Terri Robertson is the Senior Editor, Digital, at Country Living, where she shares her lifelong love of homes, gardens, down-home cooking, and antiques. "},{"name":"Christopher Michel","url":"https://www.countryliving.com/author/225323/christopher-michel/","@type":"Person","description":"
Christopher Michel has been the Senior Food and Gardens Editor at Country Living Magazine since March of 2021. Chris has over ten years of experience writing and editing for national magazines and websites, mostly in the food space, such as Cooking Light, The Kitchn, Rodale’s Organic Life, and Bon Appetit. Prior to that, Chris worked in a variety of food spaces in New York City. In 2022, Chris completed the Alabama Master Gardener’s Program hosted by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.
\nChris lives in Birmingham, AL, where he enjoys running, reading, and cooking for his wife and two girls.","image":"https://hips.hearstapps.com/rover/profile_photos/4ee90ba8-a422-457b-8971-34d2096febf7_1623953979.jpg"}],"@context":"http://schema.org","about":{"@type":"ItemList","numberOfItems":22,"itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@type":"Thing","name":"Nasturtium","url":"https://www.countryliving.com/gardening/garden-ideas/g19564804/best-annual-flowers/?slide=1","description":"These fun, pretty little flowers are easily one of the easiest annuals to grow. Simply plant the seeds and water, and within a few weeks you'll have a bounty. They don't need much in the way of care—though they don't transplant well, so be sure to grow them from seed. Sun Exposure: full sun to part shadeBlooming Period: summer/fallHelpful Information: They're edible! 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How to Do It and Why","image":"https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/mixed-cornflowers-royalty-free-image-1718139213.jpg"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"item":{"@type":"Thing","name":"Poppies","url":"https://www.countryliving.com/gardening/garden-ideas/g19564804/best-annual-flowers/?slide=4","description":"The paper-thin petals, setting on top of tall stems, make poppy flowers hard to mistake for anything else. You can find them in all sorts of colors, not just that traditional red. Grow them from seed—you can practically sprinkle them on the ground. 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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 sunBlooming Period: spring/summer/fallRELATED: 22 Creative DIY Bench Ideas to Add to Your Garden This Year","image":"https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/best-annual-flowers-petunia-1655931031.jpeg"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":7,"item":{"@context":"https://schema.org/","@type":"Product","name":"'Aaron' Caladium","description":"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. 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Looking for a little seasonal color to make your garden pop? Want to boost curb appeal in the front, or create an oasis of color in your backyard landscape? Enter annual plants!
What defines an annual plant?
An annual plant completes its lifecycle within one year. True annuals include flowers like zinnias, cosmos, larkspur, and most marigolds and sunflowers.
In practice, however, the line between annual and perennial gets blurred.
In a colder climate, for instance, a perennial may only grow as an annual, and be killed off by the frost. And some annuals will happily self-seed, meaning that without much effort on your part, new plants will come back.
Of course! Annuals allow you a lot more flexibility in deciding what goes into your garden year after year. And they tend to be much showier, with striking colors, than most perennials. Though we tend to recommend a mix of both—so you don't have to completely reinvent your garden every single spring.
Also, though annuals can be less expensive in the short term, they tend to be pricier in the long run.
"Annual plantings are fun to plan into garden designs to create a sense of health, texture, and substance," says landscape designer Daniel McCurry of Father Nature Landscapes, headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama. "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."
These fun, pretty little flowers are easily one of the easiest annuals to grow. Simply plant the seeds and water, and within a few weeks you'll have a bounty. They don't need much in the way of care—though they don't transplant well, so be sure to grow them from seed.
Sun Exposure: full sun to part shade Blooming Period: summer/fall Helpful Information: They're edible! Growing from seed is recommended.
Another gorgeous edible flower, these annuals look beautiful by a garden gate, or along a path, by themselves or among wildflowers. They're annuals, but they will also self-sow. They bloom best in the spring and fall for a month or so at a time.
Sun Exposure: full sun Blooming Period: spring/fall
These lovely annual wildflowers almost look like they're made of crepe paper. There available in plenty of colors, but of course that cornflower blue is the most striking. Deadheading the spent flowers will keep them blooming!
Sun Exposure: full sun Blooming Period: Early to mid summer
The paper-thin petals, setting on top of tall stems, make poppy flowers hard to mistake for anything else. You can find them in all sorts of colors, not just that traditional red. Grow them from seed—you can practically sprinkle them on the ground. Though technically they're short-lived perennials, they're mostly grown as annuals.
Sun Exposure: full sun Blooming Period: late spring/summer Helpful Information: seldom severely damaged by deer
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
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.
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.
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
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
9
Begonia
Getty Images
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
10
Angelonia
Getty Images
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
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
11
Celosia
Getty Images
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:full sun Blooming Period: summer Helpful Information: seldom severely damaged by deer
12
Cosmos
Getty Images
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.
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
14
Impatiens
Getty Images
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
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
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
18
Dahlias
Getty Images
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
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
19
Chrysanthemum
Getty Images
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
20
Pansies
Getty Images
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
