Hardy Annual Seeds

Yellow

• The calendula or pot marigold (Calendula officinalis) produces bright gold to yellow blossoms from summer through fall. This hardy annual grows from 10 to 24 inches tall and up to 24 inches wide. Calendula prefer full sun.

  Bells-of-Ireland blooms with bright yellowish-green flowers in the summer. This tall plant can reach heights up to 4 feet and makes a good cut flower.

Red to Orange

• Flowering cabbage or brassica (Brassica oleracea var. acepola) has attractive red foliage from fall through spring. This edible annual tolerates cold weather well.

  The wallflower (Cheiranthus cheiri) blooms with red, orange, bronze or reddish-brown flowers throughout the season. Wallflowers grow up to 30 inches high and prefer cool soils and partial shade.

Pink

• Candytuft (Iberis umbellate) produces pink to mauve flowers in spring. Candytuft grows up to 12 inches high and prefers well-drained soil. This hardy annual tolerates certain herbicides but cannot tolerate wet soil.

  Dianthus or pinks (Dianthus chinensis) blooms with bright pink flowers from spring to fall. Dianthus grows up to 10 inches tall and thrives in full sun.

Blue to Purple

• The larkspur (Delphinium spp.) produces large spikes of blue to purple flowers in spring. This sun-loving annual grows up to 30 inches tall and 24 inches wide.

  Nigella (Nigella damascene) thrives in full sun and blooms with violet to blue blossoms in summer. Nigellas grow up to 30 inches tall and tolerate drought.

  The cupflower (Nierembergia hippomanica) produces blue to purple flowers with yellow centers from summer until first frost. This annual grows up to 12 inches tall and thrives in moist soil and sun to partial shade.

Multi-Colored

• Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) comes in a variety of colors, from white to yellow, pink and purple. This hardy annual grows up to 5 feet tall and prefers afternoon shade. Foxglove's height makes it a good background plant.

  The pansy (Viola x wittrockiana) is available in a range of colors, including white, yellow blue and purple. This small flower grows up to 10 inches tall and flowers from early spring until fall.

  The tiny sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritime) produces fragrant red, purple and white blossoms from spring to fall. Alyssum grows from 4 to 8 inches high and tolerates light frost.