We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More ›
Not only do giant flowers add a serious wow factor to your garden, there’s also evidence to suggest that some pollinators, such as birds and bats, are attracted to larger flowers more so than smaller ones. Additionally, many of these plants make excellent screens if you’re trying to add privacy to your yard, for example. As you scroll through this list of showstopping blooms, keep your local environment in mind to choose the plants that are best suited to your area.
Titan Sunflower (Helianthus annuus ‘Titan’)
This sun-loving annual lives up to its name in every way. Titan grows thick, sturdy stalks up to 12 feet tall, and produces truly titanic flower heads measuring up to 24 inches across. At the end of the growing season it produces huge, edible sunflower seeds. Plant drought-tolerant sunflowers in full sun. If you can’t find this particular sunflower variety in your area, search for another known to do well locally. Many sunflowers grow large, showy flowers.
Hardiness Zones: 3–10
Buy Now: Packet of 100 seeds at Amazon for $21.99
‘Giant White’ Moonflower (Ipomea alba ‘Giant White’)
Moonflower is the night-blooming sibling of morning glory. It’s the perfect big bloomer for nocturnal gardeners. The immense 6-inch snowy white flowers of Giant White open at dusk and close at dawn from mid to late summer. Grow this annual vine on a trellis or arbor near a patio or balcony where you can enjoy the celestial glow and sweet scent in the moonlight..
Hardiness Zones: 9-10
Buy Now: Packet of 50 seeds at Burpee for $4.95
Kelvin Floodlight Dahlia (Dahlia ‘Kelvin Floodlight’)
“Dinner plate” dahlias grow massive blooms, large enough to cover a plate. The 10-inch buttery-yellow flowers of Kelvin Floodlight make you want to go back for seconds. Plant them in a sunny location, in rich, well-drained soil. This dahlia makes a great focal point in a perennial border. The plant grows 3 to 4 feet tall and blooms from mid-summer until frost.
Hardiness Zones: 3–10
Buy Now: Set of 2 bulbs at Amazon for $29.99
Best Reach Watering Wand
Orbit 36-Inch Turret Wand with Ratcheting Head
A 180-degree rotating spray head and 36-inch length make the Orbit a terrific pick for watering hard-to-reach plants. Read the full review.
See ItRound ‘n Purple Allium (Allium ‘Round ‘n Purple’)
These awesome ornamental onions produce gigantic globes of 10-inch silvery purple flowers from mid to late spring. Round ‘n Purple alliums grow to 36 inches tall. They tolerate poor soil in full sunlight and grow back year after year. These plants can naturalize in open areas, or work well in a perennial border.
Hardiness Zones: 4-9
Buy Now: Set of 5 bulbs from K. van Bourgondien for $45.50
Supernova Angel’s Trumpet (Brugmansia x ‘Supernova’)
This is one of the best jumbo-flowering perennials for sunny container gardens. It grows fast and makes huge trumpet-shaped flowers up to 18 inches long and 10 inches wide. Supernova is a tropical shrub with stems that die back like other perennials in the cooler extent of its range. In the warmer parts of its growing range, Supernova is a deciduous shrub (drops its leaves in winter).
Hardiness Zones: 8–11
Buy Now: Starter plant at Etsy for 32.99
Big Brother Lily (Lilium x ‘Big Brother’)
Fragrant and absolutely breathtaking, Big Brother giant lily produces humongous yellow-throated white flowers up to 15 inches across. They make awesome cut flowers for a big, bold statement. This perennial hybrid lily grows up to 6 feet high in sunny, well-draining but moist garden beds.
Hardiness Zones: 3–8
Buy Now: 7 bulbs at The Home Depot for $29.29
Big Daddy Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Big Daddy’)
Most flowering plants need full sun to look their best, but not hydrangeas. Big Daddy grows tons of ginormous flowers, up to 14 inches in diameter, in filtered sunlight or afternoon shade. Plant these deciduous hydrangeas en masse, or as an informal border plant. Bloom color varies based on soil pH. Acidic soil makes blue flowers, while alkaline soil produces pink ones.
Hardiness Zones: 6–9
Buy Now: One 3-gallon plant at The Home Depot for $44.35
‘Evening Rose’ Hibiscus (Hibiscus x ‘Evening Rose’)
If you’re looking for a pop of color, your search is over. Evening Rose hibiscus are stunning hot-pink flowers up to 8 inches across, and the puckered flowers are even more striking because they’re set off against very dark foliage. This hardy hibiscus grows best in average to moist soil and full sun. Plant it as a seasonal focal point in your perennial border.
Hardiness Zones: 7–10
Buy Now: One bare-root plant from Breck’s for $26.39
Galaxy Magnolia (Magnolia x ‘Galaxy’)
Magnolias are renowned as wonderfully scented plants with large blooms. Galaxy produces stunning 6- to 12-inch deep pink to purple blooms. This big beauty is a deciduous tree that bears its flowers on bare branches in early spring, followed by large, dark green leaves. Plant it in a large spot that can accommodate its 30-foot by 30-foot height and width. Like most magnolias, it needs full sun and moist, acidic soil.
Hardiness Zones: 7–10
Buy Now: Tree in 2-gallon pot at The Home Depot for $52.50
Fireworks Clematis (Clematis x ‘Fireworks’)
At up to 8 inches across, Fireworks clematis has one of the largest blooms of any clematis. This stunning perennial vine grows up to 12 feet long and blooms heavily from spring to early summer. It makes a beautiful screen when trained on a trellis. Or, use it to adorn an arbor over a garden pathway.
Hardiness Zones: 4–9
Buy Now: 1 plant in 1-gallon pot at Shey West for $60
Red Yucca (Hesperaloe parviflora)
While red yucca’s individual flowers aren’t giant, the plant’s very tall (6 feet plus!) flower stalks are covered in blooms that are pink on the outside and off-white on the inside, making for a spectacular display in spring. Hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees flock to the yucca’s generous blossoms, making this low-maintenance succulent a favorite of gardeners in hot, dry climates.
Hardiness Zones: 5–11
Buy Now: Packet of 25 seeds at Amazon for $7.95
Supporting Big Flowers
The flower stalks and stems of some plants, particularly cultivars, aren’t strong enough to bear the weight of the massive flowerheads the plant produces. Support these big blooms with bamboo stakes, tomato cages, or grid-based netting. Vines, of course, can be grown on a trellis. You’ll want to install these support systems early in the season so you don’t damage developing root systems.
Bamboo stakes: Using soft twine or hook and loop material, tie the growing stems to bamboo stakes inserted near the base of the plant, keeping watch and adding more ties as the stem grows taller and begins to bloom.
Tomato cages: Lower the tomato cage over the young or cut-back plant, ensuring the plant is centered. As the plant grows, it will lean against and be supported by the cage.
Grid netting: If you have a patch of plants that need support, you can install large-aperture (6-inch or bigger) netting horizontally over the patch of plants, stretched tightly and secured to poles at the corners. The plants will grow up through the apertures and be supported by the netting.
