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So, you’re looking for a little seasonal color to make your garden pop. Perhaps you want a quick way to boost curb appeal or brighten up your backyard landscape. Enter annual plants!
What does annual plant mean? An annual plant completes its lifecycle within one year, which means it does not return the next year. True annuals include flowers like zinnias, cosmos, larkspur, and most marigolds and sunflowers. Yet, often the line between annual versus perennial gets blurred, and we might cultivate a perennial as an annual for a variety of reasons. It might be “tender” (i.e. not cold hardy in our climate), the bulb might not store easily, or it otherwise loses its luster (think pansies looking leggy and spent in the summer)—but for the time we have it, it sure does put on a show. Here, we've included annuals in both camps.
Keep in mind that annuals can be less expensive in the short term, but pricier in the long run, as landscape designer Daniel McCurry of Father Nature Landscapes, headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, explains: “Annual plantings are fun to plan into garden designs to create a sense of health, texture, and substance. Since you need to replace the plantings twice a year, they are much more costly than shrub borders or perennials. Given that they add so much to a garden, we typically design flower beds with all the above.”
Now for the show! Try these top annual flowers and plants for seasonal highlights throughout the summer, spring, and fall.
Favorite Annual Flowers and Plants
1
Zinnias
A true annual, zinnias are easy for beginners to grow from seed, and they reseed readily, making them a no-fuss bloomer for lazy gardeners. Plant zinnias in your butterfly garden, and the flowers will likely attract hummingbirds too. Available in an array of forms and vibrant hues, with sizes varying from petite dwarfs to towering stems that benefit from staking, this beloved annual deserves a spot in your cutting garden for flowers all summer long.
Sun Exposure: full sun
Blooming Period: summer/fall
Helpful Information: seldom severely damaged by deer
2
Petunias
You can't go wrong with these fuss-free flowers for containers, pots, window boxes, hanging baskets, and garden beds. You can find them in pretty pinks, reds, whites, yellows, and purples. The hybrid 'Supertunia Vista' is a particular favorite of Melissa Lallo Johnson, a Midwest-based master gardener who shares her expansive garden on Instagram at @fancyflowerfarmer. "It is a superstar that quickly fills in gaps with loads of color," she says.
Sun Exposure: full sun
Blooming Period: spring/summer/fall
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Annual plantings aren't all about the flowers. The pretty foliage of 'Aaron' caladium, boasting heart-shaped leaves with dark green borders and pale centers, makes it a go-to annual for landscape designer Daniel McCurry of Father Nature Landscapes. Technically a tender perennial, you can enjoy it as an annual in most areas throughout the U.S.
Sun Exposure: Partial shade
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Both drought and heat tolerant, this low-growing ground cover, also known as shaggy dwarf morning glory, offers charm in spades. It's is another favorite of McCurry's for annual plantings.
Sun Exposure: full sun
Blooming Period: summer
5
Begonia
These dainty flowers, which bloom in shades of white, pink, and red, require very little maintenance and upkeep (no deadheading or pruning required!). When fall arrives, you can move them indoors or dig up their tubers to reuse for the following year.
Sun Exposure: full sun/partial shade/full shade
Blooming Period: summer
6
Angelonia
These heat- and drought-tolerant flowers are perfect for gardeners down South. Even the hottest, sunniest days won't ruin these beauties. In warmer regions, they'll continue to flourish through the fall.
Sun Exposure: full sun
Blooming Period: summer
Helpful Information: deer resistant
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7
Celosia
These colorful beauties come in a variety of shapes (brains, fans, and plumes) and a range of colors (pink, red, orange, and yellow). Plus, they grow fast and are incredibly easy to care for. Sun Exposure:
Blooming Period: summer
Helpful Information: seldom severely damaged by deer
8
Cosmos
These cute and feminine flowers grow taller the more you cut them (and faster, too), meaning you'll have pretty petals (in shades of pink, white, or purple) in your garden all summer long.
Sun Exposure: full sun
Blooming Period: summer
9
Geraniums
Dress up your walkway, porch, or front yard with these perky and petite blooms. Once grown or potted, these fuss-free flowers will flourish for months.
Sun Exposure: full sun/partial shade
Blooming Period: spring/summer
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10
Impatiens
These small flowers with soft and delicate petals are ideal for darker areas of your yard that aren't suitable for plants or flowers that need lots of sun. Plant them in your favorite shady spot, and you'll have beautiful blooms to enjoy all summer.
Sun Exposure: partial shade/full shade
Blooming Period: summer
RELATED: 10 Plants for the Shady Spots in Your Garden
11
Marigold
Looking to get a lot of bang for your buck? These fast-growing, vibrant orange and yellow flowers produce a hardy amount of blooms each summer. You can expect around 15+ flowers per plant.
Sun Exposure: full sun
Blooming Period: summer
Helpful Information: seldom severely damaged by deer
12
Snapdragons
Easily add height, dimension, and bold color to your garden with these tall, easy-to-grow flowers.
Sun Exposure: full sun
Blooming Period: summer
Helpful Information: deer resistant
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13
Sunflowers
While you can opt to grow sunflowers in their classic golden hue, you can also find other varieties in shades of red, white, orange, and even pink. These tall flowers can grow several feet high, so you may need to stake them to give them the proper support they need to flourish.
Sun Exposure: full sun
Blooming Period: summer/early fall
14
Dahlias
These stunning flowers will make your garden beds look oh-so-lush. From honeycomb-like shapes to fluffy peony-esque varieties, there are endless options. They're incredibly easy to grow as annuals. With proper care, you can dig up and reuse the tubers year after year as perennials.
Sun Exposure: full sun
Blooming Period: late summer/fall
15
Chrysanthemum
If you're looking to add some fresh blooms to your fall landscape, chrysanthemums (or simply, mums) are a must-have. Pick them up at your local nursery and add them to planters, or grow them from seeds starting in the spring.
Sun Exposure: full sun
Blooming Period: late summer/fall
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16
Pansies
If you're after bold color, frost-resistant pansies are the way to go. You can find them in almost every color of the rainbow (and several multi-color options). And since they can tolerate frost, they're the perfect bloom for your garden in both the fall and early spring.
Sun Exposure: full sun/partial shade
Blooming Period: spring and fall
17
Larkspur
This blue- and purple-petaled annual is easy to care for and ideal for colder climates. Plant them in the fall (their seeds can survive freezes) and you'll have beautiful blooms to enjoy all spring.
Sun Exposure: full sun/partial sun
Blooming Period: spring/early summer
Helpful Information: deer resistant
18
Ranunculuses
You'll want to prep and plant these fragrant flowers in the fall for the best blooms come spring. While you can use the tubers year after year, they tend to grow best with fresh corms each year. These colorful flowers (think pinks, yellows, oranges, reds, and whites) will look stunning as part of your landscape or cut and arranged in vases.
Sun Exposure: full sun
Blooming Period: spring
Helpful Information: deer resistant
RELATED: 30+ Bulbs to Plant This Fall for a Beautiful Spring Garden
Jessica Leigh Mattern
Web Editor
Jessica Leigh Mattern is a web editor and writer who covers home, holiday, DIY, crafts, travel, and more lifestyle topics. Prior to working for Country Living, she wrote for several lifestyle and women’s magazines including Woman’s Day, Cosmopolitan, and Redbook
Terri Robertson
Terri Robertson is the Senior Editor, Digital, at Country Living, where she shares her lifelong love of homes, gardens, down-home cooking, and antiques.
