Annuals for borders
Annuals that work in a planted border, with mature size, aspect and bloom time for each.
Annuals complete their whole life in one season, which makes them the fastest way to fill gaps, trial colour combinations, or carry a young border while the permanent planting establishes. Sow or plant after the last frost, deadhead regularly, and they will flower for months on end; left to set seed, most stop. They are hungry and thirsty, so a feed every fortnight and consistent watering pays off. Use them in drifts between perennials rather than as standalone bedding blocks, which can look municipal. Many are excellent for pollinators and for cutting. The annuals listed here are chosen to weave through a mixed border rather than sit in regimented rows.
Border Builder is a garden border planner for iPhone and iPad. Pick from the 60 plants below and it works them into a full plan: how many of each, where they go, and how the bed reads through the seasons.
60 plants for this
- African DaisyOsteospermum ecklonis
- African MarigoldTagetes erecta
- AngeloniaAngelonia angustifolia
- Annual PhloxPhlox drummondii
- Annual VincaCatharanthus roseus
- BacopaSutera cordata
- Bishop's flowerAmmi majus
- Black-Eyed SusanRudbeckia hirta
- BorageBorago officinalis
- BrowalliaBrowallia speciosa
- CalibrachoaCalibrachoa 'Million Bells'
- California PoppyEschscholzia californica
- Cigar PlantCuphea ignea
- CockscombCelosia argentea
- ColeusPlectranthus scutellarioides
- CosmosCosmos bipinnatus
- Cosmos 'Purity'Cosmos bipinnatus 'Purity'
- Creeping ZinniaSanvitalia procumbens
- Cuphea 'Vermillionaire'Cuphea llavea 'Vermillionaire'
- Cypress VineIpomoea quamoclit
- Desert BluebellsPhacelia campanularia
- Dusty MillerSenecio cineraria
- Fan FlowerScaevola aemula
- FirewheelGaillardia pulchella
- Floss FlowerAgeratum houstonianum
- Flowering TobaccoNicotiana alata
- Forget-me-notMyosotis sylvatica
- French marigoldTagetes patula
- Globe AmaranthGomphrena globosa
- ImpatiensImpatiens walleriana
- LobeliaLobelia erinus
- Long-headed poppyPapaver dubium
- Mealycup Sage 'Victoria Blue'Salvia farinacea 'Victoria Blue'
- Mexican SunflowerTithonia rotundifolia
- Mexican ZinniaZinnia haageana 'Persian Carpet'
- Morning Glory 'Heavenly Blue'Ipomoea tricolor 'Heavenly Blue'
- Moss RosePortulaca grandiflora
- NasturtiumTropaeolum majus
- NemesiaNemesia fruticans
- New Guinea ImpatiensImpatiens hawkeri
- PansyViola x wittrockiana
- Partridge PeaChamaecrista fasciculata
- PentasPentas lanceolata
- PetuniaPetunia x hybrida
- Pot marigoldCalendula officinalis
- Scarlet SageSalvia splendens
- SnapdragonAntirrhinum majus
- Spider FlowerCleome hassleriana
- Sulphur CosmosCosmos sulphureus
- SunflowerHelianthus annuus
- SunPatiens CompactImpatiens x hybrida 'SunPatiens Compact'
- Sweet alyssumLobularia maritima
- Treasure flowerGazania rigens
- Wax BegoniaBegonia semperflorens
- Wishbone FlowerTorenia fournieri
- ZinniaZinnia elegans
- Zinnia 'Benary's Giant'Zinnia elegans 'Benary's Giant'
- Zinnia 'Profusion'Zinnia angustifolia 'Profusion'
- Zonal geraniumPelargonium zonale
- Zonal GeraniumPelargonium x hortorum
Related collections
Perennials for bordersShrubs for bordersBulbs for bordersOrnamental grasses for bordersClimbers for borders