Different Types of Annual Flowers for Home Garden

Annuals vary in their sizes and their climatic requirements.

Certain annual flowering plants prefer regions with warm climate while some do well in regions where cold climate is predominant. If you buy the local annuals from the nearby nursery in your area, it is a given that it would do well in your garden.

If you are planning to mail order your annuals via internet, it is more prudent to check up with your local cooperative extension or other experienced gardeners on whether the annual would do well in your climatic conditions.

Some annual flowers prefer direct sunlight in abundance while some are sun shy. Some annuals prefer indirect sunlight.

Annual flowers come in different shapes and sizes. Some flowers are large sized like sunflowers while some are dwarf sized like lobelia.

The different types of annuals with examples and pictures, based on the above criteria, are given below

Warm Weathered and Cold Weathered Annual Flowers

Annuals are usually not fuzzy about the climate. They germinate by spring and die by fall. There are some annuals who have certain preferences as far as weather is concerned.

Warm weathered flowering annuals grow better in areas which have more sunshine and predominantly hot conditions. Examples are

• Marigolds
• Periwinkle

Cold weather flowering annuals grow between in areas which have a predominantly colder climate. These annuals can withstand chilly nights without shedding their buds and flowers. Examples of cold weathered annual flowers are

• Pansy
• Cleome
• Calendula

Different Types of Annual Flowers Based on Sizes

It is important to be aware of the full size the plant would grow to once it is mature. It would be unwise to plant large sized annuals close to each other as they would cramp up as they grow.

Low Growing Annuals work like a carpet. You can set them as a base to any large flower plant or tree. Examples are

• Alyssum
• Portulaca
• Fan flower

Compact Annuals are very petite in structure and give a nice look. You can grow them in small pots and on window sills. Examples are

• Diascia
• Pansies
• Lobelia

Large sized annuals give off large flowers and have broad leaves. These flowers add a touch of grandeur to your landscape. Examples are

• Zinnia
• Sunflower
• Cleome

Mound forming annuals give you a clustered look. They grow in a dense fashion and give an appearance of a mound when placed in a group. Examples are

• Impatiens
• French Marigold
• California Puppy

Spiky Annual flower plants add a variety to your garden through their unique spiky look. Examples are

• Snapdragon
• Salvis

By fall most of the annual flowers die off. It is very difficult to sustain an annual flowering plants beyond fall try as you may. They give you your money's worth as long as they are alive.