These Beautiful Flowers Are Perfect For Spring And Joanna Gaines' 'New Favorite'

If you're wanting some spring flowers for your garden beds this year, look no further than Italian poppies. Although flowers like tulips and daffodils usually dominate the spring landscape, Joanna Gaines recently highlighted these blooms as her "new favorite" on Instagram, and for good reason. Italian poppies (and specifically the Colibri series, Papaver nudicaule spp. Colibri), are supersized versions of the common Iceland poppy (Papaver nudicaule). They offer a unique, airy texture that feels so much more high-end and exciting than the standard springtime fare. These flowers are known for their nodding heads and delicate, ruffled petals that almost look like crepe paper that'll bring a sense of flowy movement to any garden bed.

The standout feature of the Colibri poppy is its massive bloom size and undeniably eye-catching muted color palette. Unlight the bright, primary colors of common poppies, these come in pastels like salmon-pink, cream, yellow, and apricot-peach. Their petals even have a crinkled silk texture that catches the light beautifully, which makes them look like living art as they sway back and forth in a breeze.

And because Italian poppies have such long, sturdy stems, they're great for cutting into bundles. So, you can easily bring a handful inside to create a simple, designer-style bud vase for your kitchen island or entryway. These flowers bridge the gap between wild meadows and a thoughtful home garden, offering something unique in classic Joanna Gaines fashion.

Growing poppies from seed requires some strategizing, but the results are well worth the effort. They have a slightly lower germination rate than common varieties and need light to sprout, so don't bury them in the soil. Instead, just press the tiny seeds lightly onto the surface of a well-draining potting mix. Start them in the cool weather of very early spring, as they thrive in chilly temperatures. This flower is hardy in USDA Zones 3a-10b, and loves full sun. These poppies need soil that drains extremely well, as they hate sitting in consistently wet soil (plus this can lead to root rot), and if you move them, be gentle. Because these have such long stems, they'll look better if planted in dense clusters rather than just single rows to create a really full and lush appearance that looks professionally landscaped.

To get the most out of your Italian poppies once they bloom, you'll need to follow a few florist tips and tricks. Harvest the flowers when the buds are just beginning to crack open and show a sliver of color. Once cut, cauterize the stems by searing them with a flame for about half a minute; this seals each stem's juices inside and maximizes their vase life. By choosing this designer-approved poppy, and knowing how to avoid these spring garden prepping mistakes, you can get gorgeous, elevated garden beds. Gaines' "new favorite" blooms are truly the secret to a magazine-worthy spring garden.