Annuals
Discover the right annual plants for your garden.
ANNUAL FLOWERS
Annual plants germinate, grow, flower, set seed,
and die all in one growing season. The first frost
usually signals the end of the season for annuals
and most need to be replanted each year. Some will
set seed if the flowers are left to produce seed
heads and return the following year.
Many gardeners grow annuals for seasonal color
alongside existing perennials, shrubs, and trees.
They come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Some
produce amazing flowers, while others are all
about striking foliage.
Annuals You'll Love
Here are 14 great annuals for getting started.
19 Amazing Annuals for Shade
Choose the best shade annuals for your garden.
20 Amazing Annuals for Sun
Selections for full-sun containers, beds, baskets,
and window boxes.
POPULAR ANNUALS
See Proven Winners' most popular annuals for 2024
Petunia
A guide to growing gorgeous petunia flowers in
your garden or in containers.
Calibrachoa
Grow magnificent Calibrachoa for nonstop bloom
during warmer months.
Verbena
For color from spring until frost, it’s hard to beat
these long-flowering, sun-loving plants.
Marigold
These annual flowers are easy-to-grow in
containers or summer borders.
Zinnia
Bring your summer garden to life with these
colorful, easy annual flowers.
Geranium
Tips for properly planting geraniums and care
advice that will keep them looking their best.
Alyssum
The uses for this beloved flowering plant are
endless.
Angelonia
Prolific blooms of this delightful annual sizzle in
the heat of summer.
Impatiens
These tough, mildew-resistant cultivars will keep
your garden in bloom all season long.
Begonia
Planting, growing, and caring for these shade
garden and houseplant superstars.
Pansy
Bring brilliant color to the cool-season garden. Get
tips for growing, planting, and caring for pansy
flowers.
Vinca
These sun-loving, heat-tolerant annuals come in
more colors and varieties than ever before.
Other popular annual flowers and plants:
Scaevola Cosmos
Cuphea Gomphrena
Portulaca Heliotrope
Ageratum Tithonia
Heliotrope Pentas
Bacopa Torenia
African Daisy Viola
Coleus Sweet potato
vine
PROS & CONS OF PLANTING
ANNUALS
Pros:
Annuals are easy to grow and offer brightly
colored flowers for instant impact
They are versatile and can be grown in garden
beds, hanging baskets or containers
If properly planted and cared for, many annuals
will bloom nonstop from planting to frost
Color choices include purple, bi-color, pink, blue,
red, yellow, coral, orange, white and even black!
You can find annuals for every situation: deer,
sun, shade, low maintenance…you name it
Cons:
Unlike perennial plants which return year after
year, they complete their life cycles in a single
season and must be replanted yearly
Many annuals require deadheading, or the
removal of spent buds, to keep them blooming
Annuals often benefit from frequent
applications of fertilizer to keep them looking
their best
Daily watering is usually necessary, especially in
summer heat
PLANTING TIPS
When it comes to growing these garden favorites,
you have two choices: purchase the plants in
flower or start them yourself from seed. If you are
looking for instant gratification, buying starter
plants will be best. However, if you want to save
some money and aren't in a rush, seeds can be
cheaper.
Here are some tips for planting annuals in the
landscape:
When planting young annuals make sure you are
giving them enough space to reach their full size
Add slow-release fertilizer to the planting hole
to get your plants off to a good start
Make sure you plant them in a spot where they’ll
receive the right amount of light
Check the weather, it is safest to plant when all
danger of frost has passed
If the roots are twisted and dense when removed
from the growing pot, loosen them slightly by
hand or run a knife down the sides
Don’t leave annuals in six-packs or flats for long,
getting them in the ground or container quickly
is best
Water your new plants well immediately after
planting
Spread a layer of mulch after planting to
complete the look, reduce water loss and
prevent weeds
TYPES OF ANNUALS
Annuals can be divided into three groups: hardy,
half-hardy and tender, based on their cold
tolerance. This classification will determine how
close to the last frost date in spring that they can
be planted, which will vary by location.
Hardy annuals do well in cooler weather. They
are able to withstand some freezing
temperatures and can be planted the earliest.
These types will also do well when planted in
fall when temperatures begin to drop.
Half-hardy annuals will tolerate a touch of frost
and most common annuals fall into this
category. If a surprise spring frost arrives, be
prepared to cover them at night.
Tender annuals can’t take any frost and most
have originated in tropical or sub-tropical
climates. Their growth may be stunted in cooler
weather (above freezing) and they shouldn’t be
planted until late spring.
Besides true annuals, there are tender perennials
that are often grown as annuals in climates
where they are not hardy. Check with your
favorite local nursery for recommendations to
grow in your area and when to plant them.
DESIGNING WITH ANNUALS
As garden centers start to fill up in spring with
enticing displays of annuals, it's easy to grab
everything you can and think about where to
plant it all later. If you want a cohesive design
(face it, we all know that looks better), here are a
few essential tips for designing with annuals:
Before you get in your car to go plant shopping,
evaluate the areas in your garden where you
want annuals. Measure the size of the spaces,
know the sun and shade patterns throughout
the day, think about how the areas will be viewed
and take stock of what plants are nearby.
In a bed of strictly annuals — unless you're
buying a mix of plants that is intended to go
together, as with some pansies — stick to larger
quantities of a few types of plants, rather than
the overbusy look of a few of everything.
Not all plants need to have flowers to be great
additions to the garden. Foliage plants such as
coleus, Persian shield, 'Magilla' perilla, Joseph's
coat and copper leaf add color and texture
whether used as filler or focal point.
Color combinations can complement, contrast
or match. Too much contrast can be jarring, and
too much of the same color can be monotonous.
Use several colors in a limited palette that work
well together for a cohesive and pleasing look.
Arrange samples on the ground at the garden
center to see if they will work — chances are, if
they look good together in a flat, they'll look
good in the garden!
Repeat colors and forms to lead the eye through
the garden.
Use a variety of textures to give the garden
energy. Too many plants with either a fine or a
bold texture can be boring to look at.
If you're tucking annuals into a perennial bed,
keep in mind the ultimate sizes of the annuals
and the perennials so that none of the plants
are later overwhelmed by their neighbors.
FEATURED VIDEO
5 TIPS FOR ADDING
ANNUAL COLOR
Keep these important things in mind when
planting annual plants in the landscape.
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