How long does a flower last, there I ponder the concept of floral real estate. Not to be confused with how many flowers occupy your real estate, but the actual size of each flower. Does it matter if a flower is large or small; will one last longer than the other? Of course the gardener usually wants more, big showy flowers, yes we like that.
My grandmother grew tuberous begonias and tropical hibiscus, they were her large flowers. The begonias were unbelievable and unforgettable. In summer there was gladiolus, dug in fall, stored in the root cellar with the begonia tubers. The tropical hibiscus came into the house every winter, or at least a cutting. There was an extended dormant period for her bulbs, both completely tender and incapable of surviving a West Virginia winter. The same can be said for the tropical hibiscus, with its stunning red, ruffled flowers, which by the way, last a single day.
There is a hardy perennial hibiscus, a native in fact with flowers that can be eight inches across. They last a day, about twelve hours each, and may bloom for four weeks out of the year. A peony flower may last three days, each one fading after three days. So it goes with lily flowers, and daylilies come by their name honestly, one day. Brugmansia one to two days, poppies might last for two days; these are some of the plants with beautiful and large flowers.
To compare, the smaller singular flowers of catmint or nepeta, Russian sage or perovskia, and butterfly weed, are minute when laid next to a lily flower, yet they can flower for two months and return as hardy perennials. Crammed on a single stem, they are also showy. Not nearly as impactful as a lily or even a rudbeckia. I often hear gardeners say that tiger lilies (Lilium tigrinum or Hemerocallis fulva) bloom all summer, some also think that black eyed Susan's or rudbeckia do too. I disagree. In reality it's more like two weeks.
Floral real estate comes at a cost. The "it's too good to be true" may apply. In perennials we can consider gaillardia and gaura. Both incredible bloomers, they may flower for three months. They are literally killing themselves with the effort, more annual than perennial; it's the seedlings that reemerge. Not a bad thing, one just has to plan; little to no mulch and let them seed.
I suspect there is some scientific research to back my theory. Hybridizers are always going to breed for bigger and better, but can a plant sustain the pace? Roses do, and they are hardy and do return. I can't explain that. Butterfly bush can also manage, as a hardy shrub it appears to flower all summer. I suspect that breeders are also working at creating sterile hybrids, those that can't produce seed; the floral effort is elongated and potential hardiness is maintained. All the better for butterfly bush, which has been considered an invasive for many years.
If you're the gardener that wants more, I say check the days on your calendar, tally the weeks your individual perennials bloom. Think of the petal size and the outcome. Consider the hardiness, the longevity of your plant, even the maintenance of large blooms in comparison to small. Is large always better? Do we need more? I'm curious. Speaking as the one that plants a tropical night garden every year, I say yes, and in return, my summer's are wow. But as a retail garden advisor, I recommend the long blooming, smaller flowering, low maintenance options to most people.
