If you’re looking to improve the appearance of your garden, it can be challenging to know where to start. A great place for inspiration is Germany, where almost 20% of its total landmass consists of lush forests filled with flowers of all shapes, sizes, and colors.
Some of the most stunning flowers native to Germany include Cornflower, German Chamomile, Forget-Me-Not, Lily of the Valley, European Spindle, and Edelweiss. Bugloss, Houndstooth, Linden, Snowdrop, Hyacinth, and Marigold are also German Native flowers.
In this article, I’ll detail each of these flowers and how they can improve your garden. I’ll also discuss the conditions these flowers need to grow to help you successfully create a stunning garden.
1. Cornflower
First on the list is the national flower of Germany, the cornflower. Known scientifically as Centaurea cyanus, it’s also commonly referred to as “bachelor’s buttons.” Originally a symbol of the German state, Prussia, this wildflower can be found all over Germany.
The cornflower is a beautiful, deep purple- blue color. It typically grows between 15-35 in (40-90 cm) and consists of florets that come together in a ring shape, known as a “flowerhead.” These plants are typically hearty and don’t require a specific climate to grow.
In addition to adding some color to your garden, these plants can also be eaten! That’s right. Cornflowers are sometimes found in spices, cheeses, and salads. Not only this, but the flower also has a rich history.
Kaiser Wilhelm, the former emperor of Germany, loved the cornflower because it held great personal significance. His mother, the queen of Prussia, had fled Berlin with her children and was pursued by Napoleon Bonaparte of France. His mother asked them to hide in a valley filled with cornflowers in one instance of their escape. The flower has held significant meaning to him ever since.
2. German Chamomile
Another famous and popular flower is the German chamomile, sometimes referred to as Roman chamomile. This annual, perennial plant is renowned for its medicinal properties and often used as a soothing herb.
German chamomile consists of a yellow center surrounded by white petals. It can reach up to 36 inches (90 centimeters) and grows with flowers tightly together in a bushy bunch. Bugs typically pay no mind to chamomile plants, so adding this flower to your garden can help keep your garden free of pests. Chamomile plants can also repel certain types of beetles.
This flower also has a lot of practical uses. It’s an anti-inflammatory with sedative-like effects, often found in soothing teas and other drinks, and also can reduce anxiety and help people fall asleep.
3. Forget-Me-Not
Another flower native to Germany that can help your garden become the envy of your neighborhood is the forget-me-not. Scientifically named Myosotis scorpioides, this tiny blue flower is undoubtedly unforgettable!
This flower grows on tall, large stems that can reach up to 48 inches (120 centimeters) and typically has five blue petals with a small yellow center. Sometimes, the flowers can appear purple or even pink. They’re relatively easy to grow but need a shaded area and moist soil.
Adding this stark, blue flower to your garden will give it the pop of color it’s craving. Be careful, though; they’re a fast-growing species known to “take over” nearby plants or flowers.
4. Lily of the Valley
With its delicate, tiny white flowers that hang down in the shape of a bell, the lily of the valley is a beautiful German flower. Surprisingly enough, the lily of the valley is not a lily at all; it’s a member of the asparagus family!
A lily of the valley plant will typically grow between 6-12 inches (15-30 centimeters) and increase full or partial sun exposure. Once planted, this flower requires little to no upkeep or maintenance. However, it can proliferate and quickly overrun a large area like the forget-me-not.
5. European Spindle
The European spindle is a tree with dazzling, tiny yellow flowers that add pizzazz to any garden. It can be grown in a shrub or a small tree. In addition to flowers, it also produces the fruit of a beautiful red color annually.
Depending on how well-kept and pruned they are, European spindles can grow only a couple of feet or meters tall. However, they can reach up to 30 feet (9 meters) tall when grown in the wild! Originally blooming between April and May, its yellow flowers will mature into an orange berry with deep red seeds as the season continues.
6. Bugloss
Bugloss, also called Viper’s bugloss, is a unique flower. Its scientific name is the Echium vulgare, and it’s a member of the “borage” plant family. It’s found in fields as a wildflower not only in Germany, but throughout Europe and certain parts of North America, as well.
Bugloss has a spiky stem and bristle or tooth-shaped leaves. A colorful exhibit of blue, purple, and violet petals with pink strands reach outward to make it stand out from the crowd in your garden. Bugloss flourishes easily in an area with plenty of sunlight and well-drained soil.
7. Houndstooth
Houndstooth, or Hound’s Tongue, is a biennial or short-lived perennial herb that produces beautiful flowers in the spring season, typically May through August. Its stems are hairy and leafy, often with tongue-shaped leaves (hence its alternative name, Hound’s Tooth). This German flower is great for adding texture and color to the appearance of your garden.
Houndstooth will produce flowers of red or blue color in tight clusters and typically reach between 1-2 feet (0.3-0.6 meters). This flower is hardy and easy to grow, as it doesn’t require a specific climate or soil.
8. Edelweiss
Edelweiss, or Leontopodium alpinum, is a plant that produces stark white star-shaped flowers. It originated from the mountain range, the Alps, at relatively high altitudes. They’re easy to grow because they have grown accustomed to harsh conditions like high winds and cold temperatures.
Not only can Edelweiss add interesting star shapes to your garden, they’re also deer resistant and usually left untouched by insects. Once they begin growing, they don’t require water or any specific soil type.
9. Linden
The linden tree is a sturdy shade tree that will produce beautiful yellow flowers in the springtime. These flowers are not only pleasing to the eye, they’re also naturally fragrant and sure to make it feel like spring is in the air. Typically throughout the rest of the season, the tree has dark green leaves that shed during autumn.
These trees are an excellent addition to your landscaping because once they’re planted and take root, they don’t require any maintenance. If grown in full sunlight, they can mature to impressive heights and last up to 70 years!
10. Snowdrop
The Snowdrop flower is native to Germany and many other colder regions of Europe. While considered a hardy plant, they’re best planted during the fall season and thrive well into winter. If rainfall is scarce, they may require extra watering.
Snowdrop is an excellent plant to add to your garden because it’s one of the few colorful plants that will bloom while other flowers are dormant during the winter season. Their beautiful white hanging bulb-shaped petals are dainty and winter-themed flowers that will make your garden stunning.
11. Hyacinth
Hyacinths are a beautiful flower to add to your garden because they come in so many color varieties. Initially a violet color, hyacinths are also in shades of white, pink, blue, orange, and even deep red. These will quickly fill any garden with all the colors of the rainbow.
A singular hyacinth bulb may produce up to three separate stalks once it has taken root. The stems usually reach up to 11 inches (28 centimeters) tall. They produce small flowers clustered together that take up about ⅓ the portion of the stem.
12. Love-in-a-Mist
Love-in-a-mist, or Nigella damascena, is another exquisite flower native to Germany and parts of Southern Europe to add to your garden. This flower consists of tiny thin colorful petals encased in bushy, prickle-like leaves. The flower in the center is most often bright pink, but it can also be found in blue, white, or purple shades.
Adding this flower to your garden will give it a countryside cottage vibe typical of wildflower fields in Europe. They’ll also produce many seed pods, meaning once you plant one, you’ll have love-in-a-mist growing for years to come.
13. Marigold
Another great German flower to plant in your garden is marigolds. Marigolds are a classic flower that will bring bright, beautiful colors to your landscaping. Not only this, but marigolds famously attract ladybugs and butterflies, which can be an added marvel to your garden!
Marigolds are easy flowers to care for. They only require total sun exposure and will bloom annually.
14. Globe Flower
The Globe flower is a bright yellow bulb or bowl-shaped flower that will add cheerful color to your garden. While typically found growing near swamps or bogs, some hybrid species of the flower will fare exceptionally well in your yard’s soil.
If you’re thinking about planting a Globe flower in your garden, it’s usually better to start from a cutting instead of seeds.
15. Cuckoo Flower
Closing our list of German flowers that make for a stunning garden is the Cuckoo flower. The cuckoo, also colloquially known as “Lady’s smock,” is a dainty light pink flower. Blooming early in the spring season, their flowers usually last from April-June.
This beautiful rosette arrangement of pink flowers is sure to make your garden sparkle. They’re easy to care for and only grow to about 20 inches (50 centimeters) tall.
