revered by the Aztecs and frequently associated with the war god Huītzilōpōchtli (Hummingbird of the Left), amaranth now lies mostly forgotten in roadside ditches. However, its ability to survive in varied, rugged terrain, from hilly mountain sides to areas prone to drought and frost has led to its popularity in gardens. Although it is drought-tolerant, it benefits from watering during dry spells. If your tangled hose is becoming a problem that makes your stress levels spike, a retractable hose cleverly solves this issue.  

8. Giant Himalayan Lilies     

Those who live in zones 7 – 9 will be pleased to know that they can grow giant Himalayan lilies – monstrously large plants that dwarf all other plants. Growing those large lilies are an exercise in patience, as they do not bloom until the fourth to seventh year. Young foliage can also fall prey to slugs, snails, and aphids carrying the incurable mosaic lily virus, so be sure to spray with an organic insecticide. Ferns are excellent companion plants because they thrive in partial to deep shade, wind-sheltered woodlands, and moist, and well-drained soil. Add a few ferns, and you’ll have a veritable Jurassic-era garden in your backyard. 

8. Agapanthus

Agapanthus are well-received in gardens that need cool tones to supplement their chlorophyll-rich environments. Agapanthus africanus 'Black Jack' echoes the straitlaced alliums with its dark violet inflorescences, but on a decadent level that makes it ideal for goth gardens. Though they don’t share the same intensity as delphiniums, Agapanthus are excellent for lining walkable borders in Mediterranean gardens, where they can withstand sun-drenched heat. 

9. Rose of Sharon 

While technically a deciduous shrub, the Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) can easily be trained into a statuesque, multi-stemmed tree that commands attention at heights of eight to twelve feet. It earns its spot on the list for reasons that go beyond its large, frilly blossoms that last from mid-summer right up until the first frost. It is a tough survivor that shrugs off humidity, and is tolerant of a cadre of environment stressors: air pollution, heat, humidity, poor soil and drought.