Easy Garden Rainbows - Orange

Visit Go Symmetry Herbs and read about how you can grow a medicine chest of calendulas in your garden.

Euphorbia griffithii 'Fireglow' Perhaps the most striking of the Euphorbias (also known as spurges), 'Fireglow' sports stems to 2 feet tall encrusted with bright orange bracts surrounding lime-green flowers on top. They flower first in mid-spring, but those stems remain all summer, losing only the lime-green centrepeice.

Euphorbias are best in moist soils - in dry soil they may head off in all directions looking for moisture. In other words, they can become invasive. They prefer full sun or partial shade.

Want to know more about Euphorbias? Read The Fascinating World of Euphorbias by our very own Diana Pederson of the Enabling Garden.

Helenium autumnale (Helen's Flower) If there is such a thing, Heleniums are the harbingers of fall. While asters can sometimes bloom starting in late-summer, by the time you see Helen's Flowers, you will probably already feel the cool crisp air coming round the corner. These flower appropriately during the harvest months, matching the pumpkins and turning foliage.

Helenium is very hardy, growing from zones 3 to 9. There are many varieties available in plant stores today, including a Blooms of Bressingham introduction (Coppelia) and many deep orange varieties. They grow on average from 2 to 3 feet tall, but some of the older varieties can reach a stately 4 feet. They require full sun and do best in low, wet, open sites, such as marshes and meadows, although they adapt to moist garden soil slightly on the acid side. Don't lime the heleniums, they won't like it very much. They can be divided every few years for spreading around the garden or giving to friends.

Marigolds Marigolds are just as easy to grow as calendulas. Marigold seed is very easy to start; sow indoors from four to six weeks before the last frost is due. Set the plants in the garden after the last frost is due. Or, at this time, sow seeds outdoors or buy started plants and set them out. In zones 9 and 10, marigolds can be seeded outdoors anytime.

For more information on Marigolds, visit Time Life's Marigold Entry

Tiger Lilies Tiger lilies are another hardy selection, growing from zones 3 to 10. They prefer light shade in hot summer areas, but can tolerate full sun in mild coastal regions. In full hot sun, the colours may fade, and the blooms will

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