As a plant enthusiast, there is nothing better than spending an afternoon learning about a particular group of plants. Although not an official form of classification, it can be good fun to learn about plants alphabetically!
To find out about some plants that begin with G, check out the list below. There was a lot to choose from, but we’ve included our 15 favorites! There are also some useful growing tips included if you’re a keen gardener.
Gazania
The Gazania flower, a member of the daisy family Asteraceae, was named after Theodorus of Gaze, a 15th-Century Greek-Italian scholar. It is native to South Africa and has an incredibly bold and colorful appearance.
Gazania flowers are low-maintenance flowers that are sure to brighten up any outdoor space. In fact, they can also be great for wildlife. Specifically, butterflies absolutely love them, and are sure to flock to them in the summer!
If you’re interested in having Gazanias in your garden, you should plant them in the middle or at the end of spring. At this time, the soil should have warmed just enough for them to thrive. You can expect them to bloom around 12 weeks later.
Gerbera Daisy
Belonging to the same family as sunflowers, the Aster family, Gerbera Daisies are a wonderfully colorful flower. They are also native to South Africa, and now come in many different strains thanks to innovative hybridization techniques.
Gerbera Daisies have large flower heads and petals that extend from the center like rays. Hybrid versions can differ by having two rows of rays, either of different sizes or the same. These rays tend to boast bright red, orange, coral, and pink colors.
If you want to grow Gerbera Daisies, be sure to plant them in spring after any chance of frost has passed. They will bloom at a moderate pace, usually flowering within 14 to 18 weeks. Though, they will continue to bloom for the whole summer.
Goldenrod
Goldenrod plants are quite misunderstood. It is often thought that they cause hayfever, and as such, people are reluctant to grow them. However, this isn’t really true. Goldenrods, or yellow wildflowers, actually have a wide range of potential benefits.
In fact, the Latin name for this plant, Solidago, literally translates as ‘to make whole or heal’. It is understood to improve urinary health and reduce inflammation. To reap these benefits, people usually consume the flowers and the leaves.
This plant, native to Europe, Asia, and North and South America, is also very beautiful with bright yellow flowers, and also attracts many types of insects. To grow it, make sure to plant it in a sunny spot and in soil that is well-draining.
Glory Of The Snow
Glory of the Snow are very pretty plants that are one of the first to bloom. They tend to flower in spring, however, as their name suggests, you may see them occasionally peeking out from underneath a blanket of some late-season snowfall.
These charming bulbs are native to the cooler meadows in Cyprus, Turkey, and Crete. They tend to produce star-like blossoms, with a blue, pink, or white tone. These colorful flowers will bloom for many seasons!
If you’re interested in growing Glory of the Snow, you do need to be careful. They are known to aggressively spread and take over a space. Although, if you don’t mind this, they are very easy to care for! Simply plant in partial shade and in well-drained soil.
Gardenia
The Gardenia has to be one of the most delightful plants around. It has a strong fragrance and bright white blossoms that offset the deep green foliage perfectly. The Gardenia is native to China, Taiwan, and Japan, and is quite cold sensitive.
The wonderful, delicate, rose-like petals of the Gardenia plant make it a popular choice for ornamental displays. However, it can be a very finicky plant to grow. In fact, it is known to need considerable maintenance.
If you want to grow Gardenias, you should be aware that if grown outside, they may die during severe winters. Although, you can simply grow them in pots and bring them indoors during rough seasons! Fall or spring is the best time to plant Gardenias.
Ginger Lily
Native to India and tropical parts of Asia, Ginger Lilies are wonderfully unique-looking plants that have yellowy-orange showy and deliciously scented flowers. Also known as Hedychiums, these plants have a particularly exotic feel.
These plants also have surprisingly large and richly green leaves which extend significantly from the stem. Thanks to this hardy structure, Ginger Lilies are actually quite resilient. They will survive a normal winter environment and come back beautifully in spring.
If you plan to grow Ginger Lilies, it is important to note that, although hardy, they aren’t always able to deal with frost well, so tend to need some extra care in their first year. It’s best to grow them indoors at first and move them outdoors later.
Gas Plant
Gas Plants belong to the Perennial family and are native to Europe and northern China. They are an old-school favorite amongst plant enthusiasts, and it’s not hard to see why! They are beautiful and incredibly hardy in cold climates.
Gas Plants are upright plants with gorgeous, delicate-looking, orchid-like flowers. They tend to bloom in white and/or pink which off-sets the light blue/green foliage well. They also attract birds and smell amazing!
If you want to grow Gas Plants, be sure to plant them in humus-rich soil that remains evenly moist. Once established, Gas Plants can handle adverse weather conditions, such as droughts, but it needs a bit more care in the first year.
Glory Lily
Also known as the Climbing Lily, the Glory Lily is truly something special. Native to tropical parts of Africa and Asia, this plant has a truly unique, exotic appearance with an abundance of yellow and red petals that curl and twist to resemble hot, fiery flames.
There are three different varieties of this plant. ‘Citrina’ boasts bright yellow flowers that have bluey-red stripes. ‘Rothschildiana’ is the most popular type, with bright red petals that have a yellow underside and outline. ‘Lutea’ has solid yellow blooms, which brighten up any garden!
If you want to try to grow a Glory Lily, you’re in luck! They can survive well outdoors in frost-free areas. Simply plant them in a spot that gets around 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight a day. Though, in warmer climates, some shade may be beneficial too!
Geranium
The plant that comes to mind when we say ‘geranium’ is actually that of the ‘pelargonium’, thanks to a case of mistaken identity that occurred when Dutch traders brought them from South Africa to Europe in the 18th-Century.
The most common varieties of this plant tend to be around 2 to 4 feet tall. They can range in color, although they are always very bright and have dark green, leafy foliage. Whether pink, red, lavender, purple, or orange, they really brighten up a garden!
If you fancy trying to grow Geraniums, it’s important to know that they tend to grow best in full sun. They also have very long blooming seasons, and can even continue to bloom in winter if they are kept above a temperature of 45 to 50 degrees.
Gladiolus
The Gladiolus plant is a definite old-fashioned favorite. They have tubular-shaped flowers that are often rugged-looking around the edges with sword-shaped leaves. Native to South Africa, these plants love sunshine.
There are a number of different varieties of the Gladiolus plant. For example, there is the Baby Gladiolus, the Gladiolus Communis Byzantinus, the Gladiolus Murielle, and many more! These varieties come in a huge range of colors, including pinks, reds, and lilacs.
If you’re interested in growing Gladiolus plants, you should begin planting them in the spring, once the threat of frost has passed and the soil is at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit. It can take between 60 and 90 days for them to bloom.
Gypsophila
In recent years, gypsophila has become a particularly popular decorative plant. It is often used in bridal bouquets, and it’s not hard to see why! It is a particularly delicate, slender-stemmed, branched plant that produces the most beautiful tiny white or pink flowers.
There are a number of different types of Gypsophila. Each of them boasts their own unique characteristics, although the one you’ve probably heard of is Gypsophila Paniculata, otherwise known as Baby’s Breath. This type grows to be 3 feet or taller and bears lots of small white flowers.
If you’re interested in growing Gypsophila, we recommend that you add lime to acidic soil before planting. It is also worth noting that Gypsophila isn’t easy to move, thanks to its deep roots, so it’s important to try and not disturb them!
Guernsey Lily
Otherwise known as Nerine Lilies, Guernsey Lilies are striking amaryllis that come in a spectrum of colors. Although, their original orange variety is native to Cape Town in South Africa. They arrived in Europe in the 1600s and began to quickly thrive in Guernsey, hence the name!
Thanks to breeding practices, there are a huge variety of Guernsey Lilies. These can come in a range of shades, from reds to whites, to dark purples, to bold pinks, to weird coppers. Although, interestingly, they never come in yellows!
If you’re interested in growing Guernsey Lilies, it’s worth knowing that they have a very specific annual life cycle. In April, the bulbs go dormant. In August, they grow new roots. In September, they begin to create flower spiles and new foliage.
Great Sundew
Otherwise known as the English Sundew, the Great Sundew is slightly different from other plants on this list. It is a small, carnivorous plant that has a very interesting, easily recognizable appearance.
They grow to no more than 25 cm tall and have long red arms of tentacles that are covered with a sticky liquid that they produce. The Great Sundew can be found in places like bogs and wet meadows in much of North America, Europe, and Asia.
Great Sundews possess some really intriguing behaviors. Using their sticky arms, they trap insects and break them down using enzymes. They then consume the product as food. They also tend to grow in places that are very low in nutrients like nitrogen.
Greater Butterfly Orchid
The Greater Butterfly Orchid is a tall, upright orchid that brightens meadows and open woodland. It grows throughout Europe, but prefers mostly northern regions, and is an important source of nectar for invertebrates.
This is a particularly pretty sight within the wild. It can grow to be very tall and tends to display 30 white/green flowers with petals that resemble butterfly wings. They also have two large, light green elliptical leaves that are shiny on the surface.
Although, the most interesting thing about this plant is its scent. In the nighttime, it releases a pungent, vanilla-like fragrance that is very noticeable. This scent is to attracts moths that pollinate the plant.
Gentian
Gentians provide some of the richest, most delightful blue hues available. Gentian plants are recognized by their deep blue trumpet-shaped flowers and small green leaves. Although there are also white and yellow varieties, the blue variety has caught the eye of many painters over the centuries.
However, in addition to its beautiful appearance, the most interesting thing about this plant is its name. It is named after King Gentius of Illyria (180-69 B.C.), who is thought to have discovered the plant’s range of medicinal functions. These include treatment for digestive issues and fevers.
It was also a favorite for poets such as Emily Dickenson and DH Lawrence, who both wrote about the Gentian plant. If you, like these poets, love the Gentian plant, why not try growing it?
They can be a little finicky but are definitely worth it. Just be sure to plant them in moist, acidic soil, which has been enriched with plenty of organic matter.
Conclusion
We hope that you enjoyed soaking up all of that plant-based trivia just as much as we enjoyed writing it! If you’re a keen gardener, make sure to give growing some of them a go!
Plants have always been a big interest of mine, and I’ve always wanted to learn more about the different types of species. I have gained a vast knowledge of the subject over the years, and I have decided to share this information with others.
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