Do you love having a garden filled with bright, cheerful blooms that return to your yard year after year? Annuals can provide an array of colorful flowers and foliage for your flower beds and gardens. But no one wants to try to choose annual plants every single season. Thankfully, certain types of annuals will come back on their year after year.
These types of annuals are often referred to as “self-seeding” or “self-propagating” plants, and they’re a great choice for low-maintenance gardening. From poppies to cornflowers, these resilient plants will add color and structure to your garden with minimal effort required on your part.
In this article, we’ll discuss some of the popular varieties of self-seeding annuals that you can choose from to create a lovely garden without any fuss.
Table of Contents
Here are 10 Best Annuals that Come Back Every Year
1. African Daisy
The African Daisy is a beautiful flower that is native to southern Africa. It is often cultivated for its bright and cheerful colors, making it a popular choice for gardens and floral bouquets. This plant typically features yellow or white petals and an orange central disc, but these colors can vary depending on the species. African Daisies are drought tolerant and thus require minimal water, which makes them low-maintenance plants for gardens.
In addition to being pretty decorations, African Daisies are used medicinally in many cultures. The flowers contain oils that have antibacterial properties, which make them helpful for treating skin diseases or bug bites.
They are also believed to be useful for soothing sore throats and coughs when made into a decoction or tea. When combined with fats or other herbal remedies, crushed flowers may also be used as a poultice or ointment. The anti-inflammatory properties of African Daisy are beneficial in treating arthritis, fevers, congestion, and even headaches.
2. African Foxglove
The African foxglove, scientifically known as Isrugerus digitus, is a beautiful and striking flower native to northern and central Africa. It has a soft white bloom with hints of pink radiating from the center.
The petals are two tones, each unique in shape and size, interlocking together to form a teardrop-shaped bottom. This eye-catching flower grows on tall shrubs or climbed small trees, which can get up to 10 feet in height, giving the plant an exotic look in its natural environment.
African foxglove blooms throughout the year, making it an attractive option for landscaping gardens or other areas needing greenery. Its small white flowers are fragrant but subtle, not to overpower its neighbors.
Its large leaves are dark green with age-related silver-striped highlights, adding further interest and depth to any planted area. The African foxglove also attracts many different types of hummingbirds for their nectar feedings; this makes it even more desirable for bird lovers around the globe.
3. Baby’s Breath
Gypsophila paniculata, commonly known as baby’s breath, is an annual flower found in gardens and landscapes worldwide. With its abundance of small white flowers, this plant adds a delicate texture to any setting.
The blooms are star-shaped and clustered on thin stems, giving the effect of foam or clouds of snow. It is also easy to care for and self-seeds, making it a popular garden choice.
Baby’s breath is a great addition to flower beds and borders or can be used as a filler in floral arrangements and bouquets. It grows well on its own but will do even better if planted with other plants that have similar water requirements. This flower is also a great choice for naturalizing, as it will spread and form dense carpets of color in open areas.
4. Candytuft
Candytuft, known scientifically as Iberis umbellata, is an annual flower that produces a mound of bright white blooms during the summertime. These beautiful flowers often line pathways, borders, and beds, adding a cheerful touch to any garden. The foliage is lacy and fine, and the flowers are small but abundant.
Candytuft is easy to grow and requires minimal care once established. It needs full sun or partial shade, with moist, well-drained soil that’s slightly acidic. This plant can be propagated by cuttings or seeds, which should be aked into the soil in late winter o early spring. Candytuft is a great choice for containing gardens, as it will provide color and text without taking up too much space.
In addition to its aesthetical value, this flower also attracts bees and butterflies to the area, making it an ideal choice for those looking to brighten up their outdoor space.
5. Snapdragon
Snapdragon is a bright and vibrant annual flower native to temperate parts of Europe, Asia, and the Mediterranean. It is one of the most popular garden plants, with its wide array of colors ranging from pure white to deep maroon. The flowers have a unique shape that resembles a dragon’s head, which inspired its name. Snapdragons are easy to grow and will bloom from spring to late summer.
Snapdragons are great for borders and beds, as they can reach up to three feet in height. They also work well in containers and window boxes, with their long stems providing an interesting contrast against other plants.
This flower is drought tolerant and does not require much maintenance once established. It attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, making it an ideal choice for those looking to attract more wildlife to their garden.
6. Apple Blossoms
The Apple Blossom, or Hippeastrum, is a vibrant and popular flowering plant in Central Asia. Although it is a perennial flowering plant, it is often grown annually in most climates due to its fragility in the colder temperatures of winter.
At full maturity, the apple blossom stands 8 inches tall with long, slender leaves supporting its flowers. It requires plenty of sun exposure to thrive; hence, full sun-to-light shade is recommended when planting this variety.
Additionally, it grows well in hardiness zones 3-9 and comes in various shades from white to deep pink to fiery orange.
In addition to its ornamental effects, apple blossoms can be used for culinary purposes as their petals can be processed and used as a flavoring for candies and other sweet treats. The petals are strongly flavored with hints of sweetness, making them an ideal ingredient for syrups and compete.
7. Bells of Ireland
What’s more, these flowers can act as a great addition to any garden with their lovely pink and white flowers that adorn the landscape during springtime.
Bells of Ireland (Moluccella laevis) is an annual flower that comes back every year in the garden. It is a member of the mint family and grows to a height of three feet. The flowers are bell-shaped, hence their name, and can range from white to green in color.
Bells of Ireland have been used as an ornamental plant for centuries and are a popular choice for flower arrangements and borders.
Bells of Ireland grows best in full sun and can tolerate dry conditions, although it prefers moist soil. It is easy to grow from seeds but takes some time to mature. When planting, mix the seeds with sand or vermiculite to ensure even distribution and cover lightly with soil. Once established, this plant will require minimal care and will flower from late spring to early summer.
8. Marigold
Marigolds (Tagetes spp.) are colorful annual flowers that bloom in shades of yellow, orange, and red. This easy-to-grow flower is native to Mexico and Central America but can be grown in most climates worldwide. Marigolds thrive in full sun and prefer well-drained soil with moderate moisture. They are drought-tolerant and will bloom all season long with minimal maintenance.
Marigolds are a great choice for gardeners looking to add color and interest to their landscape. They attract butterflies and bees, making them an ideal addition to any pollinator-friendly garden. These flowers can also be used as a natural pest repellent, as they can deter certain pests when planted around the garden’s perimeter.
9. Pansy
Pansies (Viola tricolor) are cheerful and hardy annuals that return yearly to the garden. They are low-growing plants that produce brightly colored flowers in shades of yellow, blue, purple, violet, and white. These flowers thrive in cooler temperatures and can tolerate some frost. Pansies are also drought-tolerant and do best in full sun or partial shade.
Pansies are an excellent choice for gardeners looking to add color and interest to their landscape. They can be planted in beds, containers, or window boxes and used as a natural pest repellent when planted around the garden’s perimeter. These flowers attract butterflies, bees, and other beneficial insects, making them an ideal addition to any pollinator-friendly garden.
10. Blue Floss
Blue Floss is a popular garden flower with the scientific name Ageratum Houstonianum. This perennial or annual plant originates from Guatemala, Belize, and Mexico, boasting a unique range of colors, including blue and white. While the plant can grow 4-36 inches tall and 6-18 inches wide, spacing should be considered when planting as too close of placements may result in root competition.
When growing Blue Floss, optimal sun exposure will ensure its desirable results are reached – ensuring it gets full sun or partial shade with adequate watering throughout the season to prevent wilt or potential disease.
The ideal planting zone for Blue Floss should be between 10-11. Gardeners may also consider treating their plants against pests like aphids by regularly spraying the flowers with an insecticidal soap solution to keep them looking their best.
Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs]
1. What is annual vs. perennial?
An annual plant grows for only one growing season, then dies. Perennial plants regrow every spring. In gardens, perennials and annuals are often used in conjunction since perennials usually have shorter blooming times than annuals.
2. How do I care for annual flowers?
Annual flowers require regular watering and frequent deadheading to keep them looking their best. They should be planted in a location that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight daily, with adequate spacing between plants to prevent overcrowding. Fertilizing your plants regularly will also help ensure good growth and blooming throughout the season.
3. What are some common annual flowers?
Common annual flowers include petunias, impatiens, marigolds, geraniums, cosmos, zinnias, and snapdragons. These flowers come in various shapes and colors to add interest and color to any garden. Some plants also attract beneficial insects, such as bees and butterflies, to help pollinate the garden.
4. What are some annual flowers that provide a fragrant scent?
Fragrant annuals are a great choice for gardeners looking to add a pleasant aroma to their outdoor space. Popular fragrant annuals include sweet alyssum, nicotiana, and moonflower. Sweet alyssum produces clusters of tiny white or pink blossoms that give off a sweet honey-like scent. Nicotiana is a tall, flowering plant with trumpet-shaped blooms that emit a sweet and musky aroma. Moonflower is a large white flower that opens up in the evening, releasing its delicate fragrance throughout the night.
5. What is the lifespan of annuals?
The life cycle of an annual last one year. The most common type of plant is planted in the spring, blooms in the summer, and dies in the fall. Known as winter annuals, germination occurs during the latter part of the summer and autumn, dormancy occurs during the winter, and growth occurs during the spring and summer.
Conclusion
Annuals make great additions to any garden, providing bright colors and pleasant fragrances throughout the growing season. Popular annual flowers include petunias, impatiens, marigolds, geraniums, cosmos, zinnias, and snapdragons. These flowers are easy to care for and require regular watering and fertilizing.
