Plant Annuals for a colorful display all summer

By Joanne K., Pitt County Extension Master Gardener Volunteer

With spring blooming all around us, what gardener doesn't want to continue such a colorful display in their yard all summer?

While gardeners like to plant perennials for their beautiful color, shape, and longevity, most perennials only bloom for a specific time. To enjoy garden color all summer, add annuals to your planting mix, whether in the ground, in containers, or in hanging baskets. To really extend your color and get the most bang for your buck, select colorful annuals with staying power.

At JC Raulston Arboretum in Raleigh, their trial gardens are planted yearly with assorted annuals to determine which ones will do best in the heat and humidity of North Carolina summers. For full-sun beds, some of their recommendations include Calibrachoa x hybrida (Million Bells), Celosia spp. (Cock's comb), and Cuphea ignea (Firecracker Plant).

Begonias also grow well in pots and indoors. Flower Form Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

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Calibrachoa flowers appear in blue, gold/yellow, orange, pink, purple/lavender, red/burgundy, variegated, and white. Celosia flowers come in gold/yellow, orange, pink, and purple/lavender. Both plants like to be on the dry side and don't need deadheading. Both are drought and heat tolerant.

With its bright orange, red, yellow, and purple flowers lasting into fall, Cuphea is a favorite of pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, attracted to. It likes well-watered, well-drained soil, and is somewhat drought-tolerant.

Celosia with yellow bloom. Photo credit: CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

The Caladium's heart-shaped leaves come in a rich array of colors. Photo credit: Carole McHale, CC BY 4.0

Two picks for part shade are Begonia (Semperflorens-Cultorum Group) (Wax Begonias) and Impatiens walleriana (Impatiens). Begonia flowers come in shades of gold/yellow, pink, red/burgundy, and white, with lots of leaf color variation. Begonias are heat- and drought-tolerant, and deer generally avoid them.

Unfortunately, since deer love Impatiens, it’s best to avoid planting them if your garden is a salad bar for deer. Impatiens tolerate humidity but will wilt in hot, dry spells. With their orange, pink, purple/lavender, red/burgundy, and white blooms, Impatiens also attract pollinators including butterflies and hummingbirds.

Leaf color is another option for shady areas. Caladium cultivars come in many colorful combinations of pink, red, green, and white, and are summer stalwarts. They prefer a rich soil and constant moisture.

For more information on growing these plants, go to the NC Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox.