Hollyanna McCollom

Native to the Canary Islands, the marguerite daisy is beloved worldwide for its cheerful blooms, in colors including hot pink and sunny yellow. One marguerite daisy, known as canary marguerite, has even won the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. Fragrant marguerite daisies are easy to care for and versatile—they work as patio or container plants or in a butterfly garden or cottage garden.

Eric Roth. This old-fashioned cottage garden plant is a favorite for its impressive, abundant clusters of flowers that dangle from the tips of its tall stems. A native of China, kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate was popular in the early 1800s but fell out of favor as compact blooms became the fashion. In recent years, kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate has seen a resurgence in popularity, often being found in heirloom plant catalogs. Generally, you can plant it once, and it will reseed for years to come.

Credit: Julie Maris Semarco Key Takeaways Stock flowers should be planted in spring before the last frost as they thrive in cool temperatures. They grow best in full sun or part shade with moist, well-drained soil, and can be planted in containers for added flexibility. Stock flowers require minimal maintenance, with deadheading encouraging regrowth and mature plants being drought-tolerant. Stock flowers offer a wonderfully spicy, distinctive scent reminiscent of cloves.