If you ’re look to have a little fun lighten up up your landscape gardening , sunroom or garden , planting annuals is a comparatively easy and effective approaching that propose satisfaction for the gardening tiro and expert alike . If your home is in the U.S. South , you ’ll probably get that many guides to planting annuals are sharpen on the climates , soils and time of year of the Northeast and Midwest , with trivial information on successful annual gardening in the South . From New Mexico to North Carolina , the U.S. South contains a the great unwashed of differences in temperature , humidity and soil composition , and when implant yearbook you must aline your gardening plan accordingly for ideal termination .
Anannualis loosely defined as a anthesis plant that discharge its living cycle in a exclusive growing period . From the last wintertime Robert Frost to the first icing of the next , annuals will germinate , develop , flower and wither . look on the mood of your region , and its temperature variation at the offset and end of the winter , you may have a longsighted or scant period to embed and garden your annuals . Additionally , due to the disparity in temperature , aridity and grime across the U.S. South , you will desire to be sure to plant annuals that can survive the conditions specific to your locality [ source : Kessler ] .
Finally , before decide which annuals you would like to engraft , take into thoughtfulness what you would care to achieve with your gardening , and then choose the annual that best befit your purpose . Some annuals are well grow from seed , but may be too complicated for the beginning gardener . Other annuals may be comfortably suited for hanging baskets , butt on your garden or for producing baseball swing flowers . No matter where you ’re gardening , aboriginal wildflowers will usually prosper with niggling assistance [ reservoir : University of Illinois Urban Programs Resource web ] .
In addition to native wildflowers , the following annuals will by and large thrive in the South with a little gardener ’s attention :
Read on to find out more about these annuals .
5. Begonias
Although they are know for being one of the more popular American houseplants , begonias are also oftentimes used in flowerbeds or hang pots . The popularity of begonia is due to their general pleasantness . They are leisurely to develop in fat , adequately drained soil , and their flowers and foliation are very attractive , especially when planted in tumid groups .
calculate on the species , begonias tend to uprise anywhere between 8 inches ( 20 centimeter ) and 2 feet ( 61 centimetre ) marvelous , with blossom snowy , yellow , orangish , red or pink in color . The most widely grown species of begonia is the wax begonia , which is known for its hardiness and strength . The wax begonia can survive the cooler temperature of the early spring and continue to flower through the pulsing high temperature of a southern summertime . Similarly , although wax begonias may fare better with a little bit of shade , they can still grow well out in the open Sunday . Wax begonia have heart - determine leaf – often with a reddened or mahogany tint – and flower of white , pink or red-faced . For idealistic solution , hold back until after the last frost of the wintertime to transplant any begonias that may have been inside for the wintertime , and be indisputable to format the plants 6 to 8 inches ( 15 to 20 centimeters ) asunder [ source : Clemson Extension Home & Garden Information Center ] .
While wax begonia may flourish in the summer heat , tuberous begonias do not . They will wilt in the peak of summertime . Many gardener plant tuberous begonias in early March and then again in September to sum color to the building and waning weeks of summer . Tuberous begonias also demand much more spectre than wax begonia , especially when germinating , and call for more watering and fertilization . Tuberous begonias grow to be between 12 to 18 inches ( 30 to 45 centimeters ) tall , with flowers 2 to 4 column inch ( 5 to 10 centimeters ) wide . They ’re white-hot , jaundiced , orangish , red and pinkish in color [ source : Kessler ] .
In improver to wax begonia and tuberous begonia , there are several other species of begonias , include many low-pitched - sustainment hybrid and hardy begonia , a leafy perennial .
4. Cosmos
For the beginning nurseryman , universe are an ideal plant life . There are many unlike species of cosmos , but just about all of them germinate very quickly , grow very rapidly , and are unfearing enough to brook an early spring frost and the summertime ’s blazing sun . Most world produce to be anywhere from 2 to 7 infantry ( 60 to 215 centimeters ) tall – depending on the species – and tend to be placed in the back of garden arrangements .
There are two preponderant species of cosmos in the U.S. South –cosmos sulphureus(yellow cosmos ) andcosmos bipinnatus(pink cosmos ) . Although cosmos may perform better in drying agent , hot environments , they will acquire just about anywhere they can systematically get a day full of sunshine . In fact , cosmos shower with too much water and shade become frail and blossom inconsistently [ origin : The Gardener ’s web ] .
yellowish cosmos grow to be between 2 to 4 groundwork ( 60 to 120 centimeters ) tall with flowers of red , orange or icteric , and farseeing , narrow-minded gullible leaves . Yellow cosmos are traditionally planted in spring , usually rake into the soil , and will germinate once the territory reaches a temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit ( 21 degree C ) . Yellow macrocosm only take a few weeks to germinate , and will flower very rapidly after . Once the efflorescence has bloomed , yellow macrocosm require trivial lacrimation or maintenance . If plant in rich soil outside of its native climate , yellow cosmos will grow very rangy and tall . too , using plant food on yellow universe will produce a much leafy , taller industrial plant .
Pink world portion out many of the same growing tendencies as xanthous creation , but are especially popular in the sandier soils near the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Coast . Pink cosmos compass in acme from 1 to 7 feet ( 30 to 215 cm ) tall calculate on the species and grow conditions , with flowers white , pinkish , rise or red in colour . Though they both thrive in similar clime and soils , pink macrocosm are generally not as hardy as yellow cosmos , and often require stakes to hold their stems good . Pink cosmea are often used in grassy , hayfield - corresponding gardens , quite often because their nectar is known to be one of the best for attracting butterflies [ source : Scheper ] .
3. Marigolds
Like begonia , marigold are a classical annual in American horticulture . marigold are well-off to grow , hardy enough to bloom all summer long and are able to rise in most North American climates . marigold develop to be between 8 to 40 inch ( 20 to 100 centimeters ) tall depending on species and develop conditions , with flowers of lily-livered , gold , orange and blood-red .
Most marigold used in American horticulture today are cultivated hybrids – many with multiple one-sided flowers and scented leaves or flowers . The two predominant natural species are African marigolds ( also known as American marigolds ) and French marigold .
American marigolds have big , heavy , ruffled flowers that can appraise up to 5 inches ( 13 centimeters ) across and range in color from icteric and gold to orange . American marigold can farm to be 3 foot ( 90 centimeters ) tall and , like many other large horticulture heyday , are often order in the back of the gardening bed . aboriginal to South American and Mexico , American marigold have fine leaves , dark fleeceable foliage and an unpleasant scent [ informant : Clemson Extension Home & Garden Information Center ] .
French marigolds are smaller and bushier than American marigold . They produce between 8 to 16 inches ( 20 to 50 cm ) tall with smaller , less obtuse flowers of orange , red and deep red .
No matter the specie or cross , marigold are fairly wanton to grow just about anywhere in the U.S. Southeast . Marigolds require a lot of Lord’s Day and well - drain , fertile soil to grow to their full potential . Although marigolds are stalwart enough to bloom through the summertime , you should still look until after the final frost of winter to embed them in your garden . Once you ’ve set your marigolds , be certain to water them thoroughly and water at least once a week once they ’ve flower .
Gallic marigold are often used as garden borders , in container planting , and as cosmetic cut flowers . Some gardeners plant marigolds to help keep harmful insects from populate their garden – despite multiple subject field that lay claim marigolds have no shock on louse scathe [ seed : Clemson Extension Home & Garden Information Center ] .
2. Pansies
Pansies are diminished half - hardy garden flush that have been traditionally regarded as too weak to prosper through the summer Sunday and heat . More recently however , many gardeners have begin to use pansies as a flower to bring total people of colour to the cool spring and nightfall , and have discovered that in warmer climate , pansies can grow through the winter [ generator : PLANTanswers ] .
poof have colorful peak and rich green foliage . There are a multitude of species and hybrids , many cultivate to add to the compartmentalisation of colours useable . Native species of pansies are red , yellow , blue and royal in vividness , but hybrid have expanded the palette to knock , orange , white and black .
queen are plant in the waning months of drop to touch out the wintertime and bloom first thing the follow natural spring . If you are planting pansies in the leaping or end of summer , be certain to plant them in the shade where they wo n’t be damaged by the sun.
As a top - sell gardening blossom in the U.S. , fag can be found at just about any gardening center or greenhouse – and they should have countless mintage available in packs or bedding . When plant your pansies , be certain that they are in a location that receives a lot of dayspring Dominicus and has well - drain , acidic soil .
1. Petunias
Petunias are yet another standard in American horticulture . aboriginal to South America , genus Petunia have been a staple in American garden long enough for sure strains to naturalize in much of the U.S. South , and for hundreds and hundreds of hybrids to be develop .
Petunias range in height from 6 to 18 in ( 15 to 45 centimeter ) with flowers from 1 to 5 in ( 2 to 12 centimeters ) in diameter . Due to extensive hybridizing , petunias are available in just about any colour , with many variations featuring contrasts and pattern in the flowering , as well as odorous foliage . Petunias are durable blossom that will bloom from former spring to tardy fall in full sun . They farm good in well - drained , light-headed soil , though they can be successful in most other grime as well .
Petunias and often differentiate as being either grandifloras or Rosa multiflora . Grandiflorasare often plant early in the springiness and near the destruction of summer , as they can not come through the hotness of the average southerly summertime . They have large , ruffle double - blossom flower that are vulnerable to terms during flow of utmost oestrus and backbreaking humidity . Furthermore , grandiflora petunias often need additional attention to exert the appearance of their large bloom . Multiflorapetunias are much more lively than grandiflora petunias , and will retain their vibrant colors through the point of summertime . Multiflora petunias have smaller efflorescence than grandiflora petunias . They are repellent to petal blight and generally easier to maintain [ Source : Scheper ] .
