My Favorite Top 10 Annual Plants and Flowers

Gardening is a passion of mine, whether it be vegetables, herbs or flowers, as long as I can dig in the dirt and make things grow, I am happy. My yard and garden are filled with different perennial plants, however when spring arrives, I am digging out my flowerpots and buying my favorite annuals. I fill my decorative plant containers with geraniums, marigolds, petunias, and coleus and place them on my deck and porch to display their beautiful colors and add fragrance to the area. I will also spruce up my garden by adding towering sunflowers and breath-taking asters. I also include annual herbs such as sweet basil, garlic and chamomile. These bloom beautiful flowers and the garlic even helps protect my vegetables from insects. Here is a list of my favorite top 10 annual plants and flowers and a little bit of information about each one.

Favorite Annual Flowers

Asters - These giants needs lots of space to grow because they can grow up to two feet high and spread out just as far. Their flowers can be five inches across and purchased on strong stems eight to 10 inches long. Seeds will germinate in 14 to 21 days and the mature plants love the full sun. Because they need lots of room, they should be planted in rows 12 to 18 inches apart. I plant them in one corner of my garden to add a little color to a rather colorless area.

Coleus - My front porch is in complete shade, so this plant is excellent for that area. It has soft chocolate colored leaves that are surrounded by a mint green outer edge. The contrast is striking. They should be placed in at least an eight-inch pot so they can reach their desired height of 10 inches.

Geraniums - I love sitting among flowerpots filled with scented geraniums. A gentle breeze is all that is needed to spread the aromas of cinnamon, peppermint, lemon, or other variety from these lovely plants. I plant my geraniums in containers that are positioned eight inches apart and have access to a full sun.

Impatiens - Anther shade lover, this dainty flower looks great placed among my coleus, as they complement each other well. Their petal colors are white and different shades of red, orange, purple, and pink. They also need a medium pot in order to reach a height of 10 to 12 inches.

Marigolds - These helpful and quaint flowers go in my garden and in containers on my deck. In the garden, they act as an insect repellent helping to keep aphids away from my tomatoes, while their flowers display their bright yellow, gold and orange colors. The love full sun and grow to eight inches high.

Petunias - Like the marigolds, petunias also act as an insect repellent to keep aphids away. They are an excellent annual to use as borders and create stunning displays in hanging baskets. I prefer a mixture of red, white and navy blue colors to add a patriotic look to my yard. They thrive in the full sun and grow eight to 10 inches high.

Sunflowers - I once grew a variety of sunflowers that reached 10 feet tall. It was fun watching the birds hang upside down on these giants, pecking out the seeds from the huge flower centers. As their name indicates, they love a full sun.

Favorite Annual Herbs

Basil - This sweet smelling herb comes in many color variations. It tastes wonderful and I use it in egg dishes, salads and as a great garnish. It has medicinal properties that when made into a tea helps to sooth an upset stomach. It likes full sun and grows to about 12 inches high.

Chamomile - This plant with its daisy-like flowers is actually a member of the daisy family. The flowers are small and lovely, with almost a wildflower look to them. Grown and used in capsules or in teas for its medicinal qualities, this herb can grow over two feet tall. It loves the full sun. I grow and dry chamomile to use in dried flower arrangements.

Garlic - This is one of those all-purpose herbs in that it is used for cooking, has medicinal properties, has beautiful flowers, and helps repel insects. I use it in my garden to help keep Japanese beetles at bay. I also use it for cooking. It loves the full sun and can grow up to 10 inches high.

Sources: Personal experience, The New Victory Garden by Bob Thomson