Vibrant Annual Flowers: A Guide to Colorful Blooms

Multicolor Annual Flowers Browse the article Multicolor Annual Flowers

Multicolor Annual Flowers

Annuals are flowers that bloom the first year they are planted, often flowering just a couple of months after sowing. Most annuals are started indoors or in greenhouses in late winter or early spring. Multicolor annual flowers bring a splash of color to your garden.

Tender Annuals

Some annuals, called tender annuals, are killed by frost. They grow in hot weather and are started indoors or in greenhouses and then set out in the garden after the danger of frost passes. Some of the faster-growing mulitcolor tender annuals, such as zinnias, can be sown directly into garden beds -- after the frost in spring -- for bloom or use all summer long. This depends on many factors, including where you live and how long summer weather lasts.

Hardy Annuals

These annuals have some built-in frost tolerance. They are often, but not always, planted outside from seed a few weeks before the final frost, but sometimes they are started indoors in warmer conditions, hardened off for a good adjustment, and planted outside during spring (or in winter in Zones 8 to 10).

Annuals Image Gallery

On this page, we've included links to multicolor annuals, grouped according to light condition. Before planting, check with your garden center to make sure that the annuals you've selected will flourish in your locale.

Full Sun Multicolor Annuals:

• Cosmos
• Dahlia
• Gazania, Treasure Flower
• Geranium, Zonal
• Globe Amaranth
• Petunia
• Portulaca, Moss Rose
• Snapdragon
• Swan River Daisy
• Sweet Pea
• Verbena
• Zinnia

Partial Shade and Full Shade Multicolor Annuals:

• Impatiens, Busy Lizzie, Patience
• Pansy, Viola

Annuals:

• Nicotiana, Flowering Tobacco

Annuals:

• Wax Begonia, Fibrous Begonia

Didn't find what you were looking for? Try Annual Flowers, Annuals, or Perennials for more information.