Floral displays ring in the growing season with life and color. Annual flowers are a good landscape investment because they’re versatile, colorful, quick to bloom and relatively inexpensive.
These dependable single-season flowers hit the ground running and provide a spectacular show all season long. Annuals provide an entire spectrum of options in terms of size, color and growth patterns. Some flowers work well as edging plants. Others are best used in planters or window boxes.
Most annuals can create dramatic displays when planted across large areas. Because annuals live only one season and have no permanent roots from which to grow the next year, they perpetuate their kind through heavy seed production. Biologically, seed and flower production go hand in hand. To produce lots of seeds, they must produce many flowers. If those flowers are cut before the seeds can form, the plant tries again and again in an effort to make up the loss. The more you cut an annual, the more it blooms, making annuals the gift that keeps on giving!
Some popular annuals that you may want to consider for your landscape include impatiens, zinnia, marigold, petunia, nasturtium, alyssum, aster, morning glory, portulaca, snapdragon and sweet pea. With the right planning, good soil, plenty of water and room to flourish, an annual flower display on your property will be a sight to behold.
