Spring Color Annuals

Spring Annuals

It’s spring! With spring the weather warms, the weeds start growing, and our fall-winter annuals are looking droopy. The month of April is an excellent time to start replacing the droopy annuals with fresh spring color annuals. The month of April is now recognized as National Garden Month. The organization is to raise awareness to gardening education. For more information into National Garden Month click here. 

For most gardener’s April is the month to start taking a survey of the garden. What survived the brutal winter we had? Shall I wait to replace the fall-winter annuals? The majority of Spring Annuals that are listed below will last from spring to fall. Are you ready to get your garden ready for spring and summer? Try some of these spring annuals which will give you lots of color.

African Marigold, American Marigold - Tagetes erecta: Zones: 2-11. Height: 1-4 feet depending on variety. Spacing: 8-18 inches apart depending on variety. Light: Full sun. Uses: Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds, Deer resistant annual, beds edger, containers, vegetable gardens. Deadhead spent flowers to extend blooming.

Ageratum or Floss Flower - Ageratum houstonianum: Zones: 2-11. Height: 6-12

Ageratum

inches. Spacing: 8-10 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Border fronts, edger, hanging baskets, containers, attracts butterflies.

Angelonia – Angelonia angustifolia: Zones: 9-11 (perennial), outside zone 9 treated as an annual. Height: 12-18 inches, some varieties can get 24 inches. Spacing: 9-12 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Mass plantings, containers, window boxes, edger, cut flowers.

Balsam - Impatiens balsamina: Zones: 2-11. Height: 12-18 inches. Spacing: 10-12 inches apart. Light: Partial sun to shade. Uses: Beds, borders, containers.

Caladium – Caladium X hortulanum: Zones: 3-10 (hardy in 9-10). Height: 1-2 feet. Spacing: 9-12 inches apart. Light: Full sun to shade, the lance-leaf varieties will take 

White Wing Caladium

full sun. Uses: Mass plantings, edger, borders, containers.

Cardinal Flower - Lobelia spp.: Zones: 3-10 (short-lived perennial). Height: 1-3 feet, depending on variety. Spacing: 10-12 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Attracts hummingbirds, borders around ponds or water features, low wet areas in the landscape.

Coleus – Solenostemon scutellarioides: Zones: 2-11 (hardy 10-11). Height: 1-2 feet. Spacing: 10-12 inches apart. Light: Full sun to shade, the newer cultivars will grow in full sun. Uses: Pots, containers, window boxes, beds, borders, mass or group plantings.

Cordyline – Cordyline australis: Zones: 9-11, treated as an annual outside zone 9. 

Cordyline

Height: 10-15 feet. Spacing: 4-6 feet apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Patio containers.

Crested Cockscomb - Celosia cristata: Zones: 2-11, hardy in 10-11. Height: 8-36 inches, depending on cultivar. Spacing: 8-10 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Group or mass plantings, borders, containers, fresh cut or dried flowers.

Dahlia - Dahlia hortensis cv. Figaro Mix: Zones: 3-10, perennial that is treated as an annual. Height: 12-24 inches depending on variety. Spacing: 6-18 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Containers, borders, cut flower, deer resistant. Deadhead flowers to extend blooming.

Dianthus, Annual Dianthus - Dianthus chinensis: Zones: 4-11. Height: 6-12 inches. Spacing: 6-12 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial

Dianthus

shade. Uses: Window boxes, beds, borders, edger, containers, deadhead flowers to extend blooming. 

 

Dichondra Silver Falls – Dichondra argentea ‘Silver Falls’: Zones: 4-11, a perennial in 10-11. Height: 3-4 inches. Spacing: 12 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Hanging baskets, containers, window boxes, drought tolerant, can trail 2-4 feet.

Dusty Miller – Senecio cineraria: Zones: 3-10. Height: 12-18 inches. Spacing: 8-12 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Deer resistant, beds, borders, containers, edger.

Elephant’s Ears, Taro – Colocasia esculenta: Zones: 8-10, treated as an annual outside zone 8. Height: 3-6 feet. Spacing: 3-5 feet. Light: Sun to partial shade. Uses: Water feature for ponds, streams, waterfalls, tropical look to gardens, containers, specimen or in groupings. 

Euphorbia Diamond Frost® - Euphorbia graminea ‘Inneuphdia’: Zones: 2-11. Height: 12-18 inches. Spacing: 10-12 inches. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Components in color bowls, containers, hanging baskets, beds, borders, deer resistant.

Fan Flower - Scaevola aemula: Zones: 3-11, is a perennial in 9-11. Height: 8-12 inches. Spacing: 10-18 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Hanging baskets, containers, window boxes, annual groundcover, combo planters, trailing down retaining walls.

Feather Cockscomb - Celosia plumose: Zones: 2-11, hardy in 10-11. Height: 12-16 inches, depending on cultivar. Spacing: 10-12 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Group or mass plantings, borders, containers, fresh cut or dried flowers. Deadhead flowers to extend blooming.

Flowering Tobacco - Nicotiana alata: Zones: 2-11, hardy in 10-11. Height: 3-5 feet, depending on cultivar. Spacing: 15-18 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Some cultivars have fragrant evening flowers and can be planted near outdoor activity areas, butterfly attractant, beds, borders, containers.

Fountain Grass - Pennisetum spp.: Zones: 5-10. Height: 24-36 inches. Spacing: 18-24 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Borders, containers, specimen, dried flowers, winter interest, deer resistant.

Geranium - Pelargonium X hortorum: Zones: 2-11. Height: 1-2 feet. Spacing: 12-24 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Groups or mass plantings, edger, containers, combo planters, window boxes, hanging baskets. Deadhead flowers to extend blooming.

Globe Amaranth - Gomphrena globose: Zones: 2-11. Height: 12-24 inches. Spacing: 8-10 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Beds, borders, containers, cut and dried flowers, attracts butterflies.

Heliotrope - Heliotropium spp.: Zones: 2-11. Height: 12-36 inches. Spacing: 12-24 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Beds, borders, window boxes, hanging baskets, attracts butterflies and hummingbirds, fragrant flowers, deadhead flowers to extend blooming, all parts are poisonous.

Impatiens - Impatiens wallerana: Zones: 3-10. Height: 6-24 inches. Spacing: 8-10 inches apart. Light: Partial shade to shade. Uses: Beds, borders, containers, combo planters, hanging baskets, window boxes.

Ivy Geranium – Pelargonium peltatum: Zones: 3-10. Height: 1-2 feet. Spacing: 1-2 feet apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Hanging baskets, containers, combo planters, window boxes. Deadhead flowers to extend blooming. Some varieties are self-cleaning.

Joseph’s Coat – Alternanthera ficoidea: Zones: 3-10. Height: 6-8 inches. Spacing: 12-24 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Mass plantings, edger, borders, containers.

Lantana - Lantana camara cv. Miss Huff: Zones: 3-10, outside 7 treated as an annual. Height: 4-6 feet. Spacing: 4-6 feet apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Attracts 

Lantana

butterflies and hummingbirds, containers, mass plantings, seaside gardening.

Million Bells, Super Bells – Calibrachoa X hybrid: Zones: All. Height: 6-9 inches. Spacing: 10-15 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Filler or spiller for combo planters, hanging baskets, window boxes, patio planters, attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.

Moss Rose - Portulaca grandiflora: Zones: 2-11. Height: 4-6 inches. Spacing: 6-8 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Annual groundcover, hanging baskets, window boxes, edger, combo planters.

Ornamental Pepper – Capsicum annuum: Zones: All. Height: 12-18 inches. Spacing: 12-18 inches. Light: Full sun. Uses: Mass plantings, containers, combo planters, borders.

Pentas - Pentas lanceolata: Zones: 9-11, perennial; outside zone 9 treated as an 

Pentas

annual. Height: 2-3 feet, the newer cultivars are 10 or more inches. Spacing: 2-3 feet apart depending on cultivar. Light: Full sun. Uses: Attracts Butterflies and hummingbirds, beds, borders, containers, combo planters.

Periwinkle, Vinca - Catharanthus roseus: Zones: 2-11. Height: 12-24 inches. Spacing: 8-10 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Drought and heat tolerant, beds, borders, containers, hanging baskets, combo planters.

Petunia - Petunia X hybrid: Zones: 2-11. Height: 8-12 inches, the wave series stays shorter at 4-6 inches. Spacing: 12-18 inches. Light: Full sun. Uses: Beds, borders,

Purple Wave Petunia

annual groundcover with the Wave series, hanging basket, containers, combo planters.

Purple Queen – Tradescantia pallida: Zones: Hardy from 8-11, outside zone 8 treated as an annual. Height: 12 inches. Spacing: 12-18 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Annual groundcover outside zone 8, border, edger, hanging baskets, retaining walls, containers, combo planters.

Purslane - Portulaca umbraticola: Zones: 2-11. Height: 4-6 inches. Spacing: 10-12 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Annual groundcover, hanging baskets, window boxes, edger, combo planters.

Salvia - Salvia splendens: Zones: 2-11. Height: 8-24 inches depending on cultivar. Spacing: 8-10 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Vertical accent, beds, borders, edger, continers, combo planters, attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. Deadhead flowers to extend bloom time.

Shrimp Plant - Justicia brandegeana: Zones: 3-10, outside zone 9 treated as an annual. Height: 3-5 feet. Spacing: 24 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Beds, borders, planters, combo planters.

Spider Flower - Cleome hasslerana: Zones: 2-11. Height: 3-5 feet. Spacing: 12-18 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Beds, borders, containers, butterfly attractant, filler between newly planted shrubs. Deadhead flowers to extend blooming.

Sulphur Cosmos - Cosmos sulphureus: Zones: 2-11. Height: 36-48 inches. Spacing: 12-24 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Beds, borders, cut flowers, butterfly and hummingbird attractant, containers. Deadhead flowers to extend blooming.

Swan River Daisy - Brachycome spp.: Zones: 2-11. Height: 6-12 inches. Spacing: 12-24 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Beds, borders, containers, hanging baskets, window boxes. Deadhead flowers to extend blooming.

Sweet Alyssum - Lobularia maritime: Zones: 3-10. Height: 3-8 inches. Spacing: 8-10 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Borders, edger, rock gardens, combo planters, hanging baskets, between flagstone pavers, fragrant flowers.

Sweet Pea - Lathyrus odoratus: Zones: 2-11. Height: 3-8 feet. Spacing: 12-24 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Bushy or climbing annual with support will reach 6-8 feet. Without support 2-3 feet. Borders, containers, hanging baskets, cut flower, fragrant flower.

Sweet Potato – Ipomoea spp.: Zones: 2-11. Height: 3-8 feet. Spacing: 2-3 feet apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Beds, borders, combo planters, window boxes, hanging baskets, annual groundcover, containers.

Trailing Lantana - Lantana montevidensis FZones: 2-11. Height: 18 – 24”. Spacing: 3 – 4’ apart, can spread to 5’. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Butterfly attractant, heat and drought tolerant, hanging baskets, window boxes, combo planters, containers.

Wave Petunia - Petunia X hybrid: Zones: 2-11. Height: 5-22 inches depending on cultivar. Spacing: 18-24 inches apart depending on cultivar. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Hanging baskets, window boxes, combo planters, containers, annual groundcover, and butterfly attractant. The wave petunia will give lots of color and no deadheading is required, they are self-cleaning.

Wax Begonia – Begonia X semperflorens – cultorum: Zones: 2-11. Height: 6-12

Wax Begonia

inches. Spacing: 6-8 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Beds, borders, edger, containers, combo planters, window boxes, hanging baskets.

Wishbone Flower - Torenia fournieri: Zones: 2-11. Height: 12 inches. Spacing: 6 inches apart. Light: Partial shade to shade. Uses: Borders, hanging baskets, window boxes, combo planters, shade/woodland gardens.

Zinnia - Zinnia elegans: Zones: 2-11. Height: 1-3 feet. Spacing: 8-12 inches apart.

Dreamland Pink Zinnia

Light: Full sun. Uses: Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds, borders, beds, cutting garden, containers, and combo planters. Deadhead faded flowers to extend blooming.

©Cheryl Ann Meola 2015.

Mosquito Repellent Plants

Ageratum

As summer fast approaches, I would like to suggest plants that will repel mosquitoes in your landscape and how to use these plants to enjoy the outdoors during summer. In addition to the plants that repel mosquitoes I would like to suggest additional, eco-friendly ways to keep mosquitoes from your outdoor living spaces. The picture on the left is Ageratum.

Some areas of the southeast have had drought busting rainstorms and even 

Basil

with the tremendous amounts of rainfall, these areas are still considered to be under drought conditions. With the severe amounts of rainfall that comes into an area, and the warmer temperatures of the season that is a sure sign the pesky mosquito is not far behind. The picture on the right is Basil.

The plants that I am suggesting will repel mosquitoes from your outdoor living space. There are a few suggestions when planning to use the plants mentioned to enhance the natural repelling abilities:

v Use the plants in containers around your patio, deck, or outdoor living space such as patio tables and chairs.

v Use the plants in containers or planted in the ground by your front door and your back door.

v Lemon Grass is the #1 recommended plant to grow in the landscape and in containers to use around your patio, deck or outdoor living spaces to repel mosquitoes during the summer.

v Before having outdoor activities brush the Lemon Grass to release more of its fragrance.

v Lemon Grass can be used in cooking.

Here are a few suggestions recommended to do in addition to using the recommended plants:

v Fix all outdoor facets that drip.

v Drain your birdbath twice a week and refill your birdbath.

v Turn your empty outside pots and containers upside down to prevent the containers from collecting water.

v Drain your plant saucers that collect water once a week, mosquitos lay their eggs in stagnant water.

v To reduce numerous other flying insects, including mosquitoes, plant marigolds in containers or in the landscape.

Cadaga Tree

There are additional benefits to adding mosquito-repelling plants to your landscape. A few of the benefits are that the mixture of plants listed can be used in addition to repelling mosquitoes, but also used as herbs in cooking, the trees listed will attract additional wildlife such as birds to the garden to give natural predators of mosquitoes a safe heaven, the majority of the plants are nectar and larval food plants for butterflies in your area, and the Silver Dollar Tree can be used in your fresh cut flower arrangements as greens. The picture on the left is Cadaga Tree.

Ageratum or Floss Flower: Ageratum houstonianum. Type: Annual. Height: 6-12”. Spacing: 6-8” apart. Light Requirement: Full sun to partial

shade. Additional Uses: Butterfly nectar plant.

Basil: Ocimum basilicum. Type: Annual. Height: 2 feet. Spacing: 18-24” apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial 

Basil

shade. Additional Uses: Butterfly nectar plant, the leaves are used in cooking.

Cadaga Tree: Eucalyptus torelliana. Type: Tree. Height: To 80 feet. Spacing: 20-30 feet apart. Light Requirements: Full sun. Additional Uses: Attracts wildlife to the garden.

Catmint: Nepeta faassenii. Type: Perennial. Height: 2-3 feet. Spacing: 12-18 “

Catmint

apart. Additional Uses: Butterfly nectar plant, and your cats will love it. The picture on the right is Catmint.

Catnip: Nepeta cataria. Type: Perennial. Height: 2-3 feet. Spacing: 12-18 “ apart. Additional Uses: Butterfly nectar plant, and your cats will love it.

Catnip

Citronella Grass: Cymbopogon nardus. Type: Perennial in USDA Zones 9 and 10, annual outside zone 9. Height: 5-6 feet. Spacing: 3-5 feet apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Additional Uses: The oil from the plant is used in citronella candles. The picture on the left is Catnip.

Clove Tree: Syzygium aromaticum. Type: Tree. Height: 20-30 feet. Spacing: 25 feet apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Additional Uses: The flower buds are the spice of commerce, and attracts

Clove Tree

wildlife to the garden.

Horsemint or Lemon Beebalm: Monarda citriodora. Type: Perennial. Height: 12-30”. Spacing: 12-24” apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Additional Uses: The flowers can be used in fresh cut arrangements, nectar plant for butterflies and hummingbirds.

Lavender: Lavandula angustifolia. Type: Perennial. Height: 18-24”. Spacing: 12-18” apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Additional Uses: Nectar plant for butterflies, flowers can be dried, in potpourris, and sachets.

Lemon Balm: Melissa officinalis. Type: Perennial. Height: 2-3 feet. Spacing: 12-18” apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Additional Uses: All leaves can be used in potpourris, flavor hot and iced teas, and used as a substitute for lemon peel in cooking.

Lemon Grass: Cymbopogon citrates. Type: Perennial to USDA zone 8, treat as an annual elsewhere. Height: 2-3 feet. Spacing: 3-5 feet apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Additional Uses: The leaves are used in cooking.  

Lemon Grass

Lemon Scented Geranium: Pelargonium crispum. Type: Perennial. Height: 2-3 feet. Spacing: 12” apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Additional Uses: Nectar plant for butterflies, leaves are used in cooking, in potpourris, and sachets. The picture on the right is Clove Tree.

Lemon Verbena: Aloysia triphylla. Type: Perennial to USDA zone 8, treat as an annual elsewhere. Height: To 4 feet. Spacing: 18-24” apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Additional Uses: The oil is used in perfumes; the leaves are used in flavoring teas and jellies. The picture on the right is Lemon Grass.

Mexican Marigold Mint: Tagetes lucida. Type: Perennial. Height: 24-30”. Spacing: 12-18” apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Additional Uses: Butterfly nectar and larval food plant, fresh flowers are used in salads, leaves are used as a substitute for French tarragon.  

Mexican Marigold Mint

Mindanao Gum Tree: Eucalyptus deglupta. Type: Tree. Height: To 225 feet. Spacing: 30 feet apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Additional Uses: Attracts wildlife to the garden, fragrant leaves and colorful bark.

Mindanao Gum Tree

Pitcher Plant - Nepenthes alata. Type: Herbaceous perennial. Zones: 10-11. Height: To 14 feet, usually grown in a hanging basket. Spacing: N/A. Light: Partial shade to shade. Uses: Will attract and capture all types of pesky insects from your garden. The plant is available at local garden centers in hanging baskets and can be placed in tree limbs or placed on patio plant stands. The plant uses the insects it captures as fertilizer.

Pitcher Plant

Prostrate Rosemary: Salvia rosmarinus 'Prostrates'. Type: Perennial shrub or groundcover. Height: 12-18”. Spacing: 2

feet apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Additional Uses: The leaves are used in lamb and fish dishes,

butterfly nectar plant, drought tolerant plant.

Prostrate Rosemary

Red-Flowering Gum Tree: Eucalyptus ficifolia. Type: Tree. Height: 25-30 feet. Spacing: 20-25 feet apart. Light Requirements: Full sun. Additional Uses: After      establishment in the landscape the tree is very drought tolerant, the leaves are fragrant, attracts wildlife to the garden, very showy red flowers in spring and summer. 

Red-Flowering Gum Tree

Roman Wormwood: Artemisia pontica.
Type: Perennial. Height: 18-24”. Spacing: 12” apart. Light Requirements: Full sun. Additional Uses: Nectar and larval food plant for butterflies, drought tolerant plant, ground cover, beds, and containers.

Roman Wormwood

Rosemary: Salvia rosmarinus. Type: Perennial shrub. Height: 4 feet. Spacing: 3-5 feet apart. Light Requirements: Full 

Rosemary

sun to partial shade. Additional Uses: The leaves are used in lamb and fish dishes, drought tolerant plant, and butterfly nectar plant.

Silver Dollar Tree: Eucalyptus cinerea. Type: Tree. Height: To 20 feet. Spacing: 25 feet apart. Light Requirements: Full sun. Additional Uses: Attracts wildlife to the garden, the foliage is used in fresh cut flower arrangements as greens, and dried floral arrangements.

Silver Dollar Tree

Tansy: Tanacetum vulgare. Type: Perennial. Height: 3-4 feet. Spacing: 12-18” apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to 

Tansy

partial shade. Additional Uses: Nectar food plant for butterflies. The picture on the left is Prostrate Rosemary, and the picture on the right is Pitcher Plant.

Wormwood: Artemisia absinthium. Type: Perennial. Height: 2-3 feet. Spacing: 18-24” apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Additional Uses: Nectar and larval food plant for butterflies, drought tolerant plant.

Wormwood: Artemisia 'Powis Castle'. Type: Perennial. Height: 2-3 feet. Spacing: 3 feet apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Additional Uses: Nectar and larval food plant for butterflies, drought tolerant plant.

June is National Rose Month. Click on Hibiscus and More's Blogspot for more information on growing and caring for your roses.

All photographs and digital images are ©Cheryl Ann Meola 2009. All Rights Reserved.

©Cheryl Ann Meola 2009.

All photographs and digital images displayed in this article are for viewing purposes only and cannot be duplicated. Place your cursor over the picture for the plant name.