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An annual is a plant that grows for an entire year and then dies. The seed usually begins to germinate in late winter or early spring. In the spring and summer, the plant grows and begins to bloom. When fall comes with the frost, the plant dies. The vibrant colors of annuals are a bright spot in any garden or landscape. They come in a variety of different shapes and types to help you achieve your perfect garden look. Below is a list of various annuals to brighten your garden:
Key: W = white, Y = yellow, O = orange, R = red, B = blue, PK = pink, PR = purple, BRN = brown. FS = full sun, HS = half day’s sun, S = sun, MS = morning sun, SHD = shade, E = either.
NAME | COLOR | HEIGHT/ SPACING | WHERE TO PLANT | COMMENTS |
AFRICAN DAISY | W,Y,O | 12-15″/10-12″ | S | |
ARGERATUM | B,W | 10-12″/10-12″ | MS | |
ALYSSUM | W,PK,PR | 4-6″/6-10″ | FS | |
AMARANTHUS | R | 2-4’/group or 2′ | HS | |
ASTER | W,PK,B,R | dwarf-10″, tall-2′ 6-10″ | HS | |
BACHELOR’S BUTTON | PK,W,B | 18-24″/610″ | HS | |
BALSUM | PK,W | 12″/6-10″ | SHD | |
BEGONIA | PK,W,R,O | 12″/pot or 6-10″ | SHD | |
BEGONIA HANGER | PK,W,R,O | vine to 3’/ pots | SHD | |
BELLS OF IRELAND | G | 2-2 1/2’/12″ | S | |
BLACK-EYED SUSAN | Y with BRN | vine to 12′ | MS | |
BROWALLIA | B | vine to 10′ | MS | |
CALENDULA | Y, O | 12″ | S | |
CALIFORNIA POPPY | PK,Y,O | 12″/6-12″ | S | |
CANTERBURY BELLS | PK,W,B,PR | 20-30″/2′ | HS | |
CARDINAS CLIMBER | R | vine/12-24″ | S | |
CASTER BEANS | foliage | 30″/3′ | S | small flower |
CELOSIA | R | 2-3’/12″ | HS | |
CHINA ASTER | PK,W,B | 2’/10-12″ | S | |
CHINESE FORGET-ME-NOT | B | 15-18″/6-10″ | HS | good cover/bi-annual |
CLEOME | PK | 4’/2′ | S | good background |
COCKSCOMB | Y,R,O | 18″-2/6-10″ | S | bright color |
COLEUS | R,Y,O | 2’/pots or 6″ | SHD | grown for foliage |
ENGLISH DAISY | PK,W,R | 10″/6-10″ | MS | good border |
FLOWERING KALE | R,W | 18″/6-10″ | S | winter flowering |
FOUR O’CLOCKS | all but B | 2-3’/10″ | S | will take over |
GASONIA | stripes Y,O,R | 10-12″/6-12″ | S | mulch, good border |
GERANIUM | W,R,O | 15″-3’/pot or 2′ | indoor in winter | |
GODITA | mixed | 15″/10″ | S | good border |
ICELAND POPPY | PK,W | 15″/6-10″ | MS | good border |
IMPATIENS | PK,W | 2’/6-10″ | MS | cut back for blooms |
KOCHIA (BURNING BUSH) | R in fall | to 3′ | S | good hedge |
LANTANA | R,O,Y | to 3′ | S | indoor in winter |
LOBELIA | W,B | 6-10″/6″ | SHD | good ground cover |
LIVINGSTON DAISY | PK,R | to 18″/6″ | HS | border plant |
LUPIN BLUE “Texas Blue Bonnet” | B | 12-15″/8″ | S | good background |
MARGERITE | PK,Y,W,B | 15″/6-10″ | HS | good color |
MARIGOLD, dwarf | Y,O | to 10″/6-10″ | S | low maintenance |
” med. | Y,O | to 20″/6-10″ | S | low maintenance |
” large | Y,O | to 3′ | S | low maintenance |
MORNING GLORY | R,PK,W,B | vine/10″ | S | plant for walls |
NASTURTIUM | PK,O,Y | to 15″/10″ | E | good border |
NICOTIANA | PK,B | 2’/12″ | HS | related to tobacco |
PANSY | all | to 12″/6-10″ | MS | good border |
PEPPER ORNAMENTAL | R,O fruit | 12″/6″ pot | S | best in pots |
PETUNIA | all | to 15″ | S | good color |
” hanging | all | vine to 2’/10″ | S | best potted, or walls |
PHLOX, twinkle | PK,W,O,B | 6″/10″ | S | good border |
PINCUSHION | PK,R,W,B | 30″/12″ | S-HS | good background |
POPPY | O,Y | 18″/12″ | S | lots of color |
PORTULACA “Moss Rose” | Y,PK,W,R | 6″/10″ | S | good in poor soil |
PRIMROSE | mixed | to 10″/6″ | MS | good in shade also |
SALVIA | R,W,B | to 18″/6″ | SHD | good border |
SCARLET RUNNER | R | vine/12″ | S | good on fences |
SNAPDRAGONS dwarf | R,W,PK,B,PR | 4-6″/10″ | S | bi-annual |
” stndrd | R,W,PK,B,PR | to 3’/10″ | S | bi-annual |
STOCK dwarf | all but Y | to 12″/12″ | S | bi-annual |
” giant | all but Y | to 30″/12″ | S | bi-annual |
STRAWFLOWERS | PK,Y,W | 6-20″/10″ | S | good dried |
SUNFLOWERS | Y with BRN | to 8’/3′ | S | good for seed |
SWEET PEA | PK,W,B | 12-14″/10″ | S | aromatic, vine-type |
SWEET WILLIAM | PK,R,W | to 15″/10″ | E | color all summer |
VERBENA | all but Y | 12″/12″ | S | annual type |
VINCA | PK, W mix | 6-10″/12″ | MS or SHD | color all summer |
VIOLA | all | 4-8″/10″ | MS | good ground cover |
ZINNIA dwarf | all | 4-6″/10″ | S | low maintenance |
” large | all | to 30″/10″ | S | low maintenance |