The case for annuals

May 5th, 2010

Trial beds at Penn State's Trial Garden in Lancaster County.

   Yeah, annual flowers can get expensive, they take some watering, and they’re going to die at the end of the season – if the rabbits, deer and groundhogs don’t get them first.

   But I think they’re well worth the effort anyway. No other type of plant gives you this kind of color throughout the season.

   You don’t have to plant big masses of annuals to generate impact. Even a few small clusters spotted here and there can really brighten a yew-infested landscape.

   Annuals also are useful tucked among shrubs and perennials where they can coordinate color-wise or fill in with blooms when the shrubs and perennials are out of flower.

   The forecast is looking frost-free, so I’m planting now.

   We’ve never had such a great choice of annuals. Most of the newer varieties are light years ahead of grandma’s petunias. And most named varieties sold at independent garden centers are way better performers than the generic marigolds and zinnias sold at box stores. I think they’re worth paying the extra price. Better to plant a few really great performers than a lot of cheapie six-packs that never really thrive no matter what you do.

   If you’re an annuals fan, try to make it down to the annuals trials that Penn State conducts every summer at the Southeast Agriculture Research and Extension Center in Lancaster County. You’ll see the differences there.

   One ideal time to visit is during the annual field day in July, which features guided tours, seminars, a Q&A table and more. See last year’s plant-by-plant ratings by going to http://stores.trialgardenspsu.com/StoreFront.bok and hitting the “Results/Presentations” button in the top bar.

   Ten of my all-time favorite annuals are at https://georgeweigel.net/georges-favorite-plants-etc/top-10-shade-annuals, and profiles on 28 excellent annuals with photos are at https://georgeweigel.net/plant-of-the-week-profiles/annuals.

   For bedding use (i.e. where you want to plant clusters in the ground), here are some other annuals I like:

   In the sun

• Alyssum ‘Snow Princess,’ ‘Easter Bonnet.’
  

  Angelonia 'Serena Purple'

• Angelonia ‘Serena White,’ ‘Serena Purple,’ ‘AngelMist.’
• Blue salvia ‘Evolution,’ ‘Signum,’ ‘Rhea.’
• Celosia ‘Fresh Look,’ ‘New Look.’
• Marigold ‘Bonanza Bolero,’ ‘Safari Tangerine.’
• Petunia ‘Wave,’ ‘Tiny Tunia,’ ‘Supertunia,’ ‘Sanguna,’ ‘Plush,’ ‘Famous,’ ‘Suncatcher.’
• Rudbeckia ‘Tiger Eye Gold,’ ‘Prairie Sun.’
• Verbena ‘Tapien,’ ‘Temari,’ ‘Tukana,’ ‘Aztec.’
• Vinca ‘Cooler,’ ‘Cora,’ ‘Jaio,’ ‘Pacifica.’
• Zinnia ‘Profusion,’ ‘Zahara.’

   In the shade

• Begonia ‘Doublet,’ ‘Senator,’ ‘Ambassador,’ ‘Bada Boom.’
• Coleus (just about any)
• Impatiens ‘Accent,’ ‘Showstopper,’ ‘Dazzler,’ ‘Super Elfin,’ ‘Tempo,’ ‘Fiesta,’ ‘Fanfare.’