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It is impossible to imagine a garden without flowers, and if perennial flowers and shrubs require careful selection and conscientious care, you can plant most of the site with unpretentious annuals without much hassle. Moreover, if you are not satisfied with something in the color scheme or flowering characteristics of a particular plant, next year you can either freely change their location, or even plant completely new flowers.
This is one of the secrets of extraordinary popularity annual flowers – they are capable of growing from seeds in one warm season, blooming, leaving behind offspring and disappearing into oblivion.
Therefore, every year flower beds you can plan again and your garden will certainly not be in danger of monotony.If you are a fan of permanent compositions, then in this case nothing prevents you from sowing your favorite annuals from year to year and enjoying their flowering. Moreover, under favorable conditions, many of the annual flowers are able to reproduce by self-sowing. Therefore, in the spring you will only have to thin out the too thick seedlings or plant them in new places.
In addition, many of the unpretentious annual flowers are able to bloom for quite a long time - for two, three and even four months without interruption. Some of the annuals, of course, will require periodic rejuvenating pruning or removal of dried inflorescences to bloom for such a long time. And others, which bloom for a shorter period of time, can simply be periodically replanted in empty places throughout the season. And already 40-50 days after sowing they will be able to please you with a varied palette of colors.
There are a number of annuals that are grown in the garden almost exclusively for their enchanting aroma.
Precisely unpretentious annual flowers for flower beds that bloom throughout the summer, this article is dedicated to.
Variety of annuals for flower beds
When we talk about annuals that are intended to decorate flower beds, we primarily mean plants that will grow in your garden for just one season. They will not necessarily be annual flowers in their biological essence.Many of the most beautifully flowering, unpretentious plants that decorate flower beds for only one season are perennials, for example, petunia, begonia, salvia, verbena, snapdragon. If desired, you can save them by bringing boxes or flowerpots with flowers into the house. Thus, they can continue to bloom until almost winter, or if the conditions are right (cool temperatures, plenty of light), you can even keep them until the next season. But this is a completely different topic.
Other flowers, such as marigold, ageratum, cornflower, calendula are annuals by nature and in the fall they, having formed many seeds, will certainly die in order to be reborn, if you wish, from seeds next spring.
Many of them are the most unpretentious and cold-resistant; they can be sown in April or May directly into flower beds in a permanent place. Others, which are more heat-loving or have a longer growing season, must be planted in advance, in March, and sometimes even in January-February. But, by sowing many annual flowers for seedlings in March, you can enjoy their flowering from the very beginning of summer.
Annual flowers differ not only in terms of flowering time and colors, but also in plant height, growth characteristics, flower shape, and the presence or absence of aroma. All these features of annuals for flower beds, along with their names and photos, can be found later in the article.
Annuals requiring seedling period
It is among the heat-loving annual flowers, which require preliminary cultivation of their seedlings, that one can find some of the most beautiful, luxuriously blooming, and even exotic-looking plants.
Tall flowers for the border
Among the annuals there are few truly tall plants that can reach one meter or more in height.
Amaranth
This impressive-looking annual with long, cascading inflorescences is very unpretentious. It can be easily propagated even by sowing seeds in the ground at the end of May, but in this case it will bloom only in August. It comes in all colors of warm tones - from beige to bright red and bright crimson.
Cleome
Cleome will delight you not only with its original inflorescences of various shades, but also with its fragrant aroma from July to September. It can grow up to 120 cm in height. However, it also has dwarf varieties that usually bloom in yellow.
Digitalis
This luxurious flower is a typical biennial, but like many of them, it can be sown as seedlings in February and will bloom in July of this year. This plant is not at all difficult to grow, but just remember that all its parts are poisonous, although they are used for medicinal purposes.
Mallow
This is one of the most gigantic garden flowers, capable of reaching a height of 2.5 meters. By nature it is a biennial, that is, it can be sown directly in open ground in mid-summer in order to enjoy its flowering throughout the next summer season. But if you plant it as seedlings in February, then this year the flower can show itself in all its glory. Despite its majestic beauty, mallow is very unpretentious to grow. Its flowers have almost all shades except blue-blue.The flowers stand well and last a long time when cut, the buds are able to fully open.
Winged tobacco
This unpretentious flower is a perennial by nature and has been grown in gardens for over a hundred years. Flowers can be of different shades, but during the day in sunny weather they are closed. But in cloudy weather and at dusk, the flowers bloom with a truly magical aroma that spreads throughout the garden.
Medium height flowers
Many of the hardy annuals have varieties with tall, medium and short stems, so when purchasing seeds, pay attention to the height of the plants.
Aster
One of the most popular annuals for the variety of types of inflorescences and their colors, perhaps, has no equal. In modern floriculture, annual asters have been identified as a separate species - callistephus, so do not be surprised if you come across flowers under this name on sale - these are the most common asters. These unpretentious annual flowers are famous for their cold resistance; they can withstand frosts down to -7°C. If it were not for the long growing season, they could be safely sown directly into the beds. However, in warm regions of Russia they usually do this to make growing these flowers easier. Among them you can find both dwarf varieties, up to 25 cm high, and tall bushes, growing up to 85 cm.
Balsam
Amazing annuals that prefer to grow in shady places. They are very thermophilic, so they are easily preserved in winter under normal room conditions.The height of the flowers can be different, the colors are predominantly warm tones.
Marigold
Very popular annuals, which, due to their colorfulness and at the same time unpretentiousness, are grown everywhere. In warm regions, they can even be sown as seeds directly into flower beds.
If you remove faded inflorescences and feed the plants, they can bloom for up to 6 months without interruption.
Gaillardia
Annual species of gaillardia very unpretentious and look great both in flower beds and bouquets. Cut flowers stand well in water. Plants of medium height, from 30 to 60 cm, bloom for more than 4 months if dried flowers are regularly cut.
Dahlia
Annual dahlias are not much inferior in beauty to their perennial sisters, but in unpretentiousness they are significantly superior to them. Capable of the same long flowering. These annual flowers have both low- and medium-height varieties. They are also very diverse in flower shapes and colors.
Godetia
Among unpretentious annual flowers it could have taken first place if not for the long growing season. But, if you sow godetia seeds in March, then from the end of June they will delight you with their exquisite appearance and resistance to weather conditions.
Snapdragon
These flowers in the modern world have an unimaginable number of different varieties. Among them there can be giants, up to 110 cm in height, and dwarf plants, no higher than 15-20 cm. Among the shades of flowers, only blue is missing. In the initial period, these annuals grow very slowly, so it is advisable to sow them for seedlings in February.
Salvia
Another very popular annual, grown everywhere. It belongs to the genus of sages, is very unpretentious, it only needs warmth, so it is usually planted after all possible frosts have ended. There are both red and blue, as well as purple varieties of this flower.
Salpiglossis
One of the most exotic annuals in appearance. Despite such an extraordinary color, the flower is quite unpretentious to grow. Requires only warmth and sun. The flowers are bright and varied in color and reach a height of 50-75 cm.
Statica
This annual plant has at least three names - it is also called Kermek or Limonium. Flowers of a very original type are traditionally used to make floral bouquets and arrangements. Although, thanks to their brightness, richness and variety of shades, they also look great in flower beds. The height of the bushes is average, blooms from July to September.
Ursinia
Very colorful flowers that can liven up any flower bed. Since they come from Africa, all they require is sun and warmth.
Cellosia
This heat-loving perennial is sure to attract everyone's attention. Cellosia inflorescences come in two types: combs or voluminous feathers. Both can reach a height of up to 80 cm. Colors can vary from pink, orange, yellow to red. For all its beauty, it is completely unpretentious in care. He only needs sun and warmth.
Zinnia
The diameter of the flowers of this ancient garden plant can reach 12 cm. They stand well as cut flowers.But for flower beds you can choose varieties of any height: from tiny (15 cm) to giants (90 cm). The flowers come in all the most unpredictable shades, even greenish and brownish. It is easy to grow from seedlings and easy to care for, as long as you remember its love for warmth.
Ground cover annuals
Among the low-growing annual flowers for the flower bed, there is a wide variety of varieties.
Ageratum
Fluffy blue-blue inflorescences are very attractive. Quite thermophilic, tolerates haircuts well.
Begonia
One of the most common perennial flowers grown as an annual. Has all colors of warm tones.
Verbena
The flowers are very fragrant and attractive, slightly reminiscent of primrose. Unpretentious, but prefer fertile soils.
Viola
Pansies don't need much introduction. It is grown as an annual when sown in February and as a biennial when sown in July.
Dimorphotheca
This annual flower can even grow on rocky or sandy soil. Despite their short stature, the flowers are also suitable for cutting.
Calceolaria
A rare annual, although the inflorescences look original and can be very bright.
Mesembryanthemum
Bright, large and colorful daisies with a height of only 10 cm cannot but please the eye. It is ideal to plant it on a rocky hill or flower bed with sandy soil.
Mimulus
And this original-colored annual is one of the few that prefers to grow in the shadow and on wet soils. In all other respects it is very unpretentious. It will also look good in window boxes on the north side of the house.
Nemesia
Very colorful unpretentious annual for flower beds If it were not for its heat-loving nature, it would be possible to sow the seeds directly into the ground, since it blooms within 1.5 months after sowing.
Petunia
Claims first place in popularity. It can be grown in flower beds and as an excellent hanging flower.
Purslane
If it were not for the heat-loving nature of purslane, one could call it the most unpretentious annual. Blooms brightly and for a long time even on very poor soils. Feeding will only harm it.
Phlox Drummond (annual)
It is practically in no way inferior to its tall, perennial relative. Annual phlox capable of forming bright multi-colored patterns in flower beds. Flowers can be either a traditional shape, in the form of an eye, or in the form of stars.
Annuals grown without seedlings
For the conditions of central Russia, the choice of such unpretentious annual flowers is not too large, but they will not cause practically any trouble, and the flower beds will look quite bright and varied.
Tall flowers
In this group, only three types of unpretentious annuals can be distinguished:
- Lavatera;
- Malopa;
- Poppy annual.
Medium sized flowers
Most unpretentious annual flowers grown by direct sowing in the ground fall into this category:
- Acroclinum – dried flower;
- Arctotis;
- Bartonia;
- Cornflower;
- Gypsophila - ideal for floral bouquets;
- Calendula;
- Clarkia;
- Coreopsis annual;
- Cosmea;
- Xeranthemum – dried flower;
- Kukol;
- Nigella – used for floral bouquets;
- Mignonette – used mainly for its strong aroma;
- Chrysanthemum annual;
- Eschscholzia or Californian poppy.
Low-growing annuals
These unpretentious annual flowers can form a blooming carpet almost anywhere you scatter their seeds.
- Alyssum annual;
- Anhuza;
- Iberis;
- Limnantes;
- Malcolmia;
- Matthiola two-horned or night violet - smells amazing in the dark;
- Nemophila;
- Tar;
- Echium or bruise.
Conclusion
With such a variety of annual species, planting flower beds and creating flower arrangements even over large areas will not be difficult. Moreover, most annual flowers require approximately similar growing conditions.
