Are you looking for annual flowers that bloom all summer? Color is something that brings life to a garden. Annual flowers are often overlooked, but they can bring an abundance of color and beauty to your yard all summer long! Annuals can be planted in the springtime or as late as September for fall blooms.
In this article, we’ll cover 17 annual flowers that bloom all summer for a colorful backyard. Annuals are a cheap, easy way to add color and beauty. Annual flowers come in many varieties but some popular choices include: zinnias, petunias, marigolds, bagonias, cosmos and more!
Table of Contents
Snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus)
The snapdragons you’ll find at your local nursery are actually a type of perennial. Annual snapdragons provide an abundance of flowers that will bloom all summer long. Snapdragons come in a variety of colors to choose from including white, pink and red. You can also buy yellow or orange snapdragon seeds if you wish.
Snapdragons add color in any garden. They grow well throughout the country and come in a variety of colors, with many options for different heights.
Snapdragons are a great plant to grow with children as they have their snapping mouth that opens and closes by squeezing the sides.
Zinnias (Zinnia elegans)
Zinnias come in a variety of colors and shades. Annual zinnia flowers are easy to grow from seed, which makes them perfect for beginners! Zinnias bloom all summer long with an abundance of colorful blooms.
Annual zinnias are great for cutting and bringing inside as a bouquet of flowers. Annual zinnia seeds can be found at your local nursery or in the garden section of most home improvement stores.
Petunias (Petunia hybrida)
Petunias are a popular annual flower that come in many varieties. Annual petunias will provide an abundance of flowers for you all summer long! Petunia varieties include: bicolor, grandiflora and multiflora to name a few. Annual petunia seeds can be found at your local nursery or home improvement store garden section.
Petunias tolerate rain and the summer heat. Annual petunias can also be planted in pots indoors for color all year long!
Annual Phlox (Phlox drummondii)
Annual phlox are easy to grow from seed. Annual phlox blooms come in a variety of colors including white, pink and purple! Annual phlox is also called “moss pink”. It provides an abundance of flowers for you all summer long.
Annual phlox is a plant that makes a great addition to containers or entryway plantings because it’s easy to care. Annual phlox blooms in bright shades of purple, pink, red and white with its sweet fragrance.
Begonias (semperflorens)
Annual begonias are available in many varieties. Annual begonias bloom well into the summer months and come in a variety of colors including pink, red and white! Annual begonias can be planted from seed or grown indoors for color year round.
These typically reach 6 to 12 inches tall and wide, depending on the species. Wax begonias are also known as annual bedding begonias. These shade-loving plants attract butterflies when planted under trees or in window boxes.
Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus)
Cosmos is an annual flower that puts on a brilliant display in midsummer with blooms of pink, crimson and white in tall plants. Cosmos attracts butterflies and hummingbirds to the garden. They are easy to grow anywhere.
Marigolds (Tagetes patula)
Annual marigold flowers are easy to grow from seed and come in many varieties, which makes them a perfect choice for any garden! Annual marigold seeds can be found at your local nursery or home improvement store garden section. Annual marigolds provide an abundance of bright
Sweet Alyssum or Lobularia
Growing sweet alyssum is simple and the plant will return every year. Not only does this biennial flower have gorgeous flowers that attract butterflies, but it also has a unique spicy smell. Sweet alyssum comes from the mustard family of plants, which are not frost-tolerant but instead self-sow with ease in milder climates.
Spider Flower
The attractive annual spider flower produces re-seeds so prolifically that it is necessary to remove seed pods before they burst in order to plant in other areas of the garden.
Annual spider flowers are easy to grow from seed and have tall, spindly stems that provide a lovely contrast for the more compact annuals.
Poppy Flowers
Poppies are beautiful flowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds. They can be used in flowerbeds to add colors when temperatures become cooler. There are several types of poppies which you can plant for an easy enjoyable gardening experience.
Ageratum annual
If you want your garden to include blue flowers, ageratum is an easy choice. They are available in a variety of colors and will even bloom well if partially shaded. Caring for ageratums is simple and easy even for beginner gardeners, especially compared to growing other flower colors.
Lantana annual
The Lantana is a flower that blooms widely during summer and provides vibrant colors. There are varieties of Lantana with white, yellow, gold, orange, or red flowers which may have different colored petals from one another at the same time in one plant.
Impatiens Annual
Impatiens Annuals are flowers which you can plant directly in the ground and will grow each year without any care. Impatiens Annual comes with many varieties of flower colors such as red, pink, white or purple. They have different types of leaves too that come with unique shapes and add beauty to your garden!
Despite being a perennial plant, Impatients are grown as annuals because they do not survive in chillier temperatures.- Portulaca grandiflora ‘Supertunia’
Annual Verbena (Verbena x hybrida)
In hot and humid climates in southern U.S., the annual form of verbena may decline quickly while perennial verbenas do better. Flower colors include blue, violet, purple, rose, dark red, yellow and many bicolors.
Dahlia
Dahlias thrive and bloom best in well-drained, sunny area. You’ll want to make sure they are in warmer areas and not where it frost easily.
Make sure to plant your dahlia tubers outdoors after the last frost, when the soil has warmed up enough for planting. Most dahlias will begin flowering between late summer and autumn.
Centaurea or Cornflower
The cornflower, also known as the bachelor’s button and centaurea cyanus is a plant from Europe that has spread into North America. They are usually pink to red in color with butterfly and hummingbird attracted flowers on top of one to three feet tall stalks.
Conclusion
Annual flowers are a great way to brighten up your landscape in the summer and add color all year long. Annuals grow from seed, thrive in pots or can be planted directly into soil for an easy-to-maintain garden. Annual plants come in many varieties with colors including pink, crimson and white that attract butterflies and hummingbirds to the garden.
Annual begonias provide an abundance of blooms which can be used as ground cover when temperatures become cooler!
If you’re wanting a raised garden, be sure to check out our article were we go over how you can make your very own! Learn how you can also protect your flower pots from squirrels.
Leave a Reply