One of the best ways to get quick colour into your garden is with flowering annuals. Modern forms of annual plants have been bred and selected for improved colour ranges, flower variation and disease resistance. In our mild climates many short-lived perennials and biennials are grown as annuals.
Top 5 summer annuals
Petunias
Favourites because of their long-flowering habit and their profusion of blooms, petunias are often regarded as symbols of summer.
Sunflowers
Sunflowers are easily grown from seed and are beloved by children. Almost every part of the plant can be eaten, so they’re useful as well as good-looking!
Rudbeckia
Also called marmalade daisies, rudbeckias are native to North America. Masses of bright orange-yellow blooms reflect the warm colours of summer.
Phlox
Phlox will grow rapidly to blooming stage. If sown direct where it is to grow, it will produce a mass of (inexpensive) summer colour.
Californian Poppy
Sun loving Californian poppies have satiny-sheened petals in shades of white, cream, pink, yellow, orange and scarlet. These warm colours contrast with the blue-grey, ferny foliage. Sow seed direct into prepared garden beds.
This information is from the Yates Garden Guide: fully revised & updated 44th edition, HarperCollins, $39.99. You can have this information and so much more at your fingertips by purchasing the Yates Garden Guide, available at all leading bookstores and Bunnings stores.
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Alliums
How to grow Alliums in your garden. The rounded flowers of many ornamental alliums work like colourful exclamation points.
Daylilies
Even if you can't grow any other plant, your're sure to have success with daylilies.
Foxglove
Foxglove Plants - Tips For Growing Foxgloves. Tall and stately foxglove plants (Digitalis purpurea) have long been included in gardens. Foxglove flowers will thrive in part shade and tolerate dry soil but prefer moderate moisture
Peony
Peonies, flaunt voluptuous blooms from late spring, the majestic peony is unrivaled in gardens and bouquets.
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