Why Annual Flowers
Enhance your garden or outdoor living space with fun, bold colors by adding annual flowers. Annuals are easy to plant
and care for so they’re a perfect solution if you want to boost your home’s curb appeal or make your outdoor spaces more
cozy. Most varieties bloom all season long, lighting up your garden and adding a touch of excitement. One fun feature
about annuals is that you replant each year. This allows you to refresh your outdoor space with new bold colors that
keep it exciting.
If you’re new to gardening, here are some of our favorite annual flowers to get started
with. Let’s dig in!
Angelonia
Angelonia is first on our list of must-have annuals. Super easy
to care for, angelonia shares its bright pink, purple, blue, white, or mauve flowers all season long. Mix and match the
colors in your design or use angelonia as an accent for your container gardens or hanging baskets. Grow your angelonia
in direct sun for six to eight hours and water when soil feels dry. Keep angelonia looking its best by removing dead
flowers.
Hint: If you live in a frost-free climate, angelonia can be grown as a perennial for year-round
flowers.
Dusty Miller
This tried-and-true annual is perfect for highlighting all the
colors in your garden. Use dusty miller’s silvery-gray
leaves to play off any other plant; this garden neutral looks good with everything! Add this beauty to a mix with any of
the other annuals we’ve suggested and your flower bed or garden container will dazzle. Dusty miller is happiest in full
sun but will also tolerate some shade and is drought resistant. Don’t let it stay wet, otherwise it may
rot.
Lantana
With bright and cheerful flowers containing nectar that
butterflies and hummingbirds love, lantana adds spice and life to
your garden. We adore this plant because it is super easy to grow, not picky about soil, and drought tolerant. Mix
colors such as red, yellow, orange, lavender, and pink to your annual mix for a perfect summer vibe. If you live by the
sea, lantana is a must have variety because it is salt tolerant. More good news: Deer and rabbits typically ignore
colorful lantana.
Pansy
This sun-loving annual grows in many different colors and
patterns that are perfect for mixing and matching. Grow beautiful pansy
in spring or fall as it loves cool weather and even holds up to frost and freezing temperatures. Don’t be fooled
though, pansy loves the sun and rich soil that drains well. We grow pansies because of their brightly colored blooms and
reputation for standing out.
Snapdragon
Snapdragon is a beautiful – and classic -- annual to add to your mix. With tall, colorful spikes that punctuate plantings like dramatic exclamation points, snapdragon is a stunner. Just like pansies, snapdragon grows best in cool weather. It flourishes in a sunny spot with six to eight hours of sun per day. Be sure that the soil is moist, but well drained and snapdragon is sure to thrive. It looks best in flower beds, hanging baskets, and window boxes – basically everywhere!
