Sunflowers
Colors: Yellows, browns, and mixed
Height: 3-16 feet
- Blooms during summer
- Most varieties are drought and heat tolerant
- Attracts bees, birds, and butterflies
- Thrives in full sun
- Tolerates most soil types (except water-logged)
- May require support to prevent breakage
Coneflowers
Zones: 3-9
Colors: Yellow, orange, white, purple, pink, bicolor and more
Height: Up to 6 feet tall
- Blooms for months
- Makes great cut flowers
- Attracts pollinators and birds
- Sow seeds in spring or fall
- Likes rich, well-drained soil
- Tolerates drought
- Plant in full sun
Zinnias
Zones: Annual
Colors: Shades of red, orange, yellow, pink, and white
Height: 20-24 inches tall
- Blooms during summer
- Varies in shape (daisies, dahlias, spiders, poms)
- Attracts butterflies
- Likes rich, well-drained soil
- Has moderate water requirements
- Grows best in full sun
Dianthus
Zones: 3-9
Colors: Shades of red, purple, pink, and white
Height: Most 10-20 inches, varieties up to 3 feet tall
- Showy, fragrant flowers (clove-scented)
- Blooms from May to August
- Deer resistant
- Attractive evergreen green foliage
- Plant in well-drained soil
- Grow in full sun to light shade
Marigolds
Zones: Annual
Colors: Shades of yellow, red, gold, and mixed
Height: 6 inches to 3 feet tall
- Blooms spring, summer and fall
- Grows quickly from seed
- Helps repel mosquitoes
- Prefers well-drained soil, grows well in dry or sandy gardens
- Water well, allow to dry between waterings
- Should be grown in full sun
Impatiens
Zones: Grown as annuals (can be perennial in Zones 10-11)
Colors: Variety
Height: 6-24 inches tall
- Blooms non-stop from June until frost
- Attracts birds
- Prefers loamy soil
- Keep soil moist, but not waterlogged
- Best in part or full shade
Cosmos
Zones: Annual
Colors: Orange, pink, white
Height: Varieties 18-60 inches tall
- Blooms spring, summer and fall
- Grows quickly from seed
- Helps repel mosquitoes
- Prefers well-drained soil, grows well in dry or sandy gardens
- Water well, allow to dry between waterings
- Should be grown in full sun
Morning Glories
Zones: Annual
Colors: White, purple, pink, red, blue varieties
Height: 6 to 15 feet tall
- Blooms in late summer or early fall
- Readily self-sowing — be careful where you plant
- Attracts birds and butterflies
- Seeds are highly toxic if ingested
- Prefers moderately fertile, well-drained soil
- Water weekly during dry periods
- Plant in full sun
Sweet Peas
Zones: Annual
Colors: Blue, pink, purple, red, white
Height: 3 to 8 feet tall
- Highly fragrant flowers
- Blooms spring through early summer in hot climates, into fall in cooler areas
- Seeds resemble edible sweet peas but are toxic if eaten
- Prefers loamy, well-drained soil
- Keep moist, water at the base
- Grow in full sun
- Needs supportive fence or trellis
Nasturtium
Zones: Annual
Colors: Shades of orange, red, yellow, cream
Height: 8-10 feet tall
- Quick growing and colorful
- Blooms May until September
- Edible leaves and flowers
- Needs well-drained soil
- Water regularly, but don’t over-water
- Plant in full sun
Pansies
Zones: Grown as annuals (can be perennial/biennial in Zones 6-10)
Colors: Variety of colors
Height: 6-9 inches tall
- In warmer climates pansies will bloom throughout winter and early spring
- Attracts butterflies
- Likes rich, well-drained soil
- Needs regular watering
- Blooms in sun or partial shade
- Grows best in temperatures 45-75 degrees F
Snapdragons
Zones: Grown as annuals (can be perennial in Zones 5-10)
Colors: White, yellow, pink, red, orange, peach, purple, and violet
Height: 6-15 inches tall
- Blooms from spring through fall in cool summer growing conditions
- Attracts butterflies
- Prefers well-drained soil
- Water regularly at the base of the plant
- Best in full sun
Wax Begonias
Zones: Grown as annuals (can be perennial in Zones 10-11)
Colors: Orange, pink, white, yellow
Height: 6-12 inches tall
- Blooms summer and fall
- Varieties produce single or double blooms with ruffled or smooth petals
- Requires fertile, amended soil
- Water consistently, but don’t overdo it
- Best in partial sun to shade
Lupines
Colors: Blue, white, yellow, pink, and purple
Height: Up to 4 feet tall
- Produces seeds that will self-sow
- Attracts butterflies
- Likes average, well-drained soil — best without fertilizer
- Water deeply and allow to dry in between
- Loosen soil deeply when planting for its long tap roots
- Plant in full sun in cool climates, filtered light in hot ones
Fuchsias
Zones: 10-11 (grown as an annual elsewhere)
Colors: Shades of purple, magenta, pink, red, and white
Height: Varieties 1-8 feet tall
- Can be overwintered indoors
- Attracts hummingbirds
- Best in shade (does not like heat, humidity, or drought)
- Prefers moist, but well-drained soil
- Prune back to encourage new growth
Geraniums (Pelargonium)
Zones: 10-11 (grown as an annual elsewhere)
Colors: White, pink, red, lavender, purple, magenta, and rose
Height: 3-24 inches tall
- Low-maintenance color from spring until frost
- Good for use in window boxes, hanging baskets, containers, or beds
- Attracts birds
- Thrives in rich, well-drained soil
- Watered regularly, but don’t over-water
- Prefers full sun/afternoon shade in hot climates
Lavender
Zones: 4-9
Colors: Shades of purple and lavender, some white and pink
Height: 20-24 inches tall
- Blooms late June through August
- Attracts bees and butterflies
- Lavandin variety helps keep mosquitoes away
- Requires well-drained soil
- Water deeply, but infrequently (drought tolerant)
- Best in full sun
Dahlias
Zones: 7-10
Colors: Pink, purple, red, orange, yellow, and white
Height: 1 to 6 feet tall
- Thrives in most climates, although not too well in hot and humid
- Wide variety of shapes (spiky, single, double, pompon, anemone)
- Grows in well-drained, sandy soil
- Plant in full sun
- Plant tubers in the spring
- Provide 2 or 3 deep waterings a week after growth emerges above ground
Daffodils
Zones: 3-9
Colors: Yellow, orange, white
Height: 6-30 inches tall
- Blooms late winter or early spring
- Plant in beds or containers
- Plant daffodil bulbs in fall to bloom in spring
- Provide well-drained soil
- Likes regular watering in spring and fall
- Tolerates full sun or part shade
Daylilies
Colors: Shades of Yellow, red, pink, purple, and melon
Height: 12-48 inches tall
- Flowers continuously over a long period of time
- Excellent for massing in large areas
- Tolerant of heat and humidity
- Plant in spring
- Grow in rich, well-drained soil
- Provide deep watering in summer