DAHLIA FLOWERS

One of the foremost flowers of summer, dahlias have one of the biggest variety range in size and color of almost any other flower. Their strong stems make them excellent in arrangements and a showstopper planted en masse. Here's a pro tip for bringing them inside: Place freshly cut stems in hot water (160º) and let the water cool to room temperature to extend the life of your bloom.

You can find petite varieties called "lollipops" or "pompoms" with blooms 2-inches wide or "dinner plate" varieties of up to 15 inches. They're not well suited to extremely hot climates (sorry southern Florida and Texas!), but they are perennial in Zones 8-11. Gardeners in Zones 2-7 can plant the tubers in early spring and treat them as annuals or dig them up and store them for winter.