Annuals for Nebraska
Source: Nebraska Cooperative Extension, G84-739-A (Revised May 1999)
Donald H. Steinegger, Extension Horticulturist
Susan Schoneweis, Extension Coordinator-Home/Environmental Horticulture
Steve Rodie, Extension Landscape Horticulture Specialist
Dale Lindgren, Extension Horticulturist
Anne M. Streich, Extension Horticulturist-Outreach Programs
An annual flower is defined as a non-woody plant that completes its life cycle in one growing season, ending with seed production. Most annuals have to be planted each spring, although some such as portulaca, California poppy or alyssum may self-seed. Most also provide color from early summer until frost, an advantage over most perennial flowers which tend to have a shorter blooming season. This allows for a great deal of variety in creating colorful landscape displays from year to year. The cost and time of replacing plants each year is one disadvantage of annual flowers.
Annuals can be used in beds, borders, rock gardens, window boxes, hanging baskets and container gardens. They can add color to uninteresting settings, or temporarily screen a problem site.
When developing a landscape design with annual flowers, design factors, as well as site preferences, must be considered. Annuals generally are incorporated into a design for their color, but texture, form and mass characteristics also contribute to the overall effect. Evaluate the planting site's sun exposure, wind, soil type, fertility and plant requirements, and choose plants accordingly.
For more information on site preparation, planting and cultivation, refer to NebGuide G84-721, Growing Annual Flowers. Copies are available from your Cooperative Extension office.
| COMMON NAME | BOTANICAL NAME |
SITE | HEIGHT | COLORS | PLANTING METHOD & TIME |
COMMENTS |
| Abelmoschus | Abelmoschus moschatus | Sun | 12-16" | Red, dark pink | Direct seed or transplant after frost. | Needs hot weather, blooms mid-summer, self-seeds. |
| African Daisy | Arctotis stoechadifolia | Sun | 10-12" 30" species |
Yellow, red, pink, bronze, white, orange | Transplant after frost. | Drought-resistant; needs well-drained soil. |
| Ageratum | Ageratum x hybrid | Sun, semi-shade | 6-12" | Blue, lavender, white | Direct seed or transplant after frost. | Trim off old flowers. |
| Amaranthus, Joseph's coat | Amaranthus tricolor | Sun | 18-48" | Colored foliage | Direct seed or transplant after frost. | Accent, background in border, difficult to transplant, best direct seeded. Suitable for poor soil. |
| Baby's breath | Gypsophila elegans | Sun | 12-18" | White, pink | Direct seed or transplant after frost. | Small flowers; short season; excellent filler for arrangements. |
| Balsam, garden balsam | Impatiens balsamina | Sun | 6-24" | White, purple, red | Direct seed or transplant after frost. | Prefers moist, rich soil. Self-seeds easily. |
| Begonia, wax | Begonia x semperflorens-cultorum | Shade, semi-shade | 6-15" | White, pink, red | Transplant after frost. | Various foliage colors; often grown from cuttings. |
| Bells of Ireland | Moluccella laevis | Sun | 24" spikes | Green | Direct seed early, needs cool, then warm temperatures for germination. | Grown for the green shell-like calyces on tall spikes. Self- seeds. |
| Butterfly Flower Poorman's Orchid | Schizanthus spp. | Sun, part-sun | 12-24" | Pink, fuchsia, purple | Transplant while cool; protect from frost. | Prefers cool temperatures. Usually dies during July heatwave. |
| Calendula, Pot marigold | Calendula officinalis | Semi-shade | 10-24" | Yellow, orange | Direct seed or transplant in April. | Flowers best in cool spring and fall. |
| California poppy | Eschscholzia californica | Sun | 8-12" | Yellow, orange, red, white | Direct seed after frost. | Naturalizing, self-seeds; tolerates dry conditions; avoid over-watering. |
| China aster | Callistephus chinensis | Sun, semi-shade | 12-36" | Assorted | Direct seed after frost. | Short period of bloom, will not rebloom; very susceptible to aster yellows and fusarium wilt. Prefers cool summers. |
| Celosia; Cockscomb | Celosia cristata Celosia argentea var. cristata |
Sun | 6-36" | Red, pink, orange, yellow, salmon | Direct seed after frost. | Heat and drought tolerant; excellent for drying; crested form resembles rooster's comb. Plumed form also available. |
| Clarkia (Godetia) Farewell to Spring |
Clarkia amoena | Sun, part shade | 12-18" | White, pinks, salmon | Direct seed or transplant while cool and protect from frost. | Hates the heat but worth growing for the crepe-myrtle-like blooms. Usually dies during July heat wave. |
| Coleus | Coleus x hybridus | Semi-shade | 12-30" | Green, purple, red variegated foliage. | Transplant after danger of frost. | Grown for foliage; easily propagated by cuttings; remove flower spikes. |
| Coneflower | Rudbeckia hirta | Sun | 12-25" | Yellow | Direct seed or transplant after frost. | Long season of bloom; perennial often treated as an annual. |
| Cornflower, Bachelor's-button | Centaurea cyanus | Sun | 20-30" | Blue, lavender, red, pink, white in April. | Direct seed or transplant | For continuous bloom make repeated sowings; will self-seed. |
| Cosmos | Cosmos sulfphureus | Sun | 12-36" | Red, yellow, orange | Direct seed or transplant after frost. | Some cultivars are quite compact. |
| Cosmos | Cosmos bipinnatus | Sun | 18-60" | White, pink or crimson | Direct seed or transplant after frost. | Avoid overwatering; sprawling habit. |
| Creeping zinnia | Sanvitalia procumbens | Sun, semi-shade | 6" | Yellow | Direct seed or transplant after frost. | Prostrate growth with tiny flowers; good ground cover, tolerates drought. |
| Dahlia | Dahlia x hybrid | Sun | 6-36" | Assorted | Transplant after frost. | Perennial grown as annual; requires well-drained moist soil; heat tolerant; taller varieties need staking; grown from seed or tuberous roots. |
| Dusty-miller | Senecio cineraria | Sun | 12-18" | Gray foliage | Transplant after frost. | Excellent edging plants; grown for foliage, tolerates drought; remove flowers that develop. |
| Flowering cabbage and kale | Brassica oleracea | Sun | 12" | Red, white, blue-green variegated foliage | Transplant in April and/or August. | Best in cool season; fall is best. Control cabbage looper and cabbage worm. |
| Four-o'-clocks | Mirabilis jalapa | Sun | 24-36" | Pink, red, white, yellow | Direct seed after frost. | Blooms in late afternoon; withstands heat and drought. Will self-seed. Forms tuberous roots that may be dug and stored over winter. |
| Gazania | Gazania rigens | Sun | 8-12" | White, yellow, orange, red | Transplant after frost. | Needs well-drained soil. Likes heat, tolerates dry soil. |
| Geranium | Pelargonium x hortorum | Sun | 12-25" | Red, pink, white, salmon | Transplant after frost. | Easily propagated by cuttings. Some cultivars can be grown from seed. |
| Globe amaranth | Gomphrena globosa Gomphrena haageana |
Sun | 18-30" | Purple, white, pink, orange, red | Direct seed or plant after frost. | Clover-like straw flower, mound forming plant. Excellent for drying. G. Haageana tends to sprawl. |
| Hollyhock | Alcea rosea | Sun | 12-72" | Assorted | Transplant after frost. | Background of borders; tall varieties for background or screen plantings. Rust susceptible. Will self-seed. |
| Impatiens, Sultana | Impatiens wallerana | Semi-shade | 6-25" | Purple, red, pink, white | Direct seed or transplant after frost. | Will bloom indoors as houseplant. |
| Kochia, Burning bush, Summer cypress | Kochia scoparia var. tricophylla |
Sun | 12-30" | Green foliage changes to red in the fall. | Direct seed after frost | Hedge, border, accent; grown for foliage; upright bush form. |
| Larkspur | Consolida ambigua | Sun | 25-30" | Pink, blue, white | Direct seed or transplant after frost. | Cut and dried flowers; may be self-seeding; keep well watered. |
| Linaria, Toadflax | Linaria maroccana | Sun, part-sun | 16" | Pink, white, magenta | Transplant while cool or direct seed as soon as soil can be worked. | Prefers cool temperature. |
| Lobelia | Lobelia erinus | Semi-shade | 4-10" | Blue, red | Transplant after frost. | Prefers cool temperatures. |
| Marigold, African | Tagetes erecta | Sun | 12-40" | Yellow, orange | Direct seed or transplant after frost. | Brilliant color, tall cultivars suited for mass plantings and cuttings; red spider mite may be problem. |
| Marigold, French | Tagetes patula | Sun | 6-12" | Yellow, orange, bronze | Direct seed or transplant after frost. | Bushier, more compact plant; smaller flowers, problems with red spider mite and aster yellows. |
| Melampodium Medallion Daisy |
Melampodium cinereum Melampodium paludosum |
Full sun | 15-18" | Yellow-gold | Transplant after danger of frost. | Extremely heat tolerant 1" blooms. |
| Mexican Tulip Poppy, Golden Cup |
Hunnemannia fumariifolia | Sun | 12-20" | Bright clear yellow | Transplant in April/May soil can be worked in spring. |
Grayish-green dissected leaves. |
| Mexican Sunflower Torch Flower |
Tithonia rotundifolia | Full sun | 4-6 ft. | Reddish-orange | Direct seed or transplant after danger of frost. | Makes a nice annual screen; attracts butterflies. |
| Monkey flower | Mimulus x guttatus Mimulus x hybridus |
Shade, part sun |
12-14" | Yellow, orange, red, scarlet, wine | Transplant after danger of frost. | Prefers moist soil, cool temperature, light afternoon shade prolongs bloom. |
| Morning-glory | Ipomoea sp. | Sun | +72" | White, pink, red, blue, purple | Direct seed after frost. | Screens, trellis plant. Soak seed overnight before planting. Vining plant; tolerant of dry soils. Self-seeds. |
| Moss rose, Portulaca Rose Moss |
Portulaca grandiflora | Sun | 6" | Red, yellow, white, rose, orange, magenta | Direct seed or transplant after frost. | Thrives on poor, dry soil; easily self-seeds. Avoid high nitrogen soils. |
| Nasturtium | Tropaeolum majus | Sun, part-sun | 8-12" | Yellow, orange, red | Direct seed after frost. | Tolerates poor soil. Edible buds, blooms and foliage. |
| . | ||||||
| Nemesia | Nemesia strumosa | Sun-part shade | 8-18" | White, yellow, pink, orange, red purple | Transplant after danger of frost. | Needs a long, cool growing season. |
| Nicotiana, Flowering tobacco |
Nicotiana alata | Sun, part-shade | 12-36" | White, pink, red | Direct seed or transplant after frost. | Prefers moist, well-drained soil. |
| Nigella, Love-in-a-mist, Devil in the Bush | Nigella damascena | Sun | 12-18" | Pink, blue, white | Direct seed. | Self-seeds readily. When seed pod forms it is called "Devil in the Bush"; seeds edible. |
| Ornamental pepper | Capsicum annuum | Sun | 12-25" | Fruit; red, black, yellow, orange, purple | Transplant after frost. | Grown for colorful fruit; some cultivars have colorful foliage. |
| Pansy | Viola x wittrockiana | Semi-shade | 8-12" | Assorted | Transplant in April. | Hardy annual; flowers best in cool season. Best if seeded in late summer and trans- plants overwintered in cold frame for early planting. |
| Petunia | Petunia x hybrida | Sun, semi-shade | 12-18" | Assorted | Transplant after frost. | Shear in mid-summer to induce blooms. See NebGuide G93-1127, Petunias, for additional information. |
| Phlox, annual | Phlox drummondii | Sun, semi-shade | 6-15" | Red, pink, white, purple, peach | Direct seed or transplant | Easy to grow; long after frost. blooming season. |
| Pimpernel Blue Pimpernel |
Anagallis monelli (L.) Anagallis arrensis var. caerulea |
Sun | 12" trailing | Blue | Transplant after frost. | Bright blue flowers on heat-tolerant plants. |
| Salpiglossis Velvet Flower Painted Tongue |
Salpiglossis sinuata | Sun, part-sun | 12-24" | Blue, yellow, red, magenta, purple, veined flowers | Don't disturb roots when transplanting. Start plants early. Transplant two weeks before last frost. | Prefers cool temperatures, usually quits blooming in mid-summer. |
| Salvia, Scarlet sage | Salvia splendens | Sun, semi-shade | 12-24" | Scarlet, red, pink, white, salmon, purple | Transplant in April or direct seed after frost. | Blooms freely in late summer and fall; spike flower. |
| Snapdragon | Antirrhinum majus | Sun | 6-36" | Assorted | Direct seed or transplant after frost, prefers cool weather. | Excellent cutting flower, semi-tall and dwarf varieties require no staking; use rust-resistant cultivars. |
| Spiderflower, Cleome | Cleome hasslerana | Sun | 36-48" | Pink, purple, white | Direct seed or transplant after frost. | Use in large beds, tall borders; heat tolerant; will self-seed. |
| Standing cypress | Ipomopsis rubra | Sun | 2-3' spikes | Red, yellow, orange, white | Transplant after danger of hard frost. | Spike flower attracts butterflies. Biennial grown as a half-hardy annual. |
| Statice, Sea lavender | Limonium sinuatum | Sun, semi-shade | 18" | White, lavender, yellow, pink, blue | Transplant after frost. | Rosette of foliage; flowers excellent for drying. |
| Strawflower | Helichrysum bracteatum | Sun | 10-30" | Yellow, pink, white, red | Direct seed or transplant after frost. | Excellent dried flower, dwarf cultivars available. |
| Sunflower | Helianthus annuus | Sun | 12-84" | Yellow, bronze, red, gold, cream | Direct seed or transplant after frost. | Background or screen planting, dwarf cultivars available. Make multiple planting for continuous blooms. |
| Sweet alyssum | Lobularia maritima | Sun, semi-shade | 4-6" | White, lavender, burgundy | Direct seed or transplant after frost. | Low trailing plant with tiny flowers. Very fragrant. |
| Sweet pea | Lathyrus odoratus | Semi-shade | 18-60" | White, purple, lavender, pink | Direct seed in April. | Grows best in cool, moist conditions; not well suited to Nebraska's climate. |
| Torenia, Wishbone flower |
Torenia fournieri | Semi-shade | 8-12" | Purple, blue, pink, white | Transplant after frost. | Prefers cool, moist site. Light afternoon shade improves growth. |
| Verbena | Verbena x hybrida | Sun, semi-shade | 12" | Blue, red, white, peach | Direct seed or transplant after frost. | Easy to grow; water moderately; intense colors, loves heat. |
| Viola | Viola cornuta | Semi-shade | 6" | Blue, gold, red, apricot | Transplant in April. | Prefers cool, moist conditions. |
| Zinnia | Zinnia elegans | Sun | 6-40" | Assorted | Direct seed after danger of frost. | Excellent cut flower and bedding plant. Powdery mildew may be a problem in late summer, keep the foliage dry. |
| Zinnia | Zinnia angustifolia | Sun | 12-16" | White, gold, orange | Transplant after frost. | Excellent for hot dry areas. Powdery mildew less of a problem than for Zinnia elegans. Can be dried. |
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File G739 under: HORTICULTURE
A-25, Ornamentals
Revised May 1999, 1,500