Planting annual flowers in your garden ensures a continuous display of blooms throughout the growing season. You can grow them directly in the ground, in raised beds, containers, or even hanging baskets to utilize vertical space. Unlike perennials, annuals need to be replanted every year, offering an excellent opportunity to experiment with different flowers that suit your climate and landscape preferences.
Tips for Growing Fast-Growing Annuals Successfully
Once you choose your fast-growing annuals, make sure to plant them in quality soil. After sowing seeds or transplanting, provide the right growing conditions, such as adequate sunlight and water. “Understanding your plant’s water and fertilizer needs is crucial for achieving vibrant blooms throughout the summer and fall,” says Root, noting that annuals generally require more feeding than other plants.
To enjoy a diverse range of colors and blooms, plant a mix of fast-growing annuals, including both cool-season and warm-season varieties, ensuring flowers are always in bloom. Prune dead flowers regularly to encourage new growth. “Deadheading spent blooms promotes continuous flowering, and tall varieties benefit from support structures,” adds Root.
Black-Eyed Susan
Black-Eyed Susan boasts mustard, red, or orange petals with a distinctive dark brown center that attracts pollinators. “Known for rapid growth, abundant flowering, and quick establishment in garden beds and borders, Black-Eyed Susans are a versatile choice,” says Root. While Rudbeckia hirta is often grown as an annual, it can be a biennial or short-lived perennial.
According to Ziegler, varieties like Prairie Sun and Goldilocks provide a range of sizes and hues, blooming in late summer and fall, offering valuable nectar and pollen for pollinators late in the season.
- Botanical Name: Rudbeckia hirta
- Sun Exposure: Full, partial
- Soil Type: Well-drained, loamy, clay, sandy
- Soil pH: 5.5-6.8
Larkspur
As a cool-season annual, Larkspur provides early blooms, often before other fast-growing varieties. “Larkspur is loved for its delicate, true-blue, pink, or purple flowers that add a soft touch to gardens,” says Justin Hancock, a horticulturist with Costa Farms. Easy to grow, these plants quickly reward you with beautiful blooms when sprinkled in sunny or partly shaded, well-draining soil.
- Botanical Name: Consolida
- Sun Exposure: Full or partial
- Soil Type: Well-draining
- Soil pH: 6.5-7.0
Lemon Basil
Herbs like Lemon Basil add fragrance and flowers to your garden. Ziegler praises Mrs. Burn’s Lemon Basil for its delightful citrus scent that elevates any floral arrangement. Besides its pleasant aroma, this herb attracts bees and butterflies when in bloom. “Planted along a walkway, it releases a wonderful fragrance when brushed against,” she adds.
- Botanical Name: Ocimum basilicum citriodorum
- Sun Exposure: Full
- Soil Type: Well-draining
- Soil pH: 6.0-7.0
Marigolds
Marigolds are vibrant, pom-pom-style flowers in orange and yellow shades that stand out in any garden. They grow quickly, deter pests, and are even edible. If you haven’t planted these fast-growing annuals yet, it’s time to give them a try! “Marigolds are renowned for their rapid development from seed to mature plant, quickly producing abundant, bright blooms,” says Root. These colorful flowers are popular in garden beds, borders, and containers, especially for gardeners seeking quick results.
- Botanical Name: Tagetes
- Sun Exposure: Full
- Soil Type: Well-drained
- Soil pH: 6.0-7.0
Lime Light Millet Grass
Lime Light Millet is an ornamental grass that’s easy to grow and produces stunning seed heads that add vibrancy to any floral arrangement. “We love planting Lime Light Millet because it’s not only beautiful but also grows fast!” says Ziegler. “It’s great as a cut flower, but when left in the garden, it matures into large seed heads that attract songbirds.”
- Botanical Name: Setaria italica
- Sun Exposure: Full
- Soil Type: Well-draining
- Soil pH: 5.5-7.0
Moonflower Vines
Moonflowers are annual climbing vines known for their large, white flowers that open only at night, making them a unique addition to any garden. “These vines create a beautiful night-time display with their luminous blooms,” says Root. She suggests planting them near doors and walkways where their nighttime flowers can be easily appreciated.
- Botanical Name: Ipomoea alba
- Sun Exposure: Full
- Soil Type: Well-draining
- Soil pH: 6.0-7.5
Nigella
Also known as Love in a Mist, Nigella produces stunning blue, purple, or white flowers within two to three months of planting. “The flowers sit above lacy foliage and add unique texture to the garden,” says Hancock. “After blooming, the balloon-like seed pods continue to add interest.” Nigella often self-seeds, so you may find it returning year after year.
- Botanical Name: Nigella damascena
- Sun Exposure: Partial to Full
- Soil Type: Well-draining
- Soil pH: 6.0-7.0
Snow on the Mountain
Snow on the Mountain, a fast-growing annual native to North America, is ideal for gardens troubled by deer or rabbits, as it is naturally resistant to these animals. “Being a Euphorbia, it’s deer- and rabbit-resistant, which is very helpful,” says Hancock. It produces striking variegated foliage, adding visual appeal.
- Botanical Name: Euphorbia marginata
- Sun Exposure: Full
- Soil Type: Well-draining, sandy
- Soil pH: 6.8-7.2
Snapdragon
Snapdragons, named for their dragon-like flowers that open and close when pinched, are available in a wide variety of colors. “They add fantastic texture to gardens, with options for tall, upright varieties or shorter, bushier types,” says Hancock. Snapdragons are perfect for bringing height, color, and dimension to garden spaces and can bloom from spring into summer or even all season long, depending on the climate.
- Botanical Name: Antirrhinum majus
- Sun Exposure: Partial to Full
- Soil Type: Well-draining
- Soil pH: 6.2-7.0
Sunflowers
Sunflowers are the quintessential summer bloom, known for their fast growth and striking appearance. “They are super fun to grow because they sprout quickly and make a big, showy statement in the garden,” says Root. While some sunflower varieties take a few months to bloom, others can bloom within two months. Ziegler recommends choosing single-stemmed varieties like Vincent and ProCuts, which have a rapid bloom time of just 50-60 days.
To enjoy sunflowers throughout the summer, Ziegler suggests planting seeds weekly from spring until the first frost. Sunflowers not only make beautiful cut flowers but also attract birds and pollinators, adding more life to your garden.
- Botanical Name: Helianthus annuus
- Sun Exposure: Full Sun
- Soil Type: Dry to medium, well-draining, average fertility
- Soil pH: Acidic to neutral (5.5-7.8)
Wishbone Flower
Wishbone flowers, also known as Torenia, feature trumpet-shaped blooms in shades of white, yellow, pink, and purple. “Torenia is an underrated flower with long-lasting, non-fading blooms,” says Root. These flowers prefer partial shade and moist soil but can also thrive in full sun. “Their compact growth, versatility, and minimal maintenance make them a charming addition to any garden,” she adds.
- Botanical Name: Torenia fournieri
- Sun Exposure: Partial shade to full sun
- Soil Type: Well-draining
- Soil pH: 5.6-7.0
Zinnias
Zinnias are known for their vibrant, colorful blooms that can appear just two months after planting seeds. “Zinnias are a top choice for quick growth and are prolific bloomers,” says Ziegler. These hardy flowers are loved for their low maintenance and resilience, making them an ideal addition to any garden. “They brighten up the space and attract pollinators effortlessly,” says Root.
To jumpstart the growing season, Ziegler recommends starting seeds indoors before the last frost date. “We prepare 3-week-old transplants to plant as soon as the danger of frost passes, putting us weeks ahead in the growing season,” she explains.
- Botanical Name: Zinnia elegans
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Type: Well-draining
- Soil pH: 5.5-7.5
