Annual Flowers in Texas

Scented Geranium

• The scented geranium is a relative of the standard geranium. These annuals have lacy foliage and five-petaled flowers that range in color from white to red. There are hundreds of varieties, cultivated for the scents that they release. Among the scents are those not expected from garden flowers: pineapple, chocolate, lemon and mint, to name a few.

  Scented geraniums can be planted in the garden or used in hanging baskets. They thrive in full sun and warm weather and will die if exposed to frost or cold nights. Regular pruning encourages the plant to grow thick foliage and prevents it from becoming leggy. Native to South Africa, they are well suited to the heat and long summers of Texas.

Amaryllis

• In most parts of the country, the amaryllis is an indoor potted plant. The climate of most areas in Texas is warm enough to support the amaryllis as an outdoor annual.

  Each stem of the amaryllis is 18 and 20 inches tall and terminates in two to seven flowers. The flowers are about 6 inches in diameter and come in a variety of colors from pink and white to orange.

  When planted outdoors they thrive in shady areas and require frequent watering when flowering and little water when dormant. These subtropical annuals flourish without help in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 9 through 11 and can be mulched in Zone 8 to keep the bulbs from getting too cold during the cooler months.

Dahlias

• Dahlias are native to Mexico and Central America and thrive in the similar Texas climate. With more than 20,000 different cultivars, dahlias offer plenty of variety. The flowers of miniature varieties are about 2 inches across, while those of giant cultivars can be up to 10 inches in diameter. These flower heads have composite petals and are surrounded by feathery leaves. Flowers can be pink, red, orange, purple, white, yellow or combinations.

  They should be planted between mid-March and May and thrive in full sun and well-drained, moist soil. While rated for USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 8 through 11, they do require mulching in cooler areas to protect them from cold weather. They begin to bloom in the early summer and continue through the first frosts, when the bulbs can be dug up, dried, and hung upside down in a dry place until they are ready to be planted in the spring.