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A garden cannot be imagined without flowers, and if perennial flowers and shrubs require careful selection and conscientious care, then with unpretentious annuals you can plant most of the site without much hassle. Moreover, if something does not suit you in the color scheme or flow 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 the flower beds can be re-planned and the monotony of your garden is certainly not threatened. If you are an adherent 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 capable of self-sowing propagation. Therefore, in the spring, you will only have to thin out 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 a break. Some of the annuals will, of course, need periodic rejuvenating pruning or the removal of dead buds for such a long flowering period. And others, flowering for a not so long period of time, can simply be sown periodically to empty places throughout the season. And within 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 scent.
It is an unpretentious annual flowers for flower beds blooming throughout the summer, and this article is devoted.
Variety of annuals for flower beds
When we talk about annuals that are designed to decorate flower beds, we mean, first of all, plants that will grow in your garden for just one season. They do not necessarily have to be annual flowers in their biological essence. Many of the most beautifully flowering, unpretentious plants that adorn flower beds for only one season are perennials, for example, petunia, begonia, salvia, verbena, snapdragon. If desired, they can be saved by bringing boxes or flowerpots into the house. Thus, their flowering can be continued almost until the very winter, or if there are suitable conditions (cool temperatures, an abundance of light), you can keep them even until the next season. But this is a completely different topic.
Other flowers, such as marigolds, ageratum, cornflower, calendula are annuals by their nature and in the fall they, having formed many seeds, will surely die in order to revive, 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, more thermophilic or having a longer growing season, must be planted for seedlings in advance, in March, and sometimes even in January-February. But, having sown 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 and colors, but also in plant height, growth characteristics, flower shape, presence or absence of aroma. All these features of annuals for flower beds, along with their names and photos, can be found further in the article.
Annuals requiring a seedling period
It is among the thermophilic annuals that require pre-seedling that one can find some of the most beautiful, luxuriously flowering, and even exotic looking plants.
Tall flowers for the border
Among the annuals, there are few really tall plants that are capable of reaching one meter or more in height.
Amaranth
This spectacular looking annual with long flowing 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. Has all colors of warm tones - from beige to bright red and bright crimson.
Cleoma
Cleoma will delight you not only with original inflorescences of various shades, but also with a fragrant aroma from July to September. She can grow up to 120 cm in height. However, she also has dwarf varieties, usually blooming in yellow.
Digitalis
This luxurious flower belongs to the typical biennials, but like many of them, it can be sown for seedlings in February and it will bloom in July this year. This plant is not difficult at all to grow, but do not forget 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 is possible to sow it directly into the open ground in the middle of summer in order to enjoy its flowering throughout the next summer season. But if you plant it for seedlings in February, then this year the flower can show itself in all its glory. Despite its stately beauty, mallow is very unpretentious in cultivation. Her flowers have almost all shades, except blue-blue. Flowers stand well and for a long time in 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 they are closed in sunny weather. But in cloudy weather and at dusk, flowers bloom with a truly magical aroma that spreads throughout the garden.
Flowers of medium height
Many of the unpretentious annuals have varieties with high, medium and low stems, so when buying seeds, pay attention to the height of the plants.
Aster
One of the most popular annuals in terms of the variety of types of inflorescences and their colors, perhaps, has no equal.In modern floriculture, annual asters have been singled out as a separate species - callistephus, so do not be surprised if you find flowers under this name on sale - these are the most ordinary 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 on the beds. However, in warm regions of Russia, they usually do this in order to simplify the cultivation of these flowers. Among them, you can find both dwarf varieties, up to 25 cm high, and tall bushes that grow up to 85 cm.
Balsam
Amazing annuals that prefer to grow in shady areas. They are very thermophilic, therefore they are easily preserved in winter in normal room conditions. The height of the flowers can be different, the colors are mainly 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 with seeds directly into flower beds.
If you remove wilted inflorescences and feed the plants, then they can bloom for up to 6 months without a break.
Gaillardia
Annual types of Gaillardia very unpretentious and look great both in flower beds and in bouquets. Cut flowers do well in water. Plants of medium height, 30 to 60 cm, bloom for more than 4 months if dried flowers are cut regularly.
Dahlia
Annual dahlias are not much inferior in beauty to their perennial sisters, but in unpretentiousness they significantly surpass them. Capable of the same long flowering. These annual flowers have both short and medium-sized varieties. They are also very diverse in the form of flowers and colors.
Godezia
Among the unpretentious annual flowers, it could take first place, if not for the long growing season. But, on the other hand, if you sow godetia seeds in March, then from the end of June they will delight you with an exquisite look and resistance to weather conditions.
Snapdragon
These flowers in the modern world have an unimaginable number of the most diverse varieties. Among them, there can be giants, up to 110 cm in height, and dwarf plants, not higher than 15-20 cm. Among the shades of colors, only blue ones are absent. 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 all over the world. It belongs to the sage genus, 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, reaching a height of 50-75 cm.
Statice
This annual has at least three names - it is also called Kermek or Limonium. Flowers of a very original kind are traditionally used for making floristic bouquets and arrangements. Although, due to the brightness, juiciness and variety of shades, they look great on 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 are originally from Africa, all they need is sun and warmth.
Cellosis
This thermophilic perennial is sure to attract everyone's attention. Cellosia inflorescences are of two types: scallops or bulky feathers. Both those and others can reach a height of up to 80 cm.Colors can range 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 be up to 12 cm. They stand perfectly in cut. But for flower beds, you can pick up varieties of any height: from tiny (15 cm) to giants (90 cm). Flowers have all the most unpredictable shades, even greenish and brownish. Easily grown from seedlings and easy to care for, if only remember about its love of warmth.
Groundcover annuals
Among the undersized annual flowers for a 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. Available in all warm colors.
Verbena
The flowers are very fragrant and attractive, a bit like a primrose. Unpretentious, but prefer fertile soils.
Viola
Pansies don't need much introduction. It is grown as an annual when sowing in February and as a biennial when sowing in July.
Dimorfoteka
This annual flower can even grow on rocky or sandy soil. Despite the short stature, the flowers are also suitable for cutting.
Calceolaria
A rare annual, although the inflorescences look original and can be very bright.
Mesembriantemum
Bright, large and multi-colored daisies with a height of only 10 cm cannot but delight the eye. It is ideal to plant it on a rocky hill or flower bed with sandy soil.
Mimulus
And this original coloring 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 thermophilicity, it would be possible to sow seeds directly into the ground, since it blooms within 1.5 months after sowing.
Petunia
Claims to be the first in popularity. Can be grown both in flower beds and as an excellent ampelous flower.
Purslane
If it were not for the thermophilicity of the purslane, one could call it the most unpretentious annual. It blooms brightly and for a long time even on very poor soils. Top dressing will only harm him.
Phlox Drummond (annual)
Practically in no way inferior to its tall perennial relative. Annual phlox is able to form bright multi-colored patterns on flower beds. Flowers can be either a traditional shape, in the form of an eyelet, 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 diverse.
Tall flowers
In this group, only three types of unpretentious annuals can be distinguished:
- Lavatera;
- Malopa;
- Annual poppy.
Medium-sized flowers
Most of the unpretentious annuals grown by direct seeding fall into this category:
- Acroclinum - dried flowers;
- Arctotis;
- Bartonia;
- Knapweed;
- Gypsophila - ideal for floral bouquets;
- Calendula;
- Clarkia;
- Coreopsis annual;
- Kosmeya;
- Xerantemum - dried flowers;
- Doll;
- Nigella - used for floral bouquets;
- Reseda - used mainly because of its strong aroma;
- Chrysanthemum is annual;
- Escholzia or California poppy.
Low-growing annuals
These unpretentious annuals are capable of forming a blooming carpet almost anywhere you scatter their seeds.
- Alissum is one-year-old;
- Ankhuza;
- Iberis;
- Limnantes;
- Malcolmia;
- Mattiola two-horned or night violet - smells amazing in the dark;
- Nemophila;
- Smolka;
- Echium or bruise.
Conclusion
With such a variety of annual species, planting flower beds and making flower arrangements even in large areas will not be difficult. Moreover, most annual flowers require approximately similar growing conditions.
