Beds filled with vibrantly colored flowering plants will bring some upbeat color to your landscape.
Vivid and Unique: Dive Into Our Curated List of Plants That Begins With ‘V’
You can select a sophisticated color scheme or go for a less formal cottage garden style with blossoms in every color of the rainbow, depending on your preferences. Here are the names and descriptions of colorful flowers that begin with the letter V as examples.
Valerian (Valeriana Officinalis)
Much of Europe and Asia are home to the flowering perennial known as valeriana (Valeriana officinalis). The word’s Latin etymology is valere, which means “to be strong and healthy” and is also known by the nickname “all-heal.”
The valerian root is a well-known sleep aid that is utilized in a variety of medical procedures. When in bloom, its top is covered with tiny pale pink or white flowers that can reach heights of five feet. Although it is unrelated, there is a plant called red valerian (Centranthus ruber) that resembles it. The color of red valerian blossoms is a considerably darker pink.
Due to their plentiful nectar, these flowers are appealing to pollinators and have a fragrant aroma evocative of vanilla and cloves. Hoverflies and other fly species are drawn to valerian, which is also a primary food supply for many butterfly species.
Vanda Orchid (Vanda)
Although they also produce many other hues, vanda orchids have a distinctive scent and are well-recognized for being one of the only orchids to produce blue flowers. The meandering roots that cling to trees and other objects set these flowers apart from other orchids that have a similar look despite the fact that they have flat petals. These orchids will develop pretty quickly under the right conditions if planted in the early spring when they are just emerging from their winter slumber.
For beginners, vanda orchids are not the ideal plant to grow. Even among more seasoned gardeners, the plants need a few things that are challenging to provide at home: high temperatures, high humidity, bright sunshine, adequate airflow, and periods of heavy rain.
Vanilla (Vanilla Plantifolia)
Due to the fact that the vanilla bean orchid (Vanilla plantifolia), whose seed pods are the source of the natural vanilla flavoring used extensively in sweets and beverages, is known simply as “vanilla,” many people refer to this plant as “vanilla”. The glossy green vine is a pretty plant even though it takes a lot of work to get it to flower and produce the seeds that are used to make vanilla.
The vanilla bean orchid is a tropical species that needs high temperatures and humidity to thrive, just like many other varieties of orchids do. This vining orchid is an epiphyte, meaning it survives on a host tree without taking nutrients from it, in its natural habitat. The vine ascends to the tree’s peak in a zigzag style.
Venus Fly Trap (Dionaea Muscipula)
The Venus fly trap (Dionaea muscipula) is unquestionably one of the strangest-looking plants on the entire planet. People cultivate it because it consumes flies, not because of how it looks. This makes it one of the most entertaining plants to grow, especially for kids who may watch it for hours as it “dines.”
A modified leaf serves as the “trap” in a Venus fly trap. Up to eight of them can grow from flat stems that are technically leaves and surround a basal rosette on a plant. The Venus fly trap is not the only plant with altered leaves. The purple pitcher plant (Sarracenia purpurea subsp. purpurea) is another illustration.
The two lip-like lobes of this leaf/trap are connected by a hinge. The insect is lured in by the nectar within the trap, where it is killed. When the bug enters, if it touches one of the trigger hairs, the trap closes, trapping the victim inside.
Verbena (Verbena X Hybrida)
Vervain or verbena plants are typically planted as annual hybrid flower bed plants and low trailers with long, elongated, toothed-edged leaves that are dark green. Only in zones 8 to 11 do they thrive as hardy perennials that return year after year. Their vibrant flowers bloom constantly from spring through fall, and they thrive in soil that is moderately wet, well-drained and receives eight to ten hours of direct sunlight per day.
Verbena hybrids are typically sown indoors in plant trays in the late winter or planted outdoors as potted nursery plants in the spring. From seeds sown indoors in the winter, they are a reasonably quick-growing plant that blooms by the middle of the summer; potted plants reach their full size in a few weeks.
Veronica (Veronica)
There are more than 500 species of hardy, spiky-flowered plants in the Veronica genus. Lance-shaped leaves support striking racemes that are adorned with small flowers. These are typically seen in white, blue, pink, or purple. While some cultivars remain relatively small and produce the great ground cover, others grow to heights of many feet.
The majority of veronica plants are perennials, however, certain kinds can also be grown as annuals. They are known to draw hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. In some states, certain types are regarded as invasive. Before planting veronica, make sure to verify your location for any restrictions.
The resilience of the veronica genus’ members makes these perennials a great option for low-maintenance landscapes. They can withstand drought, are resistant to deer, and don’t need much trimming or maintenance.
Viburnum (Viburnum)
One of the most common flowering landscaping shrubs is the viburnum. You can pick a viburnum cultivar to fit any garden because they are virtually endless in number. Early April to early June is when the majority of viburnum shrubs blossom. This is followed by appealing fruit and spectacular fall foliage. Viburnums have a rapid growth rate and can be grown as tiny trees or shrubs.
Viburnum foliage comes in a variety of varieties. It may be smooth, velvety, rounded, lance-shaped, toothed, or rough. There are several deciduous viburnum types with stunning fall colors in addition to some evergreen varieties. The three main forms of blooms are flat umbels with bigger flowers that resemble lace-cap hydrangeas, flat floret clusters, and dome-shaped, snowball-like clusters.
Vinca Minor (Vinca Minor)
Vinca minor, sometimes known as periwinkle, is a hardy, pest-free plant with attractive broadleaf foliage and blooms that do well in either the sun or the shade. It is renowned for its tendency to creep and is good for producing ground cover. When grown in warmer climes, periwinkle can get back every year as a perennial, but it grows as an annual in colder areas. In the spring, Vinca minor vines typically produce blue flowers, however, they can also be lavender, purple, or white. They might also occasionally bloom in the summer, although the summer exhibit won’t be quite as grand as the spring spectacle. It is normally planted in the early spring and grows at a medium rate, but the hardy plant will accept planting during the fall season.
Vinca minor vines normally reach heights of 3 to 6 inches and lengths of 18 inches and have a low, sprawling habit. These plants have stems that root from their joints as they creep along the ground and spread quickly to form a lovely floral ground cover that can cover a sizable area and keep weeds at bay.
Under mature trees, where most lawn grass struggles from a lack of sunlight, Vinca minor vines are frequently planted.
