7 Low Maintenance Annual Flowers

Written by Crystal
Updated: August 22, 2023
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A lot of people are curious about the difference between annuals and perennials. Perennials are flowers that grow for multiple seasons. Annuals are flowers that grow for one season and then die. The name annual refers to their yearly growing style. Annual flowers mature faster than perennials, providing gardeners with instant gratification. They bloom quickly and produce lots of flowers. What are some of the best low maintenance annual flowers? Read on to find out!

1. Angelonia

Low maintenance annual flowers: Angelonia goyazensis Benth

Angelonia are beautiful snapdragon like plants that love the sun.

©iStock.com/pimonpim

Also known as the summer snapdragon, Angelonia is a heat-loving plant that thrives in full sun. It’s perfect for busy gardeners who don’t have a lot of time to spend tending to their plants. Best of all, Angelonia is relatively drought-tolerant, so you don’t have to worry about watering it too often. To keep your Angelonia looking its best, simply deadhead the spent flowers and provide it with a light fertilizer every month or so. With just a little bit of care, you’ll enjoy an abundance of colorful blooms all season long!

2. Calibrachoa

Low maintenance annual flowers: Calibrachoa sunrise orange decorative flowers.

Calibrachoa sunrise (minion bells) orange decorative flowers. These flowers can grow and spread like flowery vines.

©iStock.com/chert61

If you’re thinking about planting calibrachoa for the first time, you’re in for a treat! Calibrachoa are low maintenance annual flowers, making them perfect for beginners. It’s also a versatile plant that can be grown in containers or in the ground. When planting, give calibrachoa plenty of sun and well-drained soil. Once established, calibrachoa is drought tolerant and does not require much fertilizer. To keep your plant looking its best, deadhead spent blooms regularly.

3. Celosia

Celosia is a great low-maintenance annual flower.

Celosia is a plant that belongs to the Amaranth family.

©iStock.com/Khodar Adi Handoko

These beautiful blooms come in many colors, including red, pink, orange, and yellow. They’re easy to grow and make great cut flowers. Celosia flowers were first cultivated in Asia, and they’ve been popular in China and Japan for centuries. The plants came to Europe in the 1500s, and they quickly became a favorite of gardeners there.

Celosia flowers are easy to grow from seed, and they’ll bloom all summer long if you keep them deadheaded. They like full sun but will tolerate some shade. Whatever you do, water them regularly during hot weather, and they’ll reward you with an abundant display of color.

4. Cosmos

Low maintenance annual flowers: cosmos flowers in garden

Cosmos need to be thinned when grown.

©lotlenglu/Shutterstock.com

If you’re looking for a beautiful and easy-to-grow annual flower, look no further than cosmos. Cosmos are tough plants that can tolerate a wide range of growing conditions, and they come in various colors, including pink, white, purple, and red. Cosmos bloom best with plenty of sunlight. You’ll also need to prepare the soil by loosening it up and adding some organic matter, such as compost or manure. This will help your cosmos roots to establish themselves quickly.

Sow the seeds directly in the ground or in containers. If you’re starting them indoors, sow the seeds about six weeks before the last frost date. Once the seedlings germinate, thin them out. Space about 12 inches apart. Finally, water your cosmos regularly (especially during dry periods). Cosmos are drought tolerant once they establish, but they will flower best if given consistent moisture.

5. Cuphea

Low maintenance annual flowers: Cuphea hyssopifolia flowers.
Cuphea hyssopifolia

flowers are also called Hawaiian petunias or false heather.

©iStock.com/Md Kamruzzaman Masud

Cuphea is a genus of more than 200 species of flowering plants, many of which are native to Central and South America. The most popular species in cultivation is Cuphea hyssopifolia, commonly known as false heather or Hawaiian petunia. This plant is a great low maintenance annual flower and is prized for its easily-grown habit and its showy flowers, which can be pink, purple, white, or red. Cuphea is a versatile plant that can be used as a ground cover, an edging plant, or a specimen in mixed borders. In addition, it is relatively drought-tolerant and tolerant of salt spray, making it an ideal plant for coastal gardens.

6. Dahlia

Low maintenance annual flowers: large dahlia flowers

Some dahlias reach six feet tall!

©suprabhat/Shutterstock.com

The dahlia is a beloved annual flower that has been cultivated for centuries. Native to Mexico, these brightly colored blooms come in a wide range of colors, from deep red to vibrant yellow. Dahlias are also known for their long flowering season, which can last from early summer all the way until fall.

Dahlias are a favorite food of hummingbirds, and they are also known to attract bees and butterflies. Whether you grow them in your garden or enjoy them as cut flowers, dahlias are sure to add beauty to your summer days.

Here are a few fun facts about this amazing flower: The dahlia was first introduced to Europe in the 1700s, and it quickly became a popular garden plant. Dahlias come in over 50 different species and thousands of different cultivars. The largest dahlia bloom on record was over 10 inches in diameter!

7. Ageratum

Low maintenance annual flowers: Floss Flower or Ageratum.

Ageratum flowers come in several different colors and

attract pollinators to your garden

.

©undefined undefined/Shutterstock.com

Ageratum is a versatile annual flower that works well in both sunny and shady areas. It also requires very little maintenance, making it a favorite among gardeners. The flowers are small and tubular, and they come in a variety of colors, including blue, purple, pink, and white. Ageratum blooms from early summer to fall, making it a welcome addition to any garden. Best of all, the flowers are attractive to bees and butterflies, so you can enjoy watching these pollinators visit your garden. If you’re looking for a low-maintenance annual flower that will add color and interest to your garden, ageratum is a great choice!

You can encourage growth by pinching back the plant’s developing tip. Start young; as soon as the plants are between two to four inches long, you can begin. Always trim or pinch back growth at the leaf node (where the leaf joins the stem). This will help your plant stay neat as well as prevent fungal disease. Pinching the plant’s growing tip will improve almost all annuals, whether tender or hardy.

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The photo featured at the top of this post is © adina munteanu/Shutterstock.com


Sources

  1. Buffalo-Niagara Gardening / Accessed October 10, 2022
  2. Finger Lakes Native Plant Society / Accessed October 10, 2022
  3. Green Spring Gardens / Accessed October 10, 2022
  4. University of Illinois Extension: Beyond Impatiens and Petunias / Accessed October 10, 2022
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About the Author

Crystal is a dedicated writer at A-Z Animals, focusing on topics related to mammals, insects, and travel. With over a decade of experience in the world of research and writing, she also fulfills the role of a skilled video and audio engineer. Residing in sunny Florida, alligators are Crystal's favorite animal.

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