url: Annual Summer Flowers
intro:
Want to turn your garden into a sea of color in just a few short weeks? Fast-growing annuals are your best friend. We’re breaking down the seven most popular annual summer flowers and sharing our favorite “insider tip” for a stunning backyard.
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++Moss Rose (Portulaca grandiflora)
If you have a dry spot that needs some love, the Moss Rose is a total lifesaver. These dainty plants only grow about 4 to 6 inches tall, but their needle-like leaves are experts at storing water, making them a fantastic groundcover for sunny, arid areas. Starting in June, you’ll see silky blooms in white, yellow, orange, pink, red, or purple—but only on sunny days! One cool quirk: you can sometimes find the entire color palette on a single plant. Pro tip: Keep up with deadheading (pinching off faded blooms) to encourage a non-stop supply of new buds.
++Lacy Phacelia, Bee Friend (Phacelia tanacetifolia)
If you’re into wildlife gardening, Phacelia is a must-have. It’s one of the best annuals for attracting pollinators. From June until the first frost, it produces nectar-rich blue flower spikes with stamens that poke out past the petals, making it an easy “all-you-can-eat” buffet for bees and butterflies. It’s also a powerhouse for your soil; many gardeners use Phacelia as a green manure to improve soil quality in veggie patches. Just a heads-up: the feathery leaves can cause minor skin irritation for some people, so wear gloves if you have sensitive skin.
++Pot Marigold (Calendula officinalis)
Gardeners have been growing Calendula for centuries, and for good reason. Their cheerful yellow and orange petals aren’t just pretty—they’re also known for their anti-inflammatory properties. These low-maintenance annuals thrive almost anywhere from full sun to partial shade and are happy to self-seed for next year. They’re also great “team players” in the vegetable garden; they help keep the soil healthy and ward off pests like nematodes.
++Snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus)
A true cottage garden classic! Depending on the variety, Snapdragons can grow anywhere from 8 inches to 3 feet tall. They’re famous for their unique flower shape—each “dragon head” is actually a cluster of individual flowers. If you gently squeeze the sides of the bloom, the “mouth” pops open to reveal a signature yellow spot inside. They come in every color from white and yellow to deep reds and bicolors. Plus, they’re incredibly hardy and will keep blooming well into the chilly autumn months.
++Pinks (Dianthus)
Dianthus can be a bit of a “tweener”—some are annuals, while others are biennials. They usually start showing off in May and keep producing new buds all summer long. You’ll find them either as low-growing mats or upright clumps reaching about 20 inches. Many varieties have a wonderful, spicy-sweet fragrance that fills the air. They’re pretty self-sufficient, too, so you won’t need to worry about constant watering.
++Sunflowers (Helianthus)
Nothing says summer like a sunflower reaching for the sky. These iconic annuals grow incredibly fast and can even serve as a beautiful, living privacy screen. Because the flower heads can get quite heavy, it’s a good idea to support the taller varieties with stakes so they don’t snap in the wind. If you don’t have room for giants, look for dwarf varieties that make excellent cut flowers in shades of yellow, bronze, and deep red. Bonus: once the season is over, sunflower seeds provide a high-energy snack for local birds.
++Nasturtium (Tropaeolum)
Since Nasturtiums can’t handle frost, we grow them as annuals here. They’re famous for their bright yellow, orange, and red flowers that look a bit like little monk’s hoods. The best part? The whole plant is edible! The leaves, flowers, and even the young seed pods have a peppery kick. They’ll either crawl along the ground or climb up a trellis if you give them one. In a single season, they can grow up to 10 feet long, making them perfect for creating a quick, leafy screen for your patio.
%%Stock (Matthiola incana)
This Mediterranean beauty has been a garden favorite since ancient times, mostly thanks to its incredible fragrance and lush, double blooms. Depending on the type, Stocks grow between 8 and 40 inches tall. Starting in June, they produce spikes of white, yellow, pink, or red flowers that open from the bottom up. Here’s a little secret: because seeds often produce a mix of single and double flowers, it’s best to sow them thickly and then thin them out once you see which ones are the showiest.
faq:
What are the most popular annual summer flowers?
Some of the all-time favorites include Calendula, Sunflowers, and Dianthus. You can find a full breakdown of our top picks [in our overview|#pflanzen].
What exactly is an “annual” summer flower?
Annuals are plants that complete their entire life cycle in one growing season. They sprout from seed, grow quickly, bloom like crazy, and produce seeds for the next generation—all before the winter frost hits.
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meta: Looking to add a burst of color to your yard? Check out the 7 most popular annual summer flowers plus our favorite pro-tip for a stunning garden.
MKA