Long-lasting Annual Flowers for Continuous Blooming Throughout the Year
In the heart of summer, there's nothing quite like a vibrant garden to bring joy and life. For those seeking a colourful display that lasts all season long, annual flowers are the perfect choice. These plants, with their diverse hues and long-lasting blooms, can transform any garden into a kaleidoscope of colour.
One such annual that's sure to captivate is the Garden Coreopsis (Coreopsis tinctoria). Its unique, fiery flowers, with golden petals that bleed into a reddish base and a reddish-purple center, are a sight to behold. This plant prefers light, sandy, well-drained soil and full sun, making it an ideal addition to many gardens.
False heather, specifically Cuphea hyssopifolia, is another star performer. Growing two feet tall and wide, it thrives in full sun and moist, well-drained soil, though it tolerates drought, salt, and many soil types. Its tiny, lavender-pink flowers bloom profusely throughout the summer and until frost, adding a delightful touch of colour.
Cockscomb (Celosia cristata) is another annual that promises continuous blooming from summer through fall if given full sun, moist soil, and regular watering. Its large, velvety blooms come in rich reds, oranges, and yellows, making them a stunning addition to any garden.
Cornflowers (Centaurea cyanus) offer classic blue pompom-style flowers that bloom for about two months but can be extended well into fall with deadheading and good care. They prefer full sun and can grow up to 2 feet tall.
Cosmos, with their easy-to-grow, daisy-like flowers in white, yellow, burgundy, and other shades, are reliable bloomers throughout the season if deadheaded. They thrive in full sun and moist soil, and range from 1 to 4 feet tall.
Salvia varieties like 'Amistad' and 'Wendy's Wish' bloom from early summer to first frost with regular deadheading. They are heat-tolerant and attract pollinators like butterflies and hummingbirds. Available in various colours, including purple, burgundy, and blue, they are a beautiful addition to any garden.
Zinnias, noted for their heat and drought tolerance, are long-blooming annuals available in many colours and sizes, making them ideal for summer gardens in hot areas.
Annual Phlox, particularly Phlox drummondii, produces showy clusters of white to red flowers, blooming from spring to early summer and again in the fall. It tolerates drought and thrives in full to part sun and well-drained, preferably sandy, soil.
Remember, annuals might need to be replanted every year, but they tend to grow fast and offer diverse colours in the garden. Deadheading (removing spent flowers) can significantly extend their blooming period, ensuring your garden remains a colourful haven all summer long.
So, whether you're looking for fiery Coreopsis, delicate Phlox, or the vibrant hues of Cockscomb, Cosmos, Cornflower, Salvia, or Zinnias, these annuals are sure to bring a splash of colour to your garden this summer.
- The Garden Coreopsis, with its fiery flowers, can transform any garden into a kaleidoscope of color, given its preference for light, sandy, well-drained soil and full sun.
- False heather, specifically Cuphea hyssopifolia, is another star performer that thrives in full sun and moist, well-drained soil, offering tiny, lavender-pink flowers that bloom profusely throughout the summer.
- Cockscomb (Celosia cristata) promises continuous blooming from summer through fall if given full sun, moist soil, and regular watering, with large, velvety blooms in rich reds, oranges, and yellows.
- Cornflowers offer classic blue pompom-style flowers that bloom for about two months but can be extended well into fall with deadheading and good care, thriving in full sun and growing up to 2 feet tall.
- Cosmos, with their easy-to-grow, daisy-like flowers in various shades, are reliable bloomers throughout the season if deadheaded, thriving in full sun and moist soil, and ranging from 1 to 4 feet tall.
