The Best Annuals for Southwestern Gardens

These durable options will put on a colorful show for months

Annual plantsare a garden interior designer ’s unavowed weapon . Endlessly versatile and extremely showy , annualsadd nonstop coloration without a high price or a pile of work . They are sodding for nurseryman who crave change — from year to year or from one season to the next . And they declare oneself instant impact for filling in unembellished smear between slower - produce shrubs and perennials . Summer annuals brighten gardens with flowers and foliage , whilecool - season annualsbring interest to the winter landscape .

Annual blooms that take the heat

summertime annuals in southwesterly gardens postulate a certain storey of hardness to survive the heat . One of the easy yearly to develop is native chicken sneezeweed ( Heleniumamarum ) . This golden bloomer features fine , feathery foliage , and thrive in full sun on lean , dry to average , well - draining soil . Yellow sneezeweed remains compact , growing 1 to 2 feet tall and broad .

tropic locales south of the border bring a few favorite annuals , including the playful globe amaranth ( Gomphrenaglobosa ) , which bloom its heart out all summer long . My favourite globe amaranth cultivar for Oklahoma is ‘ Fireworks ’ , which dazzles with hot pink peak standing atop 3- to 4 - animal foot stems . Globe amaranth spreads 3 to 4 foot wide-cut and lends an architectural element to the garden .

Dwarf morning resplendency ( Evolvulus glomeratus ) is another marvelous tropical annual . The stunning cultivar ‘ dark My Mind ’ lives up to its name , with masses of true - gloomy flowers cover mats of silvery leaf growing just 8 inches improbable and up to 12 inches wide . Both peach love full sun and require grunge with good drain .

Annual plants with fabulous foliage

Using plants with flashy foliage is an easy elbow room to add up vibrant color to the landscape . Coleus ( Plectranthusscuteleriodes , Zones 10–11 ) is the most common annual bedding plant grow for foliage ( though technically flame nettle is a tender perennial , not an annual).Coleuscome in a stove of colors and rule to jibe any pallet ; one of my front-runner is ‘ Royale Pineapple ’ . Look for sun- and heat - broad miscellany , but consider providing good afternoon shade in the hottest locations . These plants will reward you with heavy mounds of foliage 2 to 3 feet orotund .

Annual grasses in the genusPennisetumfeature some of the most colored blades available for cheery beds . For striking color , see ‘ Purple Majesty ’ ornamental millet ( Pennisetumglaucum ) , which produce stunning dark purple foliage that stands very vertical up to 5 infantry while spread only 1 foot widely . It do in force in average , moderately fertile , and well - drain soil .

Annuals that reseed in the garden

For colorful blooms class after year , consider sowing one-year plants known to self - seed in the garden . sing about the ultimate low - budget garden ! Among the showiest of these is blanket blossom ( Gaillardiapulchella ) . This beloved prairie bloom looks a good deal like its repeated cousin , with pollyannaish red and icteric blooms buzzing with pollinator . Growing 12 to 18 inches improbable and 6 to 12 inch wide , this pint - size of it native thrives in sandy soil and ironic summer heat . Plant or unmediated - sow in full sun and dry out to medium , well - drained filth .

Calendula or mint marigold ( Calendulaofficinalis ) is a pop winter annual in the Southwest . Calendula does not tolerate hard freezes , so planting prison term vary by wintertime hardiness zona . Gardeners in Zones 9–11 can sow calendula seed in late summer or early fall for vibrant flush winter through spring . In cooler areas , industrial plant calendula after the menace of hoarfrost has passed for spring and fall flower . This self - seed one-year perform honest in medium , well - draining soil in full sunshine .

Never forget about water needs when shopping for annuals

As you look for annuals for your corner of the cosmos , consider water needs . The Southwest neighborhood deviate well in yearly rainfall and average temperatures . Though the plants listed here are all heat large-minded , their water needs differ . Here are a few road map to commemorate when selecting which yearly is right for your garden :

— Kim Toscano is a horticulturalist , bug-hunter , garden designer , writer , and pictorial designer . She previously hostedOklahoma horticulture , a hebdomadal PBS television receiver syllabus bring on by the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service .

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Photos unless otherwise specified : Kim Toscano

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annuals for southwestern gardens

Annuals aren’t just for pots and patio containers. They are highly useful as space-fillers in immature gardens or for adding color during low-periods in your beds and borders.

Dakota Gold sneezeweed