Top 5 Flowering Annuals for the Phoenix Arizona Garden

Are you looking for bold color and easy maintenance for your Phoenix area landscape or flower garden this year? Check out these top 5 flowering annuals that offer brilliant color and simple care throughout the growing season. Annuals are a great choice to plant in the garden because they add lasting blooms all season. In the Phoenix area we are blessed with an extra long growing season. Many annuals can be planted in the fall for winter and spring enjoyment. Also because of the mild temperatures in the winter, annuals such as petunias can be planted as early as January for large plants loaded with flowers by March! In fact some annuals are considered perennials in the Phoenix area because they can survive all year long.

Petunia

Petunias are foolproof favorites for gardeners everywhere. They are hearty growers and abundant bloomers from mid-spring through late fall. In the Phoenix garden you will be able to enjoy Petunias up to 10 months. They can be planted as early as January and if kept well watered will last until early winter. Color choices are almost limitless; some flowers even contain beautiful variegated colors. They can be used in beds, containers, as ground cover and as borders. They like full sun and moist soil. Petunias can grow to 4 feet tall depending on the type. My petunias are planted in containers and are placed on a drip system, this system works well for petunias.

Lantana

In Phoenix I am sure you have a hot, sun baked spot, Lantana is your drought resistant answer. This painstaking plant will not only thrive with little moisture and in full sun, it does so with ease. This is a very important factor for the Phoenix area. Lantana is a flower that not only does well in the hot sun producing a large quantity of brightly colored flowers all summer and fall, it is also attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. It's easy to grow and is a great choice for containers. I have my Lantana planted in containers and in the winter they tend to receive a little frost damage but always bounce back in early spring. Lantana can grow to 4 feet tall and 4 feet wide. Lantana is considered both an annual as well as a perennial.

Geranium

Geraniums are another gardener's favorite. The Geranium is a standard planting for beds, borders, and containers. Traditional bedding types love hot weather and hold up well to dry conditions; a perfect reason to plant some geraniums in your Phoenix garden. There are many foliage and flower selections to choose from. Geraniums can grow to 2 feet tall and 2 feet wide. They are drought resistant and easy to grow. Like the Lantana the Geranium is an annual as well as a perennial. If your geraniums are planted in containers you may bring them indoors in the winter to help them winter over.

Gazania

This full sun loving plant endures poor soil, scorched conditions, less than perfect watering and will continually produce bright yellow, orange and variegated daisy-like flowers from late spring to frost in the Phoenix garden. My favorite variety is the Daybreak Tiger Stripes; the flowers can be yellow, pink, orange, and cream with a contrasting stripe down each petal. They grow 10 inches tall. The foliage of the Gazania has dark green or silver toothed leaves depending upon the type. They are used in beds, borders and containers. They can grow to 1 foot tall and 1 foot wide. Gazania will also attract butterflies to your garden. In the Phoenix area the Gazania is considered a perennial and is drought tolerant.

Sunflower

I absolutely love the sunflower! They are super easy to grow from seed; this makes them a great choice for gardening with children. Kids will love planting sunflower seeds and then in just a couple of days they will see the tiny plants emerge from the soil. Depending on the variety, some sunflowers will grow to 12 feet tall. Imagine a child's enthusiasm for gardening when he plants a seed and the plant grows three times his size! Sunflowers fit into every garden because there are so many different sizes and colors to choose from. Sunflowers attract birds and butterflies to the garden and are just as their name implies...a full sun loving flower!

One of my favorite garden books is the Sunset Western Garden Book. It has so much helpful gardening information. Here is a link to their website: Sunset Gardening

Sources: Sunset.com