Annuals to Plant Around Mailboxes

Beginning Gardeners

• Beginning a flower garden is a daunting task for those who are new to it. Some annuals are more difficult to grow than others, and these should be reserved for a time when you have more experience. Annuals that are particularly good for those new to gardening are ageratum, cockscomb, cosmos, petunia, phlox, marigold, nasturtium and zinnia. Petunias, in particular, come in a wide varieties of colors, such as lavender, purple salmon, yellow, pink, red and white. They bloom from May through October, giving a full season of flowers.

Shade

• If your mailbox sits in the shade for much of the day, you'll need annuals that are shade tolerant. Otherwise you'll be disappointed with the flower production. Suggested annuals include the woodruff, Job's tears, foxglove, fuchsia, impatiens, primrose and monkey flowers. The fuchsia, for example, only grows to 24 inches, has flowers in pink, red and white, and, like the petunia, blooms from May until October.

Sunlight

• An open location requires annuals that thrive on sunlight. Wax begonia, periwinkle, pansy, forget-me-nots and the horned violet are all suitable. Pansies are small, hardy flowers that come in blue, peach, red, white and yellow. They also bloom from March until October, giving three seasons of beauty. Newer cultivars of pansies, with special care, can overwinter and bloom again in the spring .

Soil and Climate Conditions

• Often the soil or climate dictates what annuals are best to put by a mailbox. Cornflowers, morning glory and poppies all tolerate poor soil conditions. Wet and cooler climates will do best with sweet peas, blue lace flowers, verbena, and baby blue eyes. Hot and dry climates need annuals such as cockscomb, spider flowers, baby's breath and summer cypress.