Buzz-Worthy Annuals

Some plants stop you dead in your tracks. Most of these showstoppers are either annuals or tropicals best treated as such because they aren't cold hardy.

By: Danny Flanders

Related To:

Fluffy Clouds

A descendant of the ever-popular 'Diamond Frost', this fast-growing annual, 'Star Dust Super Flash' euphorbia, features dainty white flowers resembling baby's breath which together form a solid white mass.

Punch of White

'Star Dust Super Flash' makes a great filler plant in container gardens. The annual is heat- and drought-tolerant as well.

Breath of Sunshine

The tropical Crossandra offers vibrant orange blooms all summer long. It grows one to two feet tall and is extremely heat tolerant.

On Fire!

'Campfire' coleus features dark red-orange foliage that glows vibrantly in both sun and shade. This annual grows 14 to 36 inches tall.

Cheers to Petunias

'Black Cherry' is a deep-red blooming variety in the Supertunia series that's prized for being both a spiller and filler in pots. It's a long-blooming annual that is heat tolerant and doesn't require deadheading.

Taste of the Tropics

Also known as Copper Plant, 'Jungle Dragon' acalypha is a tropical shrub with vibrant colorful foliage.

Three-in-One Color

Acalypha 'Jungle Dragon' is popular for its large red leaves that are streaked or spattered with green and gold.

Spikes of Gold

Also known as lollipop plant, golden shrimp plant has spiky white and yellow flowers that are a hit with hummingbirds. Perfect for containers, this annual grows about three feet tall.

Fields of Dreams

When it comes to zinnias, you can't beat Dreamland Yellow. Compact plants reach only 10 to 12 inches tall and bloom early in the season.

Dose of Sunshine

With its pure yellow color, Dreamland Yellow zinnia features large (4-inch) dahlia-form blooms that are long lasting.

Bold and Beautiful

With its interesting gray-green foliage, Tibouchina makes a great addition to container gardens, where it tends to flounce over the sides of pots. It can take full sun or part shade.

Happy Trails

Both heat- and drought-tolerant, vinca is a dependable summer annual. The white trailing Mediterranean series offers larger flowers than most vincas and is a great spiller plant for container gardens.