For your easy-care garden, you may want a collection of annuals that you can plant in the spring and forget about until frost arrives in the late fall.
Luckily there are many lovely, gorgeous flowering annuals (or perennials that can be grown as annuals) that will keep your garden looking bright and cheery throughout the spring and summer months and well into the autumn.
Choose from this collection.
Impatiens
Impatiens (Impatiens Wallerana) is also known as Buzzy Lizzie. This herbaceous perennial is a member of the Balsaminaceae family.
Wallerana originates in Tanzania and Mozambique and is winter hardy in USDA hardiness zones 10 through 11. The plant can attain a height of 2’ feet and a spread of 2’ feet. It blooms prolifically from June until first frost bearing lovely blooms in shades of:
- Bicolor
- Orange
- Purple
- White
- Lilac
- Rose
- Pink
- Red
Plant in full to part shade for an attractive summer long show.
Wax Begonia
Wax begonia (Begonia X semperflorens-cultorum) is an herbaceous perennial member of the Begoniaceae family and is winter hardy in USDA hardiness zones 10 through 11.
The plant can attain a height and width of 1′ foot. It blooms from June until first frost in shades of:
- Bicolor
- White
- Pink
- Red
This plant does well in partial shade to full sun and has medium watering requirements.
It is tolerant of Black walnut trees, dry soil and rabbits and provides an attractive show throughout the summer and into the autumn.
Details on Growing Wax Begonia From Seed
Morning Glory
Morning-glory (Ipomea tricolor) is an enthusiastically climbing plant which is a member of the Ipomea family.
Plant this cheery, easy to grow plant in full sun and well draining soil for a bright show of blooms in shades of:
- Purple
- White
- Blue
- Pink
This plant can tolerate poor soil but cannot tolerate overwatering. The large, bright blossoms are extremely attractive to butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators. It is an excellent choice for covering trellises, pergolas, arbors, and the like.
Learn more about Growing Morning Glory
Lantana
Lantanas (Lantana spp.) Is an attractive broadleaf evergreen member of the Verbenaceae family hailing from the tropical Americas.
This plant is winter hardy in USDA hardiness zones 10 through 11. It attains a height of 4′ feet tall and a spread of 3′ feet wide. Lantana presents abundant clusters of small flowers in shades of:
- Mixed
- Orange
- Yellow
- Purple
- White
- Red
Plant in full sun to enjoy a bright and fragrance show from July until first frost. The flowers are extremely attractive to butterflies and other pollinators. Lantana is an excellent choice for adding color and life to a hot, dry setting.
More Tips on Growing Lantana Bushes and Trees
Gomphrena
Gomphrena (Gomphrena spp.) is also known as Fireworks. This fast growing plant produces large, gorgeous, hot pink, clover-like blossoms with yellow tips.
The plant can attain a height of 4′ feet tall and is an excellent choice for mass planting or as a summertime hedgerow.
Details on Caring for and Growing Gomphrena Plants
New Guinea Impatiens
New Guinea impatiens (Impatiens hawkeri) can attain a height of up to 18″ inches tall and a spread of up to 9″ inches wide. The plant does well in partial shade to full sun and requires rich, loose, well-draining soil.
This hardy cultivar flowers continuously from spring through autumn in shades of:
- Orange
- Purple
- White
- Pink
- Red
Be sure to provide these tropical plants with plenty of water. They require consistent moisture, but cannot tolerate sitting in soggy soil. Fertilize monthly for best bloom performance.
Tips on Growing and Care of New Guinea Impatiens
Blue Ageratum
Blue agetartum (Ageratum Houstonianum) is also known as Floss Flower.
This annual member of the Asteraceae family hails from Mexico and is winter hardy in USDA hardiness zones 2 through 11 and does well in full sun to partial shade.
The plant attains a height of 30″ inches tall and a width of 18″ inches wide. It presents fluffy, purple/blue blooms continuously from the month of June until the first frost.
Details on Growing Blue Ageratum
Narrowleaf Zinnia
Narrowleaf zinnia (Zinnia angustifolia) is also known as:
- Creeping Zinnia
- Mexican Zinnia
This drought tolerant, bushy, compact annual grows to be as tall as 16″ inches tall. It blooms profusely from early in the spring until autumn in shades of:
- Bicolored
- Orange
- Yellow
- White
- Pink
- Red
The plant is available in numerous cultivars to help you create an easy-care, varied garden.
More on Caring for Narrowleaf Zinnia
Moonflower
Moonflower (Ipomea alba) is a tender perennial hailing from Central and South America and also native to Florida. This vining plant is winter hardy from USDA hardiness zones 10 through 12.
Planted in full sun, this rambling plant can attain a height as great as 15′ feet tall with a spread as great as 6′ feet wide. Large, fragrant white blooms appear at night and are attractive to moths and other nighttime pollinators.
Pentas
Pentas (Pentas lanceolata) is also known as Egyptian Starflower. This herbaceous perennial is a member of the Rubiaceae family and hails from eastern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. It is winter hardy in USDA hardiness zones 10 through 11.
This low maintenance bedding plant has moderate water requirements and attains a height and width of 2 feet. It produces attractive clusters of tiny, star-shaped blossoms in shades of:
- Magenta
- White
- Lilac
- Pink
The fragrant blooms are extremely attractive to butterflies and other pollinators.