Summer flowers return to Vaasa – including some unexpected species

The summer flowers bring colour and joy to various parts of the city for around four months. This year’s flower displays feature shades of orange, purple, yellow, and pink. The planting will be completed by Midsummer.

– We grow some of the summer flowers in the city garden’s greenhouses. The planting plans are prepared by the landscaping design unit the previous autumn, says Piia Vainio, Head Horticulturist for the City of Vaasa.

Residents of Vaasa have been enjoying floral splendour throughout the spring. The flower season began around Easter with tête-à-tête daffodils. In May, the city was brightened by pansies and tulips, scillas and hyacinths planted already in the autumn.

Many new varieties this year

This year, edible plants and flowers are being included in the city’s flower displays for the first time. The plantings will be placed in containers near the play area on the Market Square. They include, for example, globe artichoke, strawberries, banana, Malabar spinach, cherry tomato, marigold, strawberry mint, and a variety of herbs.

The idea of using edible plants came from Vainio, who has studied the topic over the past few years.

– Our aim is to spark interest in the fact that many striking flowering plants are edible, and that edible plants can also have attractive colours and forms. The plants are, however, not intended to be picked or eaten.

Take a flower walk and enjoy the summer blooms

This year as well, a flower walk has been created around the summer flower displays. The route is 3.5 kilometres long and leads through the parks and green spaces around the Market Square, as well as along the waterfront.

Guidance for the flower walk can be found in the city’s summer flower brochure, which presents this summer’s plantings by species and location. Download the online summer flower guide here (pdf).

Focus on sustainability

The summer flower plantings highlight environmental considerations, marking Vaasa’s Green Leaf year.

Only biological plant protection has been used in the city garden’s greenhouses, and this year particular emphasis has been placed on preventive pest control, which has reduced pest problems and the need to remove plants.

Some of the spring violets are also reused in the summer flower displays thanks to their long flowering period, and the bulbs of spring flowers are collected for reuse. In addition, biochar is used in some plantings, improving the growing medium’s ability to retain water and nutrients and reducing maintenance needs.

Diverse summer flower plantings also benefit pollinators and support urban biodiversity.

Vaasa is a European Green Leaf City for 2026. The European Commission awards this recognition annually to cities that promote sustainable development and work actively to protect the environment and climate.