Annual gardening plants classed as annuals are those which complete their life cycle within the space of one year and in this group, we find some of our most useful garden flowers. We also commonly place in this class a few flowers such as the snapdragons (antirrhinum) and the ageraturns which are not true annuals but which are best handled as such.
The annuals have many uses. They are indispensable in the cutting garden, giving a wealth of bloom throughout the summer and early autumn months; they are of value in the herbaceous border, coming into flower after the first riot of spring bloom has passed, and carrying gallantly on through the heat of midsummer when many of the perennials are quiescent; and if a garden is to be but a temporary affair, to be enjoyed for the space of but a single season, the annuals may be used as the only material in the planting scheme. For window boxes and porch boxes, for potted plants on the terrace or on the low coping of a wall, for the indoor window garden, and for winter bloom in the small greenhouse the annuals can hardly be equaled.
Information on 50+ annual flowers
Try growing them from seed
Grow annuals for quick color
Biennials Flowers
Marking out Garden Beds
How to Grow Annual Flowers
ANNUALS WHICH WILL GROW ON VERY POOR SOIL
ANNUALS WHICH BENEFIT FROM PINCHING
Design 1 – Design 2 – Design 3 – Design 4 – Design 5 – Design 6 – Design 7 – Design 8
We will provide a listing of annuals to assist you in your everyday gardening.
Bedding Plants
ANNUALS WHICH WILL ENDURE
Balsam (Impatiens)
Calliopsis (Coreopsis tinctoria)
Cockscomb (Celosia plumosa)
Flowering Tobacco (Nicotiana)
Godetia (Godetia amcena)
Lobelia (Lobelia erinus)
Monkeyflower (Mimulus)
Periwinkle (Vinca rosea)
Stock, Virginia (Malcomia)
ANNUALS WHICH TOLERATE ACIDITY
Calliopsis (Coreopsis tinctoria)
Flowering Tobacco (Nicotiana)
Marigold (Tagetes)
Verbena (Verbena)
ANNUALS WHICH REQUIRE A NEUTRAL OR ALKALINE SOIL
Balsam (Impatiens)
Candytuft (lberis)
Corn Poppy (Papaver Rhceas)
Drummond’s phlox (Phlox Drummondii)
Mignonette (Reseda odorata)
Nasturtium (TropTolum majus)
Zinnia (zinnia elegans)
ANNUALS WHICH WILL ENDURE HEAT AND DROUGHT
Calliopsis (Coreopsis tinctoria)
Cape-marigold, Winter (Dimorphotheca aurantiaca)
Convolvulus, Dwarf (Convolvulus tricolor)
Cornflower (Centaurea ~yanus)
Drummond’s phlox (Phlox Drummondii)
Four-o’clock (Mirabilis jalapa)
Ice Plant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum)
Larkspur, Rocket (Delphinium ajacis)
Morning-glory (Ipomma purpurea)
Perilla, Green (Perilla frutescens)
Pricklepoppy, Showy (Argemone grandiflora)
Rose Moss (Portulaca grandiflora)
Sage, Scarlet (Salvia splendens)
Sanvitalia (Sanvitalia procumbens)
Snow-on-the-mountain (Euphorbia marginata)
Summer-cypress (Kochia trichophylla)
Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)
Zinnia (zinnia elegans)
ANNUALS WHICH MAY BE SOWN IN THE FALL
California Poppy (Eschscholtzia californica)
Calliopsis (Coreopsis tinctoria)
Candytuft (lberis)
Clarkia (Clarkia elegans)
Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus)
Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus)
Cow Soapwort (Saponaria vaccaria)
Gypsophila (Gypsophila elegans)
Herb Treemallow (Lavatera trimestris)
Larkspur, Rocket (Delphinium ajacis)
Love-in-a-mist (Nigella damascena)
Pansy (Viola tricolor)
Pink, Chinese (Dianthus chinensis)
Poppy (Papaver)
Pot-marigold (Calendula officinalis)
Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus)
Sweet Alyssum (Alyssum maritimum)
Sweet Pea (Lathyrus odoratus)
ANNUALS WHICH SHOULD NOT BE PINCHED BACK
Balsam (Impatiens)
Cockscomb (Celosia)
Everlasting (Miscellaneous)
Poppies Stock
ANNUALS DIFFICULT TO TRANSPLANT
(Should be Sown where they are to Flower)
California Poppy (Eschscholtzia californica)
Evening-primrose (Cenothera Drummondii)
Godetia, Whitney (Godetia grandiffora)
Gypsophila (Gypsophila elegans)
Herb Treemallow (Lavatera trimestris)
Laceflower, Blue (Trachymene cmrulea)
Love-in-a-mist (Nigella damascena)
Lupine (Lupinus)
Nasturtium (Tropmolum)
Poppy (Papaver)
Pricklepoppy, Showy (Argemone grandiflora)
Rose Moss (Portulaca. grandiffora)
Scarlet Runner (Phaseolus coccineus)
Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)
Sweet Pea (Lathyrus odoratus)
ANNUALS WITH A SHORT SEASON OF BLOOM
(Several Sowings should be made for Succession of Bloom)
Calliopsis (Coreopsis tinctoria)
Candytuft, Purple (Iberis umbellata)
Cape-marigold, Winter (Dimorphotheca aurantiaca)
Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus)
Forget-me-not (Myosotis)
Gypsophila (Gypsophila elegans)
Love-in-a-mist (Nigella damascena)
Mignonette (Reseda odorata)
Drummond’s phlox (Phlox Drummondii)
Poppy (Papaver)
Sweet Alyssum (Alyssurn maritimum)
Annuals which are slow growing
( Requireing a Long season to bloom)
China-aster (Callistephus chinensis)
Everlasting, Winged (Ammobium)
Flax (Linum)
Goldencup (Hunnemannia)
Irnmortelle, Everlasting (Xeranthemum)
Lobelia (Lobelia)
Petunia (Petunia)
Pincushion-flower (Scabiosa)
Rhodanthe (Helipterum Humboldtianum)
Salpiglossis (Salpiglossis)
Snapdragon (Antirrhinum)
Strawflower (Helichrysum)
Sweet-sultan, Basketflower (Centaurea)
Verbena (Verbena)
ANNUALS WHICH USUALLY SELF-SOW
Browallia (Browallia)
California Poppy (Eschscholtzia californica)
CallioPsis (Coreopsis tinctoria)
Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus)
Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus)
Four-o’clock (Mirabilis jalapa)
Gypsophila (Gypsophila elegans)
Larkspur, Rocket (Delphinium ajacis)
Morning-glory (Ipomma purpurea)
Petunia (Petunia hybrida)
Pot-marigold (Calendula officinalis)
Rose Moss (Portulaca grandiflora)
Sage, Mealycup (Salvia farinacea)
Snow-on-the-mountain (Euphorbia marginata)
Spiderflower (Cleome spinosa)
Summer-cypress (Kochia trichophylla)
Sweet Alyssum (Alyssum maritimum)
Tobacco (Nicotiana sylvestris)
White Annuals
Ageratum Houstonianurn (Mexican Ageratum)
Alyssum maritimurn (Sweet Alyssum)
Ammobiurn alaturn (Winged Everlasting)
Antirrhinum majus (Snapdragon)
Arctotis grandis (Bushy Arctotis)
Argemone grandiflora (Pricklepoppy)
Brachycome iberidifolia (Swan River Daisy)
Browallia demissa (elata)
Campanula (Annual Canterbury Bells)
Centaurea (Royal Sweet-sultan, Cornflower, etc.)
Centranthus macrosiphon (Spur-valerian)
Chrysanthemum
Clarkia
Cleome spinosa (Spiderflower)
Clintonia pulchella
Collinsia bicolor (Chi nese-ho uses)
Crepis barbata rubra (Hawkweed)
Datura fastuosa (Yellow Floripondio)
Dimorphotheca aurantiaca (Cape-marigold)
Echiurn plantagineurn hybrids
Gilia tricolor
Godetia amcena and grandiflora
Gypsophila elegans
Helichrysurn bracteaturn (Strawflower)
Iberis amara (Candytuft)
Impatiens (Balsam)
Lathyrus odoratus (Sweet Pea)
Lavatera trimestris (Treemallow)
Limoniurn sinuaturn (Statice or Sea-lavender)
Lobelia erinus and tenuior
Lupinus mutabilis (Lupine)
Malcomia maritima (Virginian-stock)
Mathiola incana (Stock)
Nemesia strumosa
Nemophila maculata
Nicotiana (Flowering Tobacco)
CEnothera americana (Evening primrose)
Papaver somniferurn (Opium Poppy)
Petunia hybrida
Phlox Drummondii
Portulaca grandiflora
Saponaria vaccaria (Soapwort)
Scabiosa atropurpurea
Schizanthus pinnatus (Butterfly Flower)
Senecio elegans (Purple Groundsel)
Verbena erinoides (Moss Vervain)
Vinca rosea (Periwinkle)
Viola tricolor (Pansy)
Xeranthemurn annuum (Immortelle)
zinnia elegans
RED, ROSE, AND PINK ANNUALS
Abronia umbellata (Sand-Verbena)
Adonis
Alonsoa acutifolia (Maskflower)
A. Warscewiczii
Amaranthus caudatus (Love-lies bleeding)
Antirrhinurn majus (Snapdragon)
Calandrinia grandiflora
C. speciosa
Callistephus chinensis (China Aster)
Campanula (Annual Canterbury Bells)
Celosia (Cockscomb)
Centaurea cyanus
C. imperialis
C. moschata
Centranthus macrosiphon
Clarkia
Collinsia bicolor (Chinese-houses)
Collomia coccinea
Cosmos bipinnatus
Crepis barbata rubra
Cuphea ignea (Fiery Cuphea)
Diascia barberm (Twinspur)
Echium creticurn
E. plantagineurn hybrids
Emilia flammea and sagittata
Eschscholtzia californica (California Poppy)
Gilia
Godetia
Gypsophila muralis
Helichrysurn bracteaturn
Helipterurn Manglesii and roseurn
lberis umbellata (Candytuft)
Impatiens (Balsam)
Lathyrus odoratus (Sweet Pea)
Lavatera trimestris and rosea
(Treemallow)
Leptosiphon hybrida
Limoniurn Suworowi (Statice or
Sea-lavender)
Linaria bipartita (Toadflax)
Linurn grandiflorurn (Flowering
Flax)
Lupinus Hartwegii (Hartweg Lupine)
Lychnis (Rose-o f- heaven)
Malcomia maritima (Virginian
stock)
Malope trifida grandiflora (Mallow
wort)
Mathiola (Stock)
Mimulus (Monkeyflower)
Myosotis dissitiflora (Forget-me-not)
Nemesia strumosa
Nicotiana Sanderc and sylvestris
Papaver Rhocas (Shirley or Field
Poppy)
P. somniferum (Opium Poppy)
Petunia hybrida
Phlox Drummondii
Portulaca grandiflora (Portulaca)
Rehmannia angulata
Salvia splendens
Silene Armeria (Sweet-William)
Saponaria calabrica (Calabrian Campion)
TropTolum (Nasturtium)
Scabiosa atropurpurea
Schizanthus pinnatus (Butterfly-
Periwinkle)
Senecio elegans (Purple Groundsel)
BLUE, LAVENDER, PURPLE, AND MAUVE ANNUALS
Ageratum Houstonianum
Anagallis indica (Blue Pimpernel)
Anchusa var. Blue Bird
Asperula azurea setosa (BlueWoodruff)
Brachycome iberidifolia (Swan River Daisy)
Browallia demissa (elata)
Callistephus (China Aster)
Campanula (Blue Bellflower or Annual Canterbury Bell)
Centaurea
Clarkia elegans and pulchella
Collinsia bicolor (Chinese-houses)
Cosmos diversifolius
Cynoglossum amabile (Houndstongue)
Datura fastuosa
Delphinium ajacis (Larkspur)
Echium plantagineum
Felicia bergeriana (Kingfisher Daisy)
Gilia
Godetia grandiflora
Heliophila
Iberis (Candytuft)
Impatiens (Balsam)
Lathyrus odoratus (Sweet Pea)
Limonium sinuatum (Statice or Sea-lavender)
Linaria
Lobelia
Lupinus (Lupine)
Malcomia maritima (Virginian Stock)
Martynia fragrans
Mathiola (Stock)
Myosotis (Forget-me-not)
Nemophila insignis (Baby Blue-eye
Nigella damascena (Love-in-a-mist
Papaver Rhoeas (Shirley or Field Poppy)
Petunia
Phacelia
Phlox Drummondii
Salpiglossis sinuata
Salvia (Sage)
Scabiosa atropurpurea
Schizanthus pinnatus
Senecio elegans
Torenia Fournieri
Trachymene ca:rulea (Laceflower)
Viola tricolor (Pansy)
Xeranthemum annuum
YELLOW AND ORANGE ANNUALS
Alonsoa Warscewiczii
Antirrhinum majus
Argemone mexicanum (Mexican Poppy)
Calendula oflicinalis (Pot Marigold)
Callistephus chinensis (China Aster)
Celosia (Cockscomb)
Chrysanthemum
Coreopsis (Goldenwave and Calliopsis)
Cosmos sulphureus (Yellow Cosmos)
Datura chlorantha (Yellow Floripondio)
Diascia Barbers: (Twinspur)
Dimorphotheca aurantiaca (Capemarigold)
Emilia flammea (Tasselflower)
Eschscholtzia californica (California Poppy)
Gaillardia pulchella (Rose-ring Gaillardia)
Gamolepsis tagetes
Helianthus (Sunflower)
Helichrysum (Strawflower)
Hunnemannia fumaria’folia (Tulip Poppy)
Lathyrus odoratus (Sweet Pea)
Layia elegans (Tidytips)
Leptosyne Stillmanii (Stillman Coreopsis)
Limonium Bonduellii (Statice or Sea-lavender)
Linaria bipartita (Toadflax)
Lupinus luteus (European Yellow Lupine)
L. mutabilis
Mimulus luteus (Monkeyflower)
Nemesia strumosa
(Enothera Drummondii
Papaver Rhoeas (Shirley or Field
Poppy)
Portulaca grandiflora
Reseda odorata (Mignonette)
Rudbeckia bicolor (Pinewoods
Coneflower)
Salpiglossis sinuata
Sanvitalia procumbens
Sphenogyne speciosa
Tagetes (Marigold)
Thunbergia alata (Clockvine)
Tithonia rotundifolia (Mexican
Sunflower)
Tropaeolum (Nasturtium)
Ursinia anethoides
Venidium fastuosum
Viola tricolor
zinnia elegans
ANNUALS FOR SEASHORE AND MOUNTAIN
(For cooler and more moist regions)
Alonsoa (Maskflower)
Godetia (Satinflower)
Nemophila (Love-grove)
Brachycome (Swan River Daisy)
Hymenoxis Nigella (Love- i n-a-mist)
Chrysanthemum (Annual sorts)
Layia (Tidytips)
Papaver
Clarkia
Leptosiphon
Phacelia
Collinsia Lupinus (Lupine)
Reseda (Mignonette)
Cosmos Mentzelia (Blazing-star)
Saponaria (Calabrian Soapwort)
Eschscholtzia (California Poppy)
Mimulus (Monkeyflower)
Scabiosa
(Sweet Scabious)
Gilia Nemesia
EDGING ANNUAL’S
Ageratum (dwarf varieties)
Alyssurn maritimurn (Sweet Alyssum)
Anagallis Monelli
A. Phillipsii
Antirrhinum, dwarf (Snapdragon)
Asperula azurea setosa
Brachycome (Swan River Daisy)
Calendula, dwarf (Pot-marigold)
Centaurea candidissima (Dusty Miller)
Celosia, dwarf
Collinsia bicolor
Coreopsis tinctoria (Calliopsis)
Dianthus sinensis
Eschscholtzia californica (California Poppy)
Iberis umbellata (Candytuft)
Kaulfussia amelloides (South African Daisy)
Linurn grandiflorurn (Scarlet Flax)
Lobelia erinus (dwarf)
Matricaria inodora. (a double daisy)
Mesembryanthernum crystallinurn (Iceplant)
Nemophila insignis
Phacelia campanularia
Phlox Drummondii
Sanvitalia
Saponaria calabrica
Silene pendula
Tagetes (Marigold)
Torenia (Wishboneflower)
Tropieolum (Nasturtium)
Verbena (Vervain)
ANNUALS FOR WINDOW AND PORCH BOXES
Atzeraturn
Lobelia erinus
Portulaca (Rosemoss) Verbena
ALYSSLuM
Maurandia
Tagetes signata var. Pumila
Vinca rosea (Periwinkle)
Browallia speciosa
Petunia
Thunbergia (Clockvine)
Zinnia
Centaurea (Dusty Miller)
Phlox
Tropxolum majus (Nasturtium)
ANNUALS FOR TEMPORARY HEDGES
Helianthus debilis (Cucumber Sunflower) Helichrysurn
(Strawflower)
Impatiens (Balsam)
Kochia trichophylla
Mirabilis (Four-o’clock)
Penniseturn (Fountain Grass)
ANNUALS FOR MOIST PLACES
Nemophila (Love-grove)
Mimulus (Monkeyflower)
Ionopsidium (Diamondflower)
ANNUALS FOR POTS IN GREENHOUSE OR CONSERVATORY
Browallia speciosa
Campanula (Canterbury Bells)
Celosia
Cobwa
Diascia
Helipterum (Everlastings)
Impatiens (Balsam)
lpomcca purpurea (Morning-glory)
Nicotiana (Flowering Tobacco)
Penstemon gloxinioides (Beard-tongue)
Reseda odorata (Mignonette)
Schizanthus (Butterfly Flower)
Torenia
Trop,Tolum (Nasturtium)
ANNUALS AS EVERLASTINGS
Acroclinium
Catananche (Cupid’s-dart)
Gomphrena (Globe- Amaranth)
Grasses, Ornamental
Helichrysum (Strawflower)
Limonium (Statice or Sea-lavender)
Rhodanthe
Xeranthemum (Immortelle)
ANNUALS FOR COOL OR SHADY PLACES
Anchusa
Campanula (Annual Canterbury Bells)
Impatiens (Balsam)
Nicotiana (Flowering Tobacco)
Omphalodes
Nemophila (Love-grove)
Cenothera (Evening Primrose)
Polygonum
ANNUALS FOR CUT FLOWERS
Acroclinium (Everlasting)
Amaranthus caudatus (Love-lies-bleeding)
Antirrhinum (Snapdragon)
Arctotis grandis (Bushy Arctotis)
Argemone (Pricklepoppy)
Browallia demissa
B. speciosa
Calendula officinalis (Pot-marigold)
Callistephus (China Aster)
Centaurea moschata (Sweet-sultan)
Chrysanthemum
Clarkia elegans
Coreopsis tinctoria (Calliopsis)
Cosmos
Delphinium ajacis (Rocket Larkspur)
Dianthus chinensis (China Pink)
Dimorphotheca aurantiaca (Cape-marigold)
Emilia flammea (Tasselflower)
Eschscholtzia californica (California Poppy)
Gaillardia
Gomphrena globosa (Globe-Amaranth)
Gypsophila
Helianthus annuus (Sunflower)
# Helichrysum (Strawflower)
Lathyrus odorata (Sweet Pea)
Lavatera trimestris (Treemallow)
Leptosyne Stillmanii (Stillman Coreopsis)
Limonium sinuatum (Notchleaf Statice)
L. Suworowi (Suworow Statice)
Lupinus (Lupine)
Matricaria inodora (a double daisy)
Mathiola bicornis
M. incana
Nicotiana (Flowering Tobacco)
Nigella (Love- in-a-m ist)
Papaver glaucum (Tulip Poppy)
P. Rhceas (Corn Poppy)
P. umbrosum (Field Poppy)
Phacelia campanularia
P. tanacetifolia
Phlox Drummondii
Polygonum orientale
Reseda oclorata (Mignonette)
Salpiglossis sinuata
Scabiosa atropurpurea (Sweet Scabiosa)
Senecio elegans (Jacobaca)
Tagetes (Marigold)
Verbena erinoides (Moss Vervain)
V. hybrids
Zinnias elegans
Z. Haageana
SCENTED ANNUALS
Ageratum Houstonianum (Mexican Ageratum) delicate
Alyssum maritimum (Sweet Alyssum) delicate
Antirrhinum (Snapdragon) delicate
Calendula (Pot-marigold) pungent
Centaurea moschata (Sweet Sultan) delicate
Heliotropium peruvianum (one of the loveliest)
Iberis coronaria (Candytuft)
I. umbellata (Purple Candvtuft)
Lupinus luteus (Yellow Lupine)
Mathiola bicornis (Night-scented Stock)
M. incana (Ten-weeks Stock)
Mimulus moschata (Muskplant)
Nicotiana affinis (Flowering Tobacco)
CEnothera Lamarchiana (Evening Primrose)
Petunia-heavy Reseda
Scabiosa-dainty
Tagetes (Marigold)
Verbascum phlomoides (Tall Mullein)
Verbena erinoides (Moss Vervain)
V. hybrida Night-scented
