22 Green Flowers That Will Look Stunning Growing Alongside More Colorful Blooms

When you picture a lush flower bed full of beautiful blooms, a whole rainbow of colors might come to mind. Oddly, though, while green is ever-present in our gardens, it’s not as common for the blossoms themselves to be this hue.

If you’re looking to change that, we’ve got you covered. We rounded up some of the most stunning green flowers to grow in your gardens, with tips and advice from the experts on how to keep them happy, healthy, and thriving.

From kelly green to bold chartreuse, here are our favorite green flowers we hoping to see more of in our home gardens. 

Hydrangea

As fluffy and beautiful as their other pastel-colored counterparts, green hydrangea are a bold spin on this summer superstar. With large, round blossoms attached to thin but strong stems, green hydrangea are a beautiful garden shrub that can also be brought inside for a stunning summer arrangement. 

• USDA Growing Zones: 3-9

• Blooming: Late June through August

• Sun: Partial shade preferred

• Soil: Moist, well-drained soil rich in organic matter, with the pH likely to affect color

• Size: 2-6 ft. tall and 2.4 ft. wide

Gladiolus

These elegant stunners are known to be easy to grow from bulbs, and their dramatic, fluttery blooms are a perfect late-summer staple.

• USDA Growing Zones: 7-10

• Blooming: Late summer, ninety days after planting

• Sun: Full sun or partial shade

• Soil: Fertile and well-drained with consistent moisture

• Size: 2 to 4 ft tall with a 1-ft spread

Bells of Ireland

The Bells of Ireland represent luck and are also known as the shellflower, thanks to their blooms which are decidedly both bell and shell-shaped. They’re apple green in color and delicate in appearance, perfect for wherever vertical space is needed to be filled.

• USDA Growing Zones: 2-11

• Blooming: May through mid-July

• Sun: Full and partial

• Soil: Moist and well-drained

• Size: 2-3 ft. tall

Green Envy Zinnia

If you’re looking for a stunning garden flower you can easily cut and transport inside, try the Green Envy Zinnia. It presents striking chartreuse blooms, and it is one of Letier's favorite flowers to cut and use as a centerpiece—it mixes beautifully with white hydrangeas.

• USDA Growing Zones: 2-11

• Blooming: Early summer through the first frost

• Sun: Full sun preferred and will not bloom with less than six hours of direct sunlight per day

• Soil: Well-draining soil rich in organic matter

• Size: 3-3.5 ft.

Green Spider Chrysanthemum

According to Letier, the Green Spider Chrysanthemum is an excellent way to add a whimsical touch of green to your garden or home. She notes that this particular flower has a long vase life after cutting.

Also known as the spider mum and the Anastasia green chrysanthemum, these beauties are named for their large flowering heads with petals shaped like spider legs.

• USDA Growing Zones: 5-9

• Blooming: For two weeks in late September through early October

• Sun: Full and partial

• Soil: Well-drained, acidic

• Size: 1–3 ft. tall and 1–2 ft. wide

Green Goddess Calla Lily

White calla lilies are a wedding day favorite, but Letier notes the Green Goddes Calla Lily offers an elegant trumpet-shaped bloom that pops as a stand-alone flower.

• USDA Growing Zones: 6a-10b

• Blooming: May to August

• Sun: Full sun to dappled shade

• Soil: Humusy, rich, and moist

• Size: 2-3 ft. wide and 2-3 ft. tall
  

Carnation

Most commonly compared to roses and appreciated for their affordability, carnations can often be found in a subtle green that manages to be both pale and bright. They work particularly well as cut flowers in an arrangement.

• USDA Growing Zones: 7-10

• Blooming: May through July

• Sun: Full and partial

• Soil: Well-drained

• Size: From 6 inches up to 2 feet tall, and 10-14 inches wide
  

Boat Orchid

Cymbidium orchids, also known as boat orchids, come in a range of colors—including a stunning, bold chartreuse with a deep purple center.

• USDA Growing Zones: 10-12

• Blooming: October through May

• Sun: Partial

• Soil: Loamy, moist, and well-draining

• Size: 1-1.5ft tall and 1-2ft wide.

Euphorbia

If you’re looking for something long-lasting and visually interesting, Foster says you can’t go wrong with euphorbia. Cultivars like Euphorbia x martinii, also known as "Ascot Rainbow," amp it up at bloom time with a cloud of tiny round chartreuse flower bracts.

• USDA Growing Zones: 6-8, with possible protection needed in cooler climates

• Blooming: Late spring to early summer, primarily June and July as it does not do well in hot, humid summers

• Sun: Full sun to partial shade

• Soil: Dry to medium soils that are moist and well-drained, intolerant to clay soils

• Size: 2-3 ft. tall and 1.5-2 ft. wide

Green Hellebore

Also known as the Helleborus viridis, green hellebore is a toxic but beautiful plant. The blooms are often compared to a buttercup, with five large green petals framing a scattering of smaller yellow petals at its center. They’re especially suited to mass planting for a dramatic and dazzling effect.

• USDA Growing Zones: 6-9

• Blooming: February to June

• Sun: Shade in summer and sun in winter

• Soil: Moist but well-drained

• Size: 1 ft. tall and 1 ft. wide
  

Lady’s Mantle

Lady’s mantle, also known as alchemilla mollis, is another favorite of Foster’s. Its gentle, low-mounding foliage is beloved for catching dew droplets in a captivating way all season, says Foster, who notes it’s also an extremely tolerant plant.

Best of all, if you remove the flowering stems during their first bloom, Foster says you might luck out again later in the summer with a light rebloom.

• USDA Growing Zones: 3-8

• Blooming: May to August

• Sun: Full sun, part shade, and shade

• Soil: All types of soil with good moisture, no preference for acidic versus alkaline

• Size: 1-1.5 ft. tall and 1-1.5 ft. wide

Ranunculus

Ranunculus are widely beloved for their delicate, papery blooms, and green ranunculus are noted for their creamy blossoms with eye-catching green centers.

• USDA Growing Zones: 8-10

• Blooming: March through May

• Sun: Full sun

• Soil: Light, well-drained soil

• Size: Up to 2 ft. tall

‘Green Thumb’ Amaranthus

The ‘green thumb’ amaranthus is decidedly quirky, known for its conical apple-green blooms that look like spikes. It’s perfect for borders and gaps to add depth and interest.

• USDA Growing Zones: 3-10

• Blooming: June through August

• Sun: Full sun

• Soil: Well-drained

• Size: 1.5-2 ft tall

Jack in the Pulpit

If you’re looking for a truly unique flower that thrives in shady areas, Foster suggests the pitcher-like shape of Jack-in-the-Pulpit. It’s the best-known example of the Arisaema genus and is truly spectacular, says Foster.

• USDA Growing Zones: 4a-9a

• Blooming: April to May

• Sun: Partial to full shade, too much sun can impede blooming

• Soil: Moist and humus-like

• Size: 1-2 ft. tall and 1-2 ft. wide

Flowering Tobacco

Notable for its heavy fragrance and beautiful lime green flowers, the nicotiana 'lime green' variety of flowering tobacco resembles small trumpets on long, delicate stems.

• USDA Growing Zones: 10-11

• Blooming: July to September

• Sun: Full sun or part shade

• Soil: Moist and well-drained

• Size: 1-3 ft. tall with a 1-2 ft. spread

Dahlia

Similar to the green envy zinnia, green dahlias are known for their large, round blooms. They’re said to celebrate new beginnings and change, making them an excellent housewarming gift.

• USDA Growing Zones: 8-10

• Blooming: Mid-summer through first frost

• Sun: Full sun

• Soil: Well-drained and sandy, but can tolerate heavy clay soils

• Size: 1-6 ft. tall and 1-3 ft. wide

Rosa chinensis (Viridiflora)

Also known as the viridiflora, the green rose is considered unusual and unique. The blooms don’t technically have petals, but are instead made of leaves and often feature streaks of brown and pink tones.

• USDA Growing Zones: 5-11

• Blooming: Early summer to late fall

• Sun: Full sun

• Soil: Moist but well-drained

• Size: Up to 4 ft.

Spring Green Tulips

Spring green tulips are known for their delicate, papery ivory petals streaked through the center with a green stripe along what’s known as the mid-vein. They’re subtle yet eye-catching and work well to offset brighter tulip varietals.

• USDA Growing Zones: 3-8

• Blooming: Late spring

• Sun: Full sun

• Soil: Rich, fertile, well-drained soil with medium moisture

• Size: 1-2 ft.

Dianthus

Given their Seussical appearance, it’s no surprise the green dianthus has a wide array of alternative names. From ‘Green Ball’ to ‘Sweet William,’ these fluffy, perfectly round balls are lime green and whimsical.

• USDA Growing Zones: 4-8

• Blooming: April to September

• Sun: Full sun with afternoon shade in hot climates

• Soil: Organically rich and well-drained

• Size: 10" to 2-ft. high and 8” to 1-ft. spread

Daylily

While peace lilies are known for their huge, white blooms, green daylilies provide a smaller, softer hue that sits somewhere between pale yellow and chartreuse—mostly at its center. Described as carefree, they’re beloved perennials for their ease and surprising toughness.

• USDA Growing Zones: 4-9

• Blooming: Midsummer through early fall

• Sun: Full sun or part shade

• Soil: Almost any but prefer fertile and well-drained

• Size: 1 to 4 ft. high

Green Jewel Coneflower

If you’re looking for an easy, adaptable, and fun little flower, the green jewel coneflower is your answer. They’re bright and fun in color and known to be great for attracting pollinators.

• USDA Growing Zones: 3-8

• Blooming: Summer to early fall

• Sun: At least four hours daily

• Soil: Not too wet or too fertile

• Size: 1.5-2 ft. high and 12-18 inches wide

Lisianthus

Also known as the Japanese rose, lisianthus have a gentle, unfurling bloom that can last for up to four weeks.

• USDA Growing Zones: 8-10

• Blooming: July through September

• Sun: Full sun to part shade

• Soil: Well-drained and neutral to alkaline

• Size: 2-6 ft. tall and 2-4 ft. wide

Why Green Flowers Are a Rarity

It’s not your imagination—green flowers aren't the most common. Megan Foster, perennial and bulb expert for American Meadows, explains there’s a reason for it.

“This is a fun botany topic—it has everything to do with what attracts pollinators,” Foster says, noting that the answer is twofold.

Green flowers aren't as likely to attract pollinators as their brighter counterparts, meaning they rely on other pollination strategies. As a result, the horticultural industry hasn’t seen as much of a demand to develop more green-flowering plants.

Allison Futeral from Crimson Horticultural Rarities loves using them in floral design. “We are used to seeing leaves as green, not flowers, but it creates a really cool monochromatic look—they are great mixed into an arrangement with other flowers," she says.

Tips for Growing and Enjoying Green Flowers

While all plants have different needs, Donna Letier, founder and CEO of Gardenuity says there are some general rules of thumb when it comes to encouraging your green flowers to thrive.

“The soil matters on green flowers,” Leiter says, who adds coffee grounds to her soil. “Nitrogen enhances their green color. Green flowers require a little extra attention, but the results are well worth it.”

Read the original article on The Spruce.