Different Kinds of Annual Plants

Different Hardiness

• Annuals vary in hardiness. Hardy annuals, such as calendula and sweet alyssum, will take a heavy frost while half-hardy annuals, such as strawflower and nigella, are damaged by it. Tender annuals, including marigolds, morning glories, zinnias and sunflowers, will succumb to light frosts. Many plants referred to as annuals are often tender perennials that will grow in warm areas year-round but die in cold weather. Begonias, impatiens and snapdragons fall into this category.

Different Size and Shape

• Tall annuals, such as sunflowers, giant zinnias and cleome, are best as feature plants or placed in the back of a garden while short, groundcover plants, such as alyssum and portulaca, make marvellous edging for the front. Annual flowers are diverse. Some varieties are spiky (salvias and snapdragons), mounding (marigolds and impatiens), trailing (lobelia and diascia) and daisy-like (osteospermum and tithonia). Interesting foliage can be found in coleus, caladium and dusty miller.

Different Colors and Textures

• Annuals have relatively small root systems so will happily grow in containers and hanging baskets. Geraniums and impatiens have long been favorites as they are relatively easy to care for, showy and come in a variety of colors. Annual herbs are worth growing, not only for the obvious culinary benefit but also for their interesting textures and colors. Lemon thyme, purple basil and moss curled parsley make an effective grouping. Peach nasturtiums mixed with lavender petunias create another eye-stopping display.

Different Light, Soil and Care Requirements

• Some annual flowers, like marigolds and zinnias, require full sun exposure while others, like impatiens and begonias, do best in shade. Portulaca and gazania perform best if soil is a bit on the dry side while nicotiana and pansies flower more profusely in moist, well-composted soil. For a continuous display of color remove any spent blossoms and fertilize plants regularly throughout the growing season.