‘We are such stuff as dreams are made on and our little life is rounded with a sleep’ is an apt Shakespearean description of an annual plant due to its short lift cycle.
Annuals are the butterflies of the plant world as they grow, flower, seed and die all in the space of one year. In their short life, these colourful plants provide colour and interest and are perfect for filling gaps in your border and creating a sense of joy in your garden.
Most annuals love a sunny spot so they can really shine and a light soil that retains moisture but also warms up quickly so they can start to flourish straight away – they don’t have long! If you are growing tender or half-hardy annuals like Zinnia or Cosmos from seed, you need to sow them inside and keep them warm for them to germinate, then harden them off outside before planting once the risk of frost has passed. Hardy annuals like Poppies and Cornflowers can be sown directly into the soil from March to May and you can sow in batches to keep the colour going when they flower from June to August. You can collect the seeds from these hardy annuals and grow them year after year.
The term ‘bedding plant’ is usually a reference to annuals which provide a temporary decorative display, and you will find racks of them in your local garden centre from April onwards. For instant colour you can buy annuals as plug plants or larger specimens so you can see what they look like in an instant.
The Best Annuals For Your Garden
Cosmos - Cosmea
Easy to grow from seed and readily available in garden centres from early summer, this half-hardy annual is a staple in most gardens during the summer and is the perfect filler in a sunny border or container. Deadhead to prolong the flowering period from July to October. It has soft, ferny foliage which creates height and movement in your garden and the delicate flowers in white and pink create impact when planted together. Cosmos attract bees, butterflies and hoverflies so are fabulous in supporting biodiversity and they also make a great cut flower which is a bonus.
Zinnia
Zinnias create an explosion of colour in your borders and like Cosmos, they are an excellent cut flower. These bold half-hardy annuals need well-drained soil and hot, sunny conditions to shine in the summer and the huge variety of hues means they will literally create a riot of colour in your garden. Choose from the large golden flowers of ‘Pop Art’, double flowers of ‘Purple Prince’ or maybe the delicate and intriguing ‘Red Spider’ Zinnia. All make excellent cut flowers and will flower from July through to October if the conditions are right.
Poppies
One of my favourite flowers and the best annuals for your garden. The common name for plants in the Papaveraceae family, these flowers also include perennials and biennials so are not just a one hit wonder. Most poppies love moist, well-drained soil and even though they only flower for a few months they are a star turn when in full bloom. Annual poppy seeds can be sown directly into the soil in March, April and May and again in September and October to establish an early show the following year.
Pot Marigold - Calendula
This bright annual has fragrant leaves, and its daisy shaped flowers are a stunning orange and yellow making it a cheerful addition to your border or container display. As well as a vibrant colour, Calendula will often flower from early summer through to the autumn making it great value for money. You can use the flower petals for flavouring in soups or stews or dry as an alternative to saffron.
Cornflower - Centaurea
A stunning blue annual which is also available in other colours depending on the variety you buy. Cornflowers are associated with cottage garden style planting and are effective as part of a natural wildflower planting scheme. To extend the flowering period, which normally lasts from spring through the summer, you should deadhead the spent flowers regularly. You can sow these annuals from March through to May or in September for early flowers in the following year.
Sweet Pea - Lathrus Odoratus
Fragrant and romantic sweet peas remind me so much of my childhood, with the annual competition between my granny, my mum and my aunts to see who had the most successful crop of these annual climbers. These annuals are available in a spectrum of colours, and many are highly fragrant and perfect for cutting to have in small vases round your home in the summer.
Sweet peas are ‘hungry’ and need rich, fertile soil which is well-drained and in a sunny spot. For climbing varieties, you will need a trellis or wigwam type structure (you can make this yourself out of bamboo canes or willow) as they will need lots of support. Make sure you water daily and feed weekly while they are flowering. Cut the flowers regularly for even more blooms – letting them go to seed where they produce pods will stop the flowering but obviously if you are collecting seeds, you can let this happen at the end of the season.
Some annual Sweet peas are a dwarf variety so are ideal for growing in a container where they will tumble over the sides for a glorious display, like ‘Little Sweetheart’ or ‘Bijou’.
As well as the half-hardy annual Sweet Pea, there is also a perennial variety which will come back every year – just cut it down to ground level each autumn. My perennial pea is very vigorous, so I need to keep an eye on its climbing antics, but it looks fabulous scrambling up trees and other structures. Even though it is not scented, it provides a wonderful summer spectacle.
Antirrhinum
Snapdragon as is commonly called is a popular annual and as children, we were taught to pinch the sides of the flowers to open the dragon’s mouth which cause much hilarity as we chased each other round with the ‘roaring’ flowers!
These fragrant annuals grow best in full sun and in a sheltered position and are available in a range of heights and flower types to suit your garden. ‘Appleblossom’ with its delicate white and pink flowers will grow up to 90cm, whereas ‘Tom Thumb Mixed’ is a dwarf variety which will only reach 25cm. You can sow as annuals in the early spring but make sure the danger of frost has passed before you plant these outside.
‘Nature gives to every time and season some beauties of its own.’
As Charles Dickens says in Nicholas Nickleby.
These are my Top 7 Annuals from my garden but there are so many out there I’m sure you will find the perfect selection to brighten up your summer garden.
If you would like further advice or information about annuals for your garden, please get in touch.
