Three Gorgeous Flowering Annuals You’ll Want Planted Next Spring

As our favorite perennials bloom and fade throughout the seasons, planting annuals are a great way to maintain colorful interest in our landscapes. After all, a flowering annual blooms for an average of eight to twelve weeks, while a perennial flowers for two to three. Thus, annuals can fill in the spaces in a newly installed border as more permanent varieties grow in. Their extended bloom time is also why annuals make fantastic choices for containers—allowing you to instantly brighten up pool areas, patios, and doorsteps. Our horticultural experts at Glengate have expertise in selecting the perfect annuals for your property. Three that we are especially looking forward to planting come spring are:

Lantana

In warmer regions, lantana is a perennial—but here in the Northeast the cold causes it to die back like an annual each year. We still get tons of use out of this bloomer, though; it’s available in a range of vivid hues that make it suitable for many color schemes; it’s a go-to when planting our clients’ containers, especially on seaside properties as it tolerates salt spray and humidity very well; and lantana attracts hummingbirds and butterflies, such as the monarch.  

Euphorbia

Another species that makes for a beautiful container plant is euphorbia. Thought it can be a perennial in some parts of the Northeast, many treat it as an annual and value it for its foliage as much as its flowers. The variety “Ascot Rainbow,” for example offers up lush variegated green and yellow leaves topped by delicate little yellow blooms; this one goes especially well with other annuals like violas, mums, and perennial heuchera (aka coral bells).  

Salvia

Salvia are a low-maintenance, long-blooming choice that flower from late spring into summer; some varieties, such as the vivid pink “Wendy’s Wish” (one of our favorites) will go all the way to first frost—especially if you cut back their spent flowers. Like our other preferred annuals, salvia will fill out a container or a border equally attractively, and is also a nectar-rich species loved by hummingbirds.