How long will it take for these flowers to bloom? Please Answer!!!?

Question

African violets, kalanchoe, azalea, gardenias, and freesias.

Which of these flowers are annuals? And how long will they take to bloom? Which of these are easy to care for? Please reccomend.

Answer 1

These plants will be annuals only if you grow them out side of their native habitat. All of these plants are perennial in their proper environment. Of these listed only the azalea has cold hardy versions. The rest want to be grown in settings that do not freeze. That is why they may be listed as annual for gardens in zone 9 and colder.
African violets are most likely to be purchased in bloom. They bloom for long periods and are easy to care for if you know what they like. In my opinion the violets and the kalanchoe are the easiest and showiest plants. However the gardenia smells the best. I have grown these three as house plants and enjoyed them for years.
http://www.avsa.org/
http://www.theplantexpert.com/africanviolets/frames.html
Azaleas also come in evergreen and deciduous. They are spring blooming only although some florists sell them forced out of season.
http://www.azaleas.org/
Freesias are frequently forced when grown indoors, out of season, but if planted outdoors they bloom in summer. They will not live through a freeze.
http://www.easytogrowbulbs.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=8
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/bulbs-summer/freesia.html
Gardenias grow well in places like California but most areas have to winter it indoors. They are summer blooming.
http://www.backyardnature.com/cgi-bin/gt/tpl.h,content=324
http://www.plantideas.com/in/in22.html
Kalanchoes are succulents related to the jade plant. Many are grown for their foliage not for the flowers. When they do bloom it is in spring.
. http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art33595.asp
http://www.cactusshop.com/retail/store/ImagePopup.aspx?id=2523
http://www.oglevee.com/Articles/Product/KalanchoeInfo/growtips_prof.html

Answer 2

Freesias are the only annual. They grow from bulbs. Azalea is a shrub, likes an acid soil and shade. Gardenia also shrub requiring similar to Azalea. African violet and kalanchoe are usually house plants. Though kalanchoe would grow outside in warmer areas. African violets do not like overwatering, water from below, not direct sunlight. Kalanchoe likes the sun. Azalea prefers shade. All are easy to grow. African violets being most difficult. Blooming with shrubs depends on the shrub, some needing to get to a certain size. Good luck

Answer 3

I'm pretty sure that African Violets are annuals. Azaleas are perennial bushes that like acidic soil. I don't know much about the other two.