Choosing Annual Flowers for Your Garden

Choosing Annual Flowers for Your Garden

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  1. Annual flowers are the exclamation points in your garden, offering bright shots of color, texture and interest for months on end. When choosing annual flowers for your garden, it is important to take into consideration the time of year, where the flowers will be planted and your own preferences.

     Time of Year

    There are annual flowers that bloom during the spring and summer, others that prefer the cooler weather of fall and winter. For beautiful spring through summer color, plant annuals as soon as all danger of frost is past for your area. Some of the best choices for warm weather include:

    ·      Petunias

    ·      Marigolds

    ·      Impatiens

    ·      Geraniums

    ·      Begonia

    ·      Celosia

    ·      Zinnia

    ·      Cosmos

     As the days start growing shorter and the nights cooler, it is time to change your warm-season annuals over to those preferring cooler weather. Your fall garden will glow with the colorful blossoms of:

    ·      Chrysanthemums

    ·      Pansies

    ·      Snapdragon

    ·      Stock

    ·      Calendula

    ·      Primrose

    ·      Candytuft

    ·      Nasturtium

     Location

    When choosing annual flowers for your garden, it is important to consider how much sun they will receive. Most annual flowers prefer a sunny location. If you live in a very hot area, some afternoon shade will provide protection from scalding or wilt.

    Sun lovers:

    ·      Zinnia

    ·      Gazania

    ·      Lantana

    ·      Moss Rose

    ·      Sunflower

    ·      Flowering Tobacco

    ·      Madagascar Periwinkle

    If your garden is shaded, you don’t have to settle for green foliage with no blooms. Brighten up shady spots with annual flowers that can tolerate less light:

    ·      Coleus

    ·      Impatiens

    ·      Begonias

    ·      Torenia

    ·      Polka Dot Plant

    ·      Lobelia

    ·      Viola

     

    Personal Preference

    Nurseries and garden centers are filled with annual flowers bursting with the full range of color, forms and heights. You can narrow down your choices when choosing annuals for your garden by looking for those plants that suit your particular style and preferences.

     If you love the look of an English cottage garden filled with a mix of old-fashioned blooms, you will love the traditional favorites. Good choices include:

    ·      Shasta Daisy

    ·      Hollyhock

    ·      Sweet Pea

    ·      Cleome

    ·      Morning Glory

    ·      Aster

    ·      Verbena

     Perhaps you live in an area with little rainfall, and are hoping to avoid the chore of daily watering. If so, plant annuals that are able to tolerate some dryness.

    ·      Dusty Miller

    ·      Gazania

    ·      Moss Rose

    ·      Zinnia

    ·      Salvia

    ·      Marigold

    ·      Geranium

     If the look of the tropics is your style, there are annuals that will delight with hot, tropical colors and an intriguing, exotic look.

    ·      Caladium

    ·      Coleus

    ·      Blood Leaf

    ·      Polka Dot Plant

    ·      Mimulus

    ·      Torenia

     For a romantic, feminine look, delicate blossoms in shades of pink, white and soft purple will fill your garden with charm. The following come in varied soft pinks and purples and are great choices for a romantic style.

    ·      Petunia

    ·      Cosmos

    ·      Marguerite

    ·      Snapdragon

    ·      Cornflower

    ·      Pansies

    ·      Johnny Jump Up

     Whatever your style, wherever you live, whenever you want to add a touch of soft color or a jolt of bright sizzle, there are annual flowers that will fill your requirements and bring your garden to life.

     

     

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