26 Annual Flowers for Year-Round Color

Annuals are known for their bright, showy color that lasts for a season to a year. Discover outstanding annuals for strong seasonal color, including tips on when and how to plant.

By: Julie Martens Forney

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Plan a Seasonal Color Show

Dress up your outdoor spaces with beautiful blooms. By adding living color in containers or planting beds, you can transform your home into a gorgeous garden escape. Choose plants that strut their stuff in different seasons and you’ll savor a non-stop show as the months roll by.

The easiest way to achieve continuous color is by planting annuals. These flower powerhouses deliver in-your-face color that — in many cases — sparkles through several seasons. Gold and red calibrachoa (above) tosses open petite two-tone blooms from spring through fall frost. It shines even more when it’s paired with pretty foliage plants that unfurl colorful leaves, like this combination of chartreuse Angelina sedum, ‘Plum Dazzled’ sedum and ‘Ogon’ variegated sweet flag.

Sedums are perennials in some zones, but you can also use them as annuals, effectively expanding your planting palette. This pot offers stunning color from spring through fall in all but the most extreme planting zones (hottest, coldest).

Want to discover other great annuals you can count on for strong seasonal color? Check out the following plants — labeled by when they bloom the best — to stage your own year-round flower show.

Pansy

Fall, Winter & Early Spring: Who can resist the cheery blooms of pansy? They strut their stuff during winter in warmer zones and early spring and fall in cold regions, bouncing back from light frosts. Plant in mass in beds or fill containers. When using for winter color, plant tightly for a fuller look, especially in regions with some freezing temperatures.

See More: Growing Tips and Planting Ideas for Fall Pansies

Snapdragon

Fall, Winter & Early Spring: For fall and winter color in warmer zones, consider snapdragon. These plants open flowers in a rainbow of hues and also come in a variety of plant heights, from short to towering. Established snapdragons can withstand subfreezing temperatures, making this a great choice for winter gardens. Sow seeds in fall, winter or early spring. Plant seedlings into soil whenever you see them for sale. Choose tall varieties for cutting gardens.

Also See: How to Grow and Care for Snapdragon Flowers

Trailing Garden Mums

Fall: Dress your outdoor spaces with trailing Skyfall garden mums. Flowers open to reveal petite daisy-like blossoms that beckon late season pollinators. Create your own autumn fest by hanging baskets of mixed Skyfall garden mum varieties, including yellow, white and pink. Purchase baskets that are fully budded and just starting to open flowers to make sure you get the color you want — and so you can enjoy the floral fireworks as buds burst. While garden mums can be grown as perennials, treat these beauties as an annual to fill out fall color displays.

Cyclamen

Fall & Winter: This cold-tolerant basket features a trio of silvery-white plants that transition beautifully from fall to the holiday season. Flowering Metis Pure White Silver Leaf cyclamen survives to 23 degrees (Zone 9), while grassy Amazon Mist leatherleaf sedge (Carex comans) keeps its looks all the way down to 0 degrees (hardy to Zone 6). The lush tangles of Silver Falls Dichondra argentea are hardy to Zone 8. This basket brings steady color where fall lingers long and serious cold doesn’t show up until the New Year. In northern regions, the show lasts until mid- to late October unless hard frosts come sooner and stick around.

Flowering Kale

Fall & Winter: Flowering kale earns its name because the colorful leaves unfurl to resemble a flower. Look for flowering kale (or flowering cabbage) in a variety of shades including green, white, pink, red and purple. The brightest hues develop when night temperatures dip below 59 degrees. Whether planted in pots or planting beds, the thick leaves shrug off frost and early snows with ease. In mild winter regions where temperatures stay above 5 degrees, flowering kale looks great until spring. This pot features ‘Yokohama Mix’ flowering kale.

Pansy And Erysimum

Fall, Winter & Early Spring: This fragrant combination thrives when temperatures are on the cool side. All three of the plants unfurl fragrant blossoms, adding another dimension to cool-season scenery. ‘Citrona Orange’ wallflower (Erysimum) holds court in the center of the pot, surrounded with ‘Matrix Purple’ pansy and the cheerful whiskered petals of ‘Sorbet Orange Duet’ viola. A ring of ‘Easter Bonnet Violet’ sweet alyssum spills over the container rim. Tucked into pots in autumn, this planting delivers strong color through the season’s first frost and beyond in mild winter regions. Southern gardeners can expect pots to look great for holiday company. In northern zones, this combination should flower until hard frosts are a nightly event.

Sweet Alyssum

Fall, Winter & Early Spring: This dainty bloomer craves cool temperatures and typically stages the best show in spring and fall (or winter in warmest regions). Sweet alyssum flowers come in a variety of colors, including white, pink and purple tones. This 'Snow Princess' variety is a lovely cream color. Plant in spring or fall, tucking along edges of planting beds, or use in hanging baskets or containers. This plant attracts butterflies but deters rabbits.

Learn More: 13 Rabbit-Resistant Annuals

Diascia or Twinspur

Fall, Winter & Early Spring: This snapdragon cousin stages a strong show during the cool seasons: fall, winter and spring. Plant whenever you see plants for sale. When night temperatures shift above 70 degrees, plants stop flowering. Trim plants and keep them watered through summer. You might be surprised with autumn blooms. Use in landscape beds for a carpet of color.

See More: Favorite Spring-Blooming Annuals

Sweet Pea

Early Spring: Kick off the growing season with this cool-season favorite that's easily grown from seed. Sweet pea vines climb by tendrils and need a trellis. Plants top out at about 6 feet. In Zones 8 and 9, tuck seeds into soil in late fall for spring blooms; elsewhere, sow in early spring. Plant along a trellis or fence line, or use to add color to a vegetable garden or cutting garden.

Learn More: Growing Sweet Peas Flowers

Stock

Early Spring: Make room for flowering stock in your early spring garden. This bloomer is frost-tolerant and releases a spicy clove scent. Clip spent flower stalks to encourage more to form. In warm regions, stock flowers all winter. In cold-weather zones, look for plants in early spring. Plant as soon as you see them for sale in a spot where you can savor the fragrance. Use in mass plantings in beds near paths and entries or tuck into pots on porches.

See More: Favorite Spring-Blooming Annuals

Cornflower or Bachelor's Buttons

Early Spring: Cornflower makes its appearance in early spring. It’s also known as bachelor’s buttons and comes in shades of blue, pink and white. Sow seed in very late fall for spring blooms. In coldest areas, tossing seeds out onto late winter snow drifts also brings a spring show. Plants self-sow. Use in a cutting or cottage garden alongside roses, dame’s rocket, larkspur or poppies.

Nasturtium

Early Summer to Fall Frost: Colorful nasturtium turns any garden area into a festive floral show. Plants grow easily from seed and prefer poor soil. Sow seeds after all danger of frost has passed; flowers start in early summer and keep coming until fall frost. Use to blanket slopes, tuck along bed edges or in containers. This annual is also ideal for the vegetable garden as its edible flowers and leaves offer a peppery bite.

Angelonia

Summer to Fall Frost: Pretty purple flowers blanket plants all summer long. This annual stages a strong flower show and makes few demands in return. Plant in spring or summer. Fertilize plants in pots and trim plants after flowering to encourage more blooms and bushiness. Angelonia makes a great addition to a butterfly or cutting garden.

See More: 13 Heat-Proof Annuals

Sunflower

Summer: A common annual flower is sunflower, but Solar Flare sunflower (shown here) is anything but commonplace. Its flowers feature a flame style petal, with a black center disk surrounded by two-tone petals: burgundy by the dark center fading to brilliant gold. The effect is stunning in the garden, and plants are small enough (5 to 6 feet) that they fit into casual cottage garden style designs, including cutting gardens. Look for other sunflower varieties in unexpected colors, all easy to grow from seed.

See More: Tall and Tiny Sunflower Varieties

Verbena

Summer: Verbena (pink) truly loves the hot days of summer. It needs long days to flower, so the show tapers off as fall arrives. Plant in spring after all danger of frost has passed; tuck along the edge of beds or containers or use in hanging baskets. One newer hybrid variety that offers nonstop blooms is Superbena, paired here with purple Supertunia.

See More: Vivacious Verbena

Begonia

Summer: This summer bloomer transforms any yard into the envy of the neighborhood. Plants sparkle in sun or shade and offer strong stems that grow 12 to 24 inches tall. Plant in spring or summer in beds or containers. Begonias are tropical beauties that melt as temperatures drop in autumn.

Learn More: Begonias: How to Plant, Grow and Care for Begonias

Tall Verbena

Summer: Also known as Brazilian verbena, this beauty opens flowers from summer until hard frost. Stems top out at 4 feet (taller in warmer zones). This verbena is airy, weaving between other plants with ease. Plants self-sow readily and are often hardy in Zones 8 and 9. Sow seed in fall, spring or early summer. Tall verbena pairs well with roses, coreopsis or coneflowers.

Rudbeckia or Black-Eyed Susan

Summer to Fall Frost: Large flowers of this 'Prairie Sun' variety grow to 5 inches across and add a strong splash of color to plantings from summer to fall frost. Plants self-sow and occasionally come back from the roots, usually in mild winter regions. Plant in spring after all danger of frost has passed. Use in planting beds or butterfly, cottage or cutting gardens.

Learn More: Black-Eyed Susan: How to Grow and Care for This Cheery Perennial

Zinnia

Summer to Fall Frost: For color at the peak of summer, it’s tough to beat zinnia. These perky plants toss open blooms until hard frosts in fall. Sow seed in late spring after all danger of frost is passed. Look for old-fashioned types like ‘Purple Prince’ for larger blooms and longer stems perfect for cutting. Shorter mounding varieties, including Profusion, rebloom until hard frost. Tuck into flower beds, vegetable gardens or containers. Zinnia fits well into cutting or butterfly gardens.

Learn More: Planting and Growing Zinnia Flowers

Marigold

Summer to Fall Frost: You’ll love this sturdy little plant that boasts big flower power. Blossoms open from summer to fall frosts. Sow seed in spring or early summer. Include this butterfly magnet in wildlife gardens. It makes a great bed edging in mixed plantings and vegetable gardens, where it's been proven to deter pests who like to munch on tomatoes and other veggies.

Cleome or Spider Flower

Summer to Fall Frost: Spider flower gives a strong, long flower show from summer heat to hard frost. Plants add a textural element to gardens with their tall, wispy form. Stems top out around 4 feet. Sow seed in early spring or fall, or plant seedlings after all danger of frost. Use as a backdrop to shorter flowers in beds and in butterfly or cottage gardens.

See More: Deer-Resistant Annuals

Nicotiana or Flowering Tobacco

Summer to Fall Frost: Starry flowers seem to explode on this towering beauty, which grows 5 to 6 feet tall. Blooms exude a rich perfume that’s impossible to miss, especially at dusk. Plants self-sow and start flowering in late July and August. Tuck into part-shade beds or along the edge of vegetable gardens. Nicotiana is a natural fit for a woodland garden.

Euphorbia

Summer to Fall Frost: Another outstanding and popular annual flower is euphorbia. In bloom, this plant creates a blizzard in a pot. In the landscape, plants form a rounded mound of solid white. This is a heat and drought tolerant annual, and it also gives deer, rabbits and groundhogs the brush off. It’s not just a popular annual — it’s tough, too. Shown here is the award-winning variety 'Diamond Frost.'

Petunia

Summer & Fall: For sheer flower power, petal hues and plant forms, annual petunia is tough to beat. It comes in miniature versions, full-size versions and the larger-than-life Supertunia or Wave varieties, which quickly cover ground as they grow inches per day. The color spectrum is well-represented in this common annual flower, with blossoms opening in every hue imaginable. The 'Last Tango in Paris' container mix shown includes Supertunia Bordeaux along with bacopa and euphoria. Petunias thrive in fall as temperatures tumble. Expect them to survive early light frosts with ease.

Learn More: Petunia Flowers: Planting and Caring for Petunias

Calibrachoa

Spring, Summer & Fall: Calibrachoa looks like a miniature petunia. Use this popular annual flower in a container or bed, although a hanging basket might showcase its bright color best. Keep plants evenly watered but try not to overwater, which can damage roots; likewise, don't let the blooms wilt too much, which will stress the plant.

Learn More: How to Grow and Care for Calibrachoas

26 Annual Flowers for Year-Round Color

Related To:

Shop This Look

Plan a Seasonal Color Show

Pansy

Snapdragon

Trailing Garden Mums

Cyclamen

Flowering Kale

Pansy And Erysimum

Sweet Alyssum

Diascia or Twinspur

Sweet Pea

Stock

Cornflower or Bachelor's Buttons

Nasturtium

Angelonia

Sunflower

Verbena

Begonia

Tall Verbena

Rudbeckia or Black-Eyed Susan

Zinnia

Marigold

Cleome or Spider Flower

Nicotiana or Flowering Tobacco

Euphorbia

Petunia

Calibrachoa

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