Overlooked Annuals for Surprising Bursts of Color

If you’re like most gardeners, you stick to the staple annuals of geraniums, petunias, marigolds, impatiens, and you might splash in a few bacopa, sweet potato vines and spikes for an added flair to your containers. While these are all great plants for reliable annual growing, there are a few plants we would urge you to try this spring!

A. The Jolt Dianthus in Cherry Pink or Pink Magic is an annual dianthus that grows best in full sun and will keep blooming all season long. The pink flowers that bloom on tall stalks are showstoppers!  Plant them in the ground or in containers watering them so they stay moist but do not like to be overly wet.

B. When talking about a phlox most people either think of the creeping or upright garden phlox varieties. While each is a beautiful plant, trying Annual Phlox in your containers is a definite must.  This bushy plant will spill slightly over your container edge. You will usually find it in pink and purple tones, and it loves full sun with moderate moisture.

C. Anyone who stopped at Parkview last summer will remember the dainty purple flowers of the Gomphrena planted by our front door.  They are tough and flower non stop.  We have two varieites this year, the Gnome purple and Truffula Pink are both full sun varieties but Truffula Pink will grow larger and will be wispier.

D. Dorotheanthus Mezzo isn’t a new plant,but those who have not tried it are missing out! Everyone who does try it cannot get enough of this plant. It is a low growing spreader with light green leaves and white margins. This plant loves sun and heat and will be your soon favorite.