Which Annuals Should I Choose?
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The following list is a pick of annual’s that are favorites among gardeners and are simple to grow. There are many types listed here that can be grown during various times in the year. Each of the plant listings contains descriptions, proper planting space, sunlight requirements, and propagation lengths. Most of these plants can be found at your local garden center. Certain plants have to be grown inside before placed in the outside environment. Some will have quick growth and some plants will have slow growth. Take the time to browse through and familiarize yourself with plants that will grow well in your area and possess the appropriate characteristics you require. Click on the name of the annual to get the full description.
- Amaranthus Summer Poinsettia
- Ageratum Floss Flower
- Pansy Viola
- Petunia
- Snapdragon
- Sunflower
- Marigold
- California Poppy
- Cosmos
- Wishbone Flower
Amaranthus Summer Poinsettia (Amaranthus Tricolor)
- Description:These plants have three to four layers of foliage. When the plant is fully mature, the third to fourth crown develops hot colors of red and yellow. These colors last from about midsummer to early frost.
- Planting Space: Plant at least 2 feet apart.
- Sunlight Requirement: Full Sunlight
- Propagation Length: Germinates within 10 days at 70° F. In areas that have cooler climate, seed indoors eight weeks before planting. In regions that have long hot weather conditions, sow the seeds directly outside.
- How to Grow Properly: Grow this plant in a fertile, well drained soil. Space each plant at least two feet apart where there will be ample sunlight available. These plants require hot climates and, once matured, can with stand long periods of drought.
- Where to Put Them: To show off the vibrant yellow and red colors, place them in masses. Particularly in island beds at the back of the borders.
Ageratum Floss Flower (Ageratum Housetonianum)
- Description: Clusters of small, fuzzy flowers cover the ageratum plants. There are several types but the most common is mounding plants that can grow 6” to 10” wide and tall. These plants bloom from spring until the cold bite of the fall.
- Planting Space: Plant at least 6" to 10" apart
- Sunlight Requirement: Full Sunlight or Partial Shade
- Propagation Length: Germinates within 5 to 8 days if kept at 70° F. Best to start seeding 6 to 8 weeks before planting.
- How to Grow Properly: Best grown in well drained soil in either full sun or partial shade. You should space them approximately 6” to 10” apart to create uniform color. Remember to deadhead all messy areas of the plant to keep it neat and tidy
- Where to Put Them: Position them at the front of borders and beds. Certain ageratums produce rare blue colors that make great cut flowers.
Pansy Viola (Viola x Wittrockiana or Viola x Hybrida)
- Description: Blooming during the cool season, pansies and violas create flowers as they grow. The flowers range in size from 1” up to 5” in diameter. There are wide complements of colors available, but the most appealing aspect of pansies and violas are their unique faces comprised of whiskers and/or blotches.
- Planting Space:Plant about 6” to 9” apart
- Sunlight Requirement:Partial Shade
- Propagation Length: Germinates properly within 10 to 15 days at a temperature of 68° F. Sow the seeds 8 weeks before you plant them outside.
- How to Properly Grow: Proper spacing is about 6” to 9” apart from each other. In mild weather regions, during late summer, as the weather cools down place the plants outside. Short freezes will not kill the plants but they will only blossom once the weather warms up. Furthermore, to get proper growth, set them out at least 2 to 4 weeks before the spring season.
- Where to Put Them: It is best to place pansies and violas in containers around the front of borders and beds. You can also place them in small groups amongst other similar sized flowers.
Petunia (Petunia x Hybrida)
- Description: These are funnel shaped flowers that are curled, waved, or crisped. There are multiple color variations that range from red, pink, lavender, purple, white, cream, peach, and even yellow. They are divided into two categories: multifloras and grandifloras. Both have singe and double forms. Grandifloras are a bit larger but recent hybrid variations have erased that line. Singles are much more sustainable in wet environments compared to doubles.
- Planting Space: Proper spacing for petunias is about 12” apart.
- Sunlight Requirement: Full Sunlight
- Propagation Length: Seeds germinate within 10 to 12 days at temperatures ranging between 70° to 75° F. It is best if you seed these plants indoors about 10 to 12 weeks prior to placing them outside.
- How to Properly Grow: Proper spacing for petunias is about 12” apart. They should be placed in well drained soil with full sunlight for proper growth. They can be subjected to short frost conditions and grow well during cool seasons. Promote a fuller bloom by shearing the plants back down halfway around midsummer.
- Where to Put Them: You can place them almost anywhere. Pathways, walkways, beds, borders, and containers are all appropriate locations. Using containers is recommended because certain types of petunia’s mound up and billow over the edges.
Snapdragon (Antirrhinum Majus)
- Description: The plants sprout out a spiral of flowers along a slender stalk. Best known snapdragons are the types that have snappable flowers. Other types contain open faced flowers that have double forms. Just as with petunias there is a whole sea of different color variations available. They range from burgundy, red, pink, white, yellow, and even bronze.
- Planting Space: Place small styles at least 6” apart and place larger styles at least 12” apart
- Sunlight Requirement: Full Sunlight
- Propagation Length: Seed germination occurs within 8 days at a temperature of 70° F. Remember to sow the seeds at least 6 to 8 weeks indoors before placing them outside, after the last frost has passed.
- How to Properly Grow: There are two different types of spacing. Place small styles at least 6” apart and place larger styles at least 12” apart. You should plant them in rich well drained soil that contains a high amount of organic matter. Snip the tips of young plants so that you can stimulate branching.
- Where to Put Them: Place the tall types at the back of the border or you can use them for cut flowers. Short types should be placed around the border edgings to accent your garden.
Sunflower (Helianthus Annuus)
- Description:Breeding and genetically engineering sunflowers have given us a wide variety. There are sunflowers that are 15 ft tall and some only 1 foot tall. They come in colors of yellow, brown, orange, rust, and with and without pollen. Pollen stains are a big problem with cut flowers so that have genetically removed it. The sunflower leaves are large and course and bedding types are branched. Also, they have a high tolerance towards heat and drought.
- Planting Space: Plant the tall types at least 12” to 18” apart & the smaller variations should be around 9” to 12”apart.
- Sunlight Requirement: Full Sunlight
- Propagation Length: These seeds germinate at temperature between 75° to 85° F within 10 to 20 days. Plant the seeds outside when the final frost has passed.
- How to Properly Grow: You must plant the tall types at least 12” to 18” apart. The spacing for the smaller variations should be around 9” to 12”. As with most plants, sunflowers require a lot of sunlight and well drained rich soil. Pinch the center part of the tip of bedding types to create more branching.
- Where to Put Them: The dwarf variations should be placed within the beds and borders while the taller variations should be placed only at the back of the borders. The flowers can also be cut and placed in bouquets. Furthermore the seeds are edible for animals, birds, and humans as well.
Marigold (Tagetes Patula and Tagetes Erecta)
- Description: There are three types of marigolds. T. Patula are French marigolds that are bushy and are compact with small flowers. T. Erecta are American marigolds that can reach as tall as 36”. They also have large double flowers in colors ranging from orange, yellow, to gold. Triploids are a hybrid cross between the French and American marigolds. They are similar to French marigolds but have much larger flowers.
- Planting Space: Varies on type of Marigold. French marigolds should be spaced at least 6” to 10”, while the American marigolds should be spaced about 10” to 18” apart.
- Sunlight Requirement: Full Sunlight
- Propagation Length: Between 65° to 75° F will germinate the seed within 5 to 7 days. Plant indoors four weeks prior to the final frost.
- How to Properly Grow: The spacing for French and American marigolds is different. French marigolds should be spaced at least 6” to 10”, while the American marigolds should be spaced about 10” to 18” apart. Full sun and moist, well drained soil are optimum condition to grow both types of sunflowers. Should be planted outside once frost conditions have dissipated.
- Where to Put Them: Place the taller marigolds either towards the center or rear of the beds and borders. Place them in containers with full sunlight exposed for maximum growth results.
California Poppy (Eschscholzia Californica)
- Description:These flowers have leaves that are almost lacy and thread like plus their mounds can grow up to 1 foot. The poppy-like flowers grow to a diameter of 1” to 3”. Each flower contains four or more silky pedals that may be bicolored or rippled. The color varies from red, pink, orange, yellow, to peach.
- Planting Space: Place them at least 10” apart
- Sunlight Requirement: Partial Shade or Full Sunlight
- Propagation Length :Plant the seeds outside about 4 weeks prior to the beginning of spring. If you live in areas where there are mild winters, plant the seeds in late fall.
- How to Properly Grow: When planting outside, place them at least 10” apart. These flowers can grow in partial shade or in full shade but the soil must be rich and well drained. It is recommended to deadhead so that you can encourage blossoming and keep the flowers neat.
- Where to Put Them: Perfect locations are beds, meadow gardens, and borders. These plants self sow very easily in warm climates.
Cosmos (Cosmos Bipinnatus)
- Description:These flowers can grow up to 6 feet tall with flower diameters reaching up to 4”. These are one of the fastest growing annuals and are sometimes referred to as “daises”. The colors range from lavender, white, red, to pink with a bright contrasting yellow center.
- Planting Space: Plants should be spaced 12” apart from one another.
- Sunlight Requirement: Full Sunlight or Partial Shade
- Propagation Length: Proper germination occurs within 3 to 7 days between temperatures of 70° to 75 F°. Plant the seeds indoors approximately 3 weeks prior to final frost conditions. Remember not to keep the seeds covered because they need a substantial amount of light to germinate.
- How to Properly Grow: These plants should be spaced 12” apart from one another. This can be grown in either full sun or partial shade.
- Where to Put Them: These plants have very large heights so it’s best if you place them at the back of borders or in groups against the fence.
Wishbone Flower (Torenia Fournieri)
- Description:Torenia’s form mounds up to 1 foot high with many branches growing out of it. Their leaves are either heart or oval shaped and have similar characteristics such as open faced snapdragons. The predominant color is blue but recent variations have seen colors like white, light blue, rose, and pink.
- Planting Space: Spacing of these plants is about 6” to 8” apart.
- Sunlight Requirement: Partial Shade
- Propagation Length: Proper germination lasts approx. 10 to 15 days at constant temperature of 70° F. Plant the seeds indoors about 10 to 12 weeks before you place them outside.
- How to Properly Grow: Spacing of these plants is about 6” to 8” apart. They flourish in partial shade with soil that is well drained, moist, and rich. High humidity best suits them but will not tolerate being dry.
- Where to Put Them: It is ideal to grow groups of torenia along paths and walkways. One of the advantages of these plants is that they grow quite evenly. This makes it a great runner for formal beds in either part sun or partial shade.
