• Crested celosia's blooms are unmistakable.celosia image by John Sfondilias from Fotolia.com
  
  With four USDA plant hardiness zones---5a to 6b---Ohio sees winter lows between minus 20 and 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Its Department of Natural Resources has divided Ohio into 12 different soil regions, with soil varieties totaling more than 400. What all of this means to Ohio gardeners is that good flowers depend on what area of the Buckeye State they call home. Many annuals and perennials, however, are stellar performers across Ohio.
  
  

Common Yarrow

• Ohio winters won't phase common yarrow (Achillea millefolium), a perennial hardy to minus 30 degrees F. This sturdy summer bloomer has stems bearing flat flower clusters above a clump of feathery, greenish-gray foliage. Available in every color but blue, purple and black, yarrow's flowers make outstanding additions to arrangements. The Fireland cultivar, with its yellow-centered, red-orange flowers that age to gold and orange, often exhibits all colors simultaneously. Moonshine, with bright yellow blooms against silvery leaves, is among the best-selling yarrows.
  
  Common yarrow thrives in a variety of soils from moist and well-drained to hot, dry and compacted. Remove its spent blooms to prolong the flowering for months, advises Ohio State University's Department of Horticulture and Crop Sciences.
  
  

Daylily

• Prized for their tolerance of urban pollution, daylilies (Hemerocallis spp) are Ohio garden staples. Daylily cultivars exist in the hundreds, with flowers ranging from single, smooth-edged to dense, double-petaled, ruffled blooms. Leaves may be solid or variegated. Flower colors include everything but blue and true black---although the deep purple of Jungle Beauty comes close to black. Many varieties are bi-colored.
  
  Daylilies' narrow, arching foliage makes an attractive background for other blooming plants. Hardy to zone 3, these spring and summer bloomers even tolerate salt spray from Ohio's winter road crews. They handle fertile or infertile soils---both alkaline and acidic---and dry, moist or wet growing conditions.
  
  

Celosia

• Annuals comfortable in heat, humidity and drought, celosias bring brilliant, showy flowers to Ohio gardens from spring to frost. Celosia cultivars range from dwarf, 6-inch high plants to those standing up to 30 inches tall and 1 foot wide. Crested celosia, commonly called cockscomb, has unmistakable, curving flower clusters similar to brain coral. Plumed celosia has erect, feathery spires. Both have jewel-like flower colors that often tinge their stems and leaves. Their red, pink, orange, gold or yellow blooms make exceptional dried flowers. Largely disease and pest-free, celosia likes sun and moist, well-drained soil but also adapts to infertile, dry locations.