Most of the plants we all have planted in our backyard or garden bloom in the spring and summer. But many of us are fans of annual flowers that bloom during the autumn months. So today we have selected a few annual flowers that we can all plant and grow in our backyard or garden.
All we need for their planting is a little effort and love, and I believe we all have those feelings for gardening.
Here is a list of 7 annual flowers that you can plant.
Pansies
Pansies are one of the most popular and recognizable cool weather annuals. There are many cultivars within the genus Viola, and most of them are hybrids of the same handful of species, so there are a lot of similarities, and probably only a botanist really cares which is which. The gardener knows pansies as flowers with almost heart-shaped, overlapping petals in bright colors or bi-colors and often with face-like center markings.
Pansies are a plant that loves the cool weather, so it makes perfect sense that the plant would be one of the best fall blooming annuals to have in your garden. If you are growing this plant as an annual, it will need to be in zone four or above. This plant requires partial shade and well-drained soil to thrive.
Dianthus
Many dianthus plants feature handsome bluish-grey foliage that is showy in its own right when the plants are not in bloom. The foliage is narrow, even grass-like. Plants may exhibit a mounded shape, an erect habit, or a trailing habit. Blooms are heaviest in the spring, with some rebloom into fall possible. Dianthus blooms may be single or double, but all have the same jagged-edged petals.
Dianthus flowers, which can also be known as pinks, need well-drained soil and about six hours of sun a day.
Sweet Alyssum
Few annual plants can match the heat and drought hardiness of sweet alyssum. The flowering plant has naturalized in the United States and thrives in a wide range of regions. Sweet alyssum flowers are so named for their lively fragrance and are members of the mustard family. While not frost tolerant, sweet alyssum plants will self sow and can provide you with year after year of bright color in milder climates.
Sweet alyssum flowers are useful in alpine rock gardens, borders, planters, hanging baskets and dry zones. They are small plants that may get 3 to 6 inches tall and produce clusters of tiny flowers in clumps. The blooms come in pink, salmon, purple, white and yellow. Flowers arise in June to October and can be encouraged to rebloom by cutting back spent flowers.
Begonias
Begonias come in fall colors with blooms that are orange, white, pink, purple, and red. They grow best in zones eight to 10 as annuals, but they can grow in other zones as perennials.
Foliage begonias, like rex begonias, are grown for their fancy leaves that have many beautiful colors highlighted by unusual markings and swirls in the foliage. They make a sensational statement when grown on a partially sunlit windowsill.
Flowering begonias, like Begonia boliviensis hybrids, are usually grown as annuals in the summer garden. Many new varieties are non-stop bloomers and some perform well in full sun or partial shade.
Petunias
Petunias have wide trumpet-shaped flowers and branching foliage that is hairy and somewhat sticky. Within the petunia family, there is great variety: single and double blooms, ruffled or smooth petals, striped, veined or solid colors, mounding and cascading habits and even some with fragrance
Petunias are plants that begin blooming in the summer of the year, and in the right area, they will continue to produce flowers throughout the fall as well. The blooms will vary in color quite a bit, but the plant only grows to be a foot tall in zones 9 to 11.
Nasturtium
Nasturtium plants are easy to grow and may be climbing, cascading or bushy. Care of nasturtiums is minimal; in fact, nasturtium plants are one of those specimens that thrive on neglect. Rich, fertile soil or too much fertilizer results in lush foliage growth and few nasturtium flowers.
It grows in zones 9-11, and it can be seen blooming during the late summer and the fall of the year.
Calendula
Calendula is bright yellow and orange flowers, historically used for medicinal and culinary purposes, come from easy calendula care when growing this simple flower. Commonly called the pot marigold, the calendula flower has long been a staple in British cottage gardens. Petals are used in cooking, and were used as yellow coloring in cheeses and butters in centuries past. When used in stews, broths and salads, these petals add a spicy taste similar to saffron to many dishes.
In addition, this is a plant that prefers the cool temperatures of spring and fall, so this is the time when the blooms will be seen. Growing in zones eight and up, this is a plant that prefers full sun and well-drained soil.