If you want to brighten up your garden without a lot of fuss, annual flowers are a great choice. They bloom all season long, giving you color and life that can change the look of your outdoor space quickly.
These 25 annual flowers pack a punch by offering vibrant colors, easy care, and plenty of variety to suit your style. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned gardener, you’ll find options that fit your needs and keep your garden looking fresh all season.
Marigolds
If you want bright, easy-care flowers, marigolds are a solid choice. They come in reds, oranges, and yellows that add a pop of color to your garden.
You can start seeds indoors or plant them outdoors after the last frost. French marigolds are especially popular for borders and beds that need a reliable splash of color.
Zinnias
Zinnias are perfect if you want bright, bold colors in your garden. They come in many varieties, from short to tall, and bloom heavily all summer long.
You’ll find types like the Zinderella Punch that keep flowering until frost. Plus, they attract butterflies and handle heat well, making them easy to grow and fun to watch. Check out more options like the Dreamland Mix for a colorful, low-maintenance addition to your garden.
Begonias
Begonias are a great choice if you want bright colors and easy care. You can grow them in shade or partial sun, making them flexible for many garden spots. Their glossy leaves add texture, and they’ll keep blooming all season.
Look for varieties like the Double Up series, which come in convenient containers that help your plants grow faster and healthier. They’re perfect for containers or garden beds.
Snapdragons
You’ll love snapdragons for their tall spikes packed with colorful blossoms. They come in shades like white, yellow, purple, and pink, brightening any garden space.
Start them indoors about 10-12 weeks before the last frost, then move them outside a couple of weeks before frost date. They’re fairly easy to grow and add a classic touch to your garden.
Cosmos
If you want flowers that are easy to grow and offer bright, cheerful blooms, cosmos are a solid pick. They thrive in full sun and well-drained soil, making your garden pop with color all summer long.
You can start cosmos indoors or sow seeds directly outside in spring. They’re low-maintenance and attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, giving your garden a lively, natural touch. Explore different varieties to find colors and shapes that suit your style and garden space.
Petunias
Petunias are a great choice if you want bright color with minimal fuss. They handle heat and drought pretty well, so you won’t have to worry too much about constant care.
You can find tons of varieties, including those that attract butterflies and hummingbirds, making your garden lively and colorful. Check out Supertunias for some popular options that bloom long and are easy to maintain.
Geraniums
Geraniums are a solid choice if you want bright, dependable color. You can find them in many shades like white, pink, and red.
They do well in both garden beds and containers, making them versatile for your space. Plus, varieties like Boldly® White Geranium grow strong and look great all season long. If you want something low-maintenance but eye-catching, geraniums are definitely worth trying.
Portulaca
If you want a flower that thrives in heat and drought, portulaca is a solid choice. You’ll love the bright, fiery blossoms that pop against its fleshy green leaves.
It’s low-maintenance, making it perfect if you don’t want to fuss much. Plus, portulaca comes in lots of colors and works well in containers or garden beds. Check out options like the Colorblast Rum Punch for a splash of bold orange and yellow here.
Sweet Alyssum
Sweet Alyssum is a great choice if you want a low-growing, honey-scented flower. You can find it in white, pink, and pale purple, making it perfect for spilling over walls or filling window boxes.
It’s heat tolerant and attracts bees and butterflies, so your garden stays lively all season. You’ll love how it carpets your space with small, delicate blooms.
Calibrachoa
If you want a flower that adds color without much fuss, calibrachoa is a great pick. These blooms look like tiny petunias and come in lots of colors, including some fun striped varieties.
They flower all season long and attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, which is a bonus for your garden.
Nasturtiums
If you want bright, easy-to-grow flowers, nasturtiums are a great choice. They grow quickly and work well as ground cover or in containers.
You can find compact varieties like Jewel Mix, perfect for small spaces or borders. Plus, they add a splash of color with minimal effort.
Impatiens
If you want flowers that brighten shady spots, impatiens are your go-to. They offer lush foliage with vibrant blooms that look great in containers or garden beds.
You might like the compact SunPatiens variety, which stays colorful all season long. Plus, vibrant options like the “Celebration” Impatiens are popular for adding instant color to your space.
Salvia
If you want vibrant color without much fuss, salvia is a solid pick. You’ll find varieties with blue, purple, red, or pink flowers that add a nice pop to your garden.
Some types, like Rockin’ Deep Purple, keep blooming without setting seed, so you get nonstop color.
Dahlias (annual varieties)
If you want bright, bold colors, dahlias are a solid choice for your garden. Annual dahlias come in lots of shapes and sizes, from spiky cactus types to full, round ball dahlias.
They’re pretty easy to grow and work well in containers or flower beds. For tips on different types and growing advice, check out this guide on dahlia varieties and classifications.
Celosia
If you want something bright and bold, celosia is a great pick. These annuals come in colors like red, orange, yellow, and pink, and their unique puffball blooms really stand out.
You can start seeds indoors a few weeks before planting outside to avoid frost. They grow well in most gardens and can reach up to 3 feet tall. For more details on growing celosia, check out this planting guide.
Vinca (Periwinkle)
If you want a low-maintenance flower that thrives in heat, Vinca is a great pick. These annuals handle drought well thanks to their deep roots and water-storing leaves.
You can start your Vinca seeds indoors or plant them outside once frost is gone. They come in colors like apricot, burgundy, and lilac, adding vibrant pops to your garden with minimal care.
Sunflowers (dwarf varieties)
If you want bold blooms without the tall height, dwarf sunflowers are a great pick. They usually grow 2 to 4 feet tall but still offer big, bright flowers.
These are perfect for smaller spaces or container gardens. Plus, they attract pollinators, adding life to your garden. You can find options that branch out to produce several flowers per plant, giving you more color for less space.
Four O’Clocks
You’ll love adding Four O’Clocks to your garden if you want flowers that open late in the day. Their trumpet-shaped blooms bring a mix of vibrant colors just when the sun starts to set.
These plants attract pollinators like bees and hummingbirds, so your garden will feel lively. Plus, they grow well in summer with minimal fuss.
Verbena
If you want flowers that keep blooming all season, verbena is a solid pick. These plants work great in planters, hanging baskets, or garden beds, adding color wherever you put them.
You’ll appreciate how versatile verbena is, with lots of color options and a trailing habit that looks good spilling over edges. Check out Superbena verbena for easy care and bright blooms.
Torenia
If you want a flower that brightens shady spots, Torenia is a great pick. You’ll find snapdragon-like blooms in colors like blue, pink, and grape, bringing a fresh vibe to your garden.
These flowers attract hummingbirds and resist deer, so they’re low hassle. Plus, some varieties come in easy-care containers that help them grow faster and bigger throughout the season. Check out options like the Catalina Midnight Blue for rich color.
Cuphea
If you want a low-maintenance flower that blooms all season, Cuphea is a solid pick. It’s heat-tolerant and keeps flowering from late spring until frost without much fuss.
You’ll love how it attracts hummingbirds with its vibrant purple or red blossoms.
Dusty Miller
If you want a plant that adds a cool, silvery touch to your garden, Dusty Miller is a great pick. Its soft, wooly leaves bring unique texture without needing much fuss.
You’ll find Dusty Miller easy to grow and perfect for borders or container gardens. Plus, its bright, silvery foliage contrasts well with colorful blooms, making your garden pop visually.
Coleus (flowering types)
If you want bold color, coleus is a great pick. These annuals come in tons of varieties, with leaves that have eye-catching patterns and shades.
Some flowering types add extra charm when they bloom, giving your garden a little surprise beyond the foliage. Coleus loves shade but bright, indirect light helps it shine. It’s pretty easy to grow and can really brighten your garden beds or containers.
Lobelia
If you want a pop of color that’s easy to care for, lobelia is a solid choice. You’ll find blooms in shades like deep blue, purple, and white that look great in containers or garden beds.
Lobelia plants grow quickly and bloom all season. They work well in borders or hanging baskets, adding a bit of brightness wherever you put them. For easy shopping, check out options like the Laguna series, which come in eco-friendly containers designed to support strong growth.
Cleome
If you want a bold addition to your garden, cleome is a great pick. It grows to about a meter tall, giving your space some instant height and texture.
You’ll notice its thin, pointy leaves and vibrant flowers in shades of pink, purple, or white. Cleome works well in containers or mixed borders, adding a bit of drama without much fuss.