Annual Plants That Bloom All Summer

Gallardia

• Gallardia artistata, or blanket flower, produces 4-inch blooms. This annual begins blooming early in the summer and continues into the fall. Not only is this a pretty flower, it also attracts bees and butterflies. Gallardia likes soil that drains well. You do not need to deadhead the gallardia plant to make it produce more blossoms as it will continue to set more blossoms on through the season. Gallardia grows in zones 4 through 10 and needs the full sun to thrive. It blooms in a multitude of colors.

Petunias

• Petunias have graced gardens for years and are easy to grow. The petunia has trumpet-shaped flowers, and they bloom all summer long. They do require some deadheading to encourage new bud growth.. They grow well in full sun or partial shade, but in extreme heat they will stop setting flowers until the temperature lowers. They flower in a variety of colors and styles like single, double, or ruffled. Petunia flowers are striped, single colored or variegated. Every year new varieties are coming out on the market, phasing out some of the older varieties. Pinch the tips back on all varieties of petunia, except the millifloras (the spreading variety). This will encourage the petunias to grow bushy and full. Depending on the variety, petunias can grow from 6 inches to 4 feet tall.

Globe Amaranth

• The globe amaranth is an old flower that has graced gardens for generations. It came from the tropical areas of the Old World. The flowers resemble the flowers of the clover. The plants can grow to 1½ feet tall and the flowers are 1 ½ inches long and bloom from summer until the frost. They hold their color for years, so they are perfect for dried flower arrangements. They are hardy in zones 9 through 11.

Cosmos

• Cosmos blooms from summer to fall and they make excellent cut flowers. Cosmos grow in full sun to partial shade. They are not fussy about the type of soil they grow in and they do well in drought conditions. The plants can grow to a height of 4 to 5 feet, so they may need staking. Insects and diseases do not bother cosmos. Deadhead the spend flowers so the cosmos plants will continue to bloom.