Growing Annuals

Oriental poppies are exotic field-growing flowers that originated in Asia (hence the name). They are accustomed to rough, hot climates and therefore require very little care during their...

Moonflowers are a hard flower to miss. When planted on a fence or trellis, the vines can grow to be 20 feet long, with splashy blooms 5 to 6 inches across. The flowers open in the afternoon and...

Hanging baskets, container gardens and window boxes filled to overflowing with fast-growing annuals provide quick color that lasts all season. While a perennial bed certainly has the advantage of...

Scabiosa, or more commonly referred to as pincushion flower, is an annual in colder regions and a perennial in more moderate regions. The name pincushion flower refers to the flower's stamens,...

The tropical and subtropical begonia plant is versatile for use both outdoors in beds, borders and containers and indoors as showy houseplants. While begonia blossoms offer enchanting, vibrant...

Ranging from yellow and orange to a deep rust red, marigolds are striking in borders and containers. An annual bedding plant, marigolds range in size from small dwarf blooms to large bobbing...

Cornflowers, also called bachelor's buttons, earned their name because they grow wild in cornfields. The blue fringed flowers add a bright touch to gardens and cut-flower arrangements. Cornflowers...

Many gardeners have a dream to own a greenhouse, and even having a very small greenhouse can help a gardener by extending the season and allowing the grower to start seedlings instead of buying...

Impatiens grow in partial to full shade, filling dark corners with brilliant color from late spring until frost. According to the University of Vermont Extension, impatiens are the top-selling...

Flowers are simple decorations that add to the beauty of your home. Planter boxes on your porch, deck or patio will brighten the area. Finding just the right plant for your planter boxes can be...

Hardening plants prepares them for the reality of growing under normal conditions in the garden. While frost blankets are useful in preventing damage to young plants from cold spring temperatures,...

The French marigold, "the most popular source of yellows and oranges in bedding schemes" according to "The Bedding Plant Expert," traveled from its native territory in Mexico to Spain and thence...

Azaleas have the loveliest and most appropriate name of "the royalty of the garden." They are an asset to any yard and garden. There are more than 10,000 types of azalea plants. The North American...

Nemesia seeds come in almost every color imaginable, and some are variegated. This native South Afircan beauty has many species and works well in rock gardens, containers and often as a border...

In shades of bright orange, gold and yellow, marigolds are among the brightest blooms in the garden. Because marigolds are annuals, they only last one growing season. However, the little rays of...

Pansies are popular cool weather flowers. Their bright blooms come in a variety of colors ranging from pale pastel lavender and yellow to deep purple and burgundy. You can find pansies that have...

New Guinea Impatiens are part of the vast genus of impatiens, an annual flower that is a staple in gardens because of their prolific blooms, low maintenance and ability to thrive in the shade. The...

The mandevilla plant is a highly popular botanical that many people find useful when designing the landscape of their homes. These large, multicolor flowers come in a variety of shades, such as...

The end of warm weather can be depressing for any gardener. Watching your beautiful summer flowers succumb to the cold weather is much easier to take if you know how to replace them with fall and...

Impatiens are annual flowering plants native to Zanzibar and Africa, but grown throughout the Northern Hemisphere. The delicate flowers are the top-selling bedding plants in the U.S., and are...

Sweet potato vine (Ipomoea) are very easy to propagate by taking cuttings and rooting them in water. It can be done anytime of year and is a great way to get more plants for free.

Easy-to-grow Casablanca lilies are a garden favorite. These lovely blossoms enjoy plenty of sunlight, and thrive in warm, moist climates. Keeping the roots shaded is important for the health of...

Gardeners with shady flowerbeds are often in search of flowers suitable for growing in the shade. One of the most popular shade-loving flowers is impatiens. There are many different varieties of...

New Guinea impatiens received their name from their native island. After significant modifications to the cultivars over the years, the current varieties are easy to grow and very popular among...

Ashwagandha has been grown for centuries in India and grows quite well in many parts of the U.S., especially in the warmer southern states. The root is dried, ground up and eaten for its medicinal...

Opium poppies have been outlawed in the United States since the early 1900s, yet these beautiful blooms continue to be a staple of old-fashioned gardens. Gardeners should be aware that the risks...

All yellow Gerbera cultivars are commercially developed patented hybrids. In the wild, the 30-plus species of Gerbera daisies are generally red or white, with most species growing in temperate...

Petunias are one of the cheeriest and brightest annuals in the garden landscape. They're easy to grow and as long as they have plenty of sunshine and enough moisture, they'll bloom all summer...

Oriental poppies can be grown in Ohio with a minimum of fuss as they are perennials in zones 3 through 9 and all of Ohio falls into either zones 5 or 6. These graceful flowers come in colors...

Annual plants provide a temporary burst of color to outdoor landscapes, especially when you choose flowering varieties. You can grow annual herbs, vegetables and fruits for use in cooking or...

Annuals are plants that need to be planted every year because they live out their entire lives in one growing season. If conditions are good, the seeds left behind by the previous season's annuals...

The season is coming and it has a large array of beautiful colors. Flowers are one of the many things we enjoy for special occcassions or just to use in our home to make it seem warmer. Selecting...

The lovely bush morning glory thrives in gardens and containers under the proper conditions. Its flowers are trumpet-shape and come in a variety of shades of pink, blue and even white. Drought...

Vinca, also known as catharanthus or Madagascar periwinkle, is a popular annual flower. Growing upwards to 10 to 16 inches tall, with dark green leaves and five-petal blossoms in pink, mauve or...

Zinnias are a beautiful addition to any backyard garden. The annual flowers come in a variety of shapes, ranging from mini varieties to versions that can grow up to 3 feet tall, and they can be...

How many of us love flowers and yearn for a green thumb, but have spent years watching the early death of every flower we plant? Here is a simple, foolproof method to grow flowers that will last...

If you enjoy gardening or you just want your flowers to look beautiful in your garden, this article will help your plants produce more blooms.

If you have bought tomato seedlings or raised them from seed, you know the frustration you can have when you find your tomatoes on the ground with a bite or two taken from them, making them...

Some gardeners grow sunflowers for their beautiful showy flowers. Others grow sunflowers to provide seeds for the birds. Still other young gardeners grow sunflowers simply because they are...

Snapdragons, or antirrhinum majus, are self-seeding annuals loved by both gardeners and florists for their signature "dragon" blooms, which are large, fragrant and long-lasting. This member of the...

Bacopa sutera is just one name out of many that refer to a class of tender tropical plants grown as annuals in much of the world. They have tiny white flowers that nearly obscure the foliage....

Commercial Gerbera are hybrids of wild parents native to temperate grasslands in South Africa. They need sandy, well-drained soil and low humidity in a sunny location. Gerbera are susceptible to...

Dozens of commercial Gerbera daisies are patented cultivars developed from Gerbera hybrida, a cross of two wild species from South Africa. Seeds for home garden Gerberas are relatively stable...

Despite its name, the flowering maple is not a typical maple tree. Rather, it is a small bush or container plant, and may even be kept indoors. The interesting foliage includes small flowers of...

Petunias are prolific bloomers that provide a blanket of color from early summer to frost. Often used in containers, window boxes and hanging baskets, petunias come in shades of white, pink,...

Snapdragons make wonderful cut flowers with their whimsical shape and wide variety of colors, including shades of pink, purple, yellow and red. Grown in garden beds or containers, these hardy...

The tobacco plant can be grown in all regions of North America, both as an ornamental and to produce tobacco for consumption. It is not a difficult plant to grow in a home garden, although the...

Datura is a beautiful and fragrant annual vine with trumpet-shaped flowers. It is not widely available as a bedding plant so if you want to grow it you have to start it from seed. Sometimes it can...

Peonies are so hardy they can be grown in hardiness zone 2, the coldest in the United States, and they can also be grown in all of the zones up to the very warm zone 8. Peonies are easy to grow...

Planting salvia only takes a few moments, but the plants will reward you all summer with beautiful blooms that attract bees, hummingbirds and butterflies to your flower beds. Salvia are available...