14 Most Hardy Annual Flowers 

Written by Jennifer Haase
Updated: August 22, 2023
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Creating a beautiful garden with hardy annual flowers is easy when you know which plants can survive challenging conditions. Whether you need cold-tolerant flowers or just ones that are low-maintenance, we’ve got you covered! Check out our list of the 14 most hardy annual flowers before you invest in new plants for the next growing season. Depending on your climate, these colorful flowers should grow beautifully with minimal care.

Infographic of 14 Most Hardy Annual Flowers
Hardy annual flowers include snapdragons, zinnias, pansies, and sweet peas.

What Makes an Annual Flower Hardy?

Hardy annuals withstand varying degrees of cold, heat, and drought conditions. They can also handle wet soil when planted in the right location. Generally, they are low-maintenance plants that require minimal care to thrive.

We hope our list of hardy annual flowers below helps you decide which ones are best for your garden bed and container needs!

1. Marigolds

close-up of dozens of marigolds with green background

Gold, orange, or red marigolds typically bloom from spring until the first frost.

©iStock.com/Valeriy Lushchikov

Warm-colored marigolds are hardy annual flowers because they can easily grow in many hardiness zones (2-11). However, a marigold’s specific type of hardiness depends on its variety. For example, African marigolds are drought-tolerant, whereas French marigolds thrive in wetter conditions. Therefore, knowing which marigolds grow best in your area is the first step in selecting the best plants for your garden.

Lucky for gardeners everywhere, lovely gold, orange, or red marigolds typically bloom from spring until the first frost. This quality makes marigolds a hardy annual for fall beds and perfect for autumn-themed decor on a sunny porch.

2. Sunflowers

Russian mammoth sunflowers in a field

Sunflowers can thrive in many soil types and reach heights of up to 15 feet tall.

©Ganeshkumar Durai/Shutterstock.com

A symbol of summer, sunflowers come in cheery colors such as yellow, orange, and burgundy. They can thrive in many soil types and are also very drought-tolerant. In addition, sunflowers have long stems and large flower heads that attract birds to the garden space.

These bold flowers can reach heights up to 15 feet tall! However, they require full sun to reach their fullest potential, so make sure you choose an area with plenty of direct sunlight.

Sunflowers are a cheerful addition to any garden. Their bright yellow petals make them an eye-catching focal point, and they require minimal care to stay healthy. They thrive in full sun and can tolerate heat, humidity, and drought with ease.

3. Cosmos

yellow cosmos flowers with sky in the background

Cosmos flowers are lively plants that come in a wide variety of different colors.

©iStock.com/Waraphot Wapakphet

For gardeners who want a colorful flower that needs minimal care, cosmos are an excellent choice. Available in various colors, including pink, white, yellows, and red, these annuals are easy to find at garden centers throughout the growing season.

Cosmos attract butterflies to your garden with their bright blooms ranging from 2 to 5 inches in size. These low-maintenance plants require full sun for the best growth but can also handle partial shade. They can also survive light frosts and are suitable for container gardens since they tend to stay compact.

4. Snapdragons

Snapdragons. Snapdragon pink flowers in the garden. Spring and summer background. Vertical photo

If you pinch the snapdragon’s heads just right, the flower opens like the mouth of a dragon!

©iStock.com/Borislav

Beautiful snapdragons come in multiple colors, including pink, red, yellow, white, and orange. They are easy to grow and bloom from mid-spring through early autumn. Snapdragons need full sun to reach their fullest potential, but they can also survive in partial shade.

Snapdragons are highly tolerant of cooler temperatures, making them a great choice for gardeners with temperate days and cold nights down to 40 degrees Fahrenheit. As a result, these hardy annual flowers bloom the best in spring and fall.

Luckily, snapdragons require minimal care. However, keep in mind that these plants grow gorgeous flowering spikes that may need staking as they mature. Once established, snapdragons will fill your garden with bright, cheerful blooms perfect for cut flower arrangements.

5. Salvia

Scarlet sage salvia plant blooming in a garden.

Scarlet sage salvia produces vibrant red flowers that hummingbirds and butterflies enjoy.

©iStock.com/Nadya So

Salvias are hardy annual flowers perfect for beginner gardeners for their ease of growth. The salvia does well in partial sun, is drought-tolerant, and doesn’t usually need more than weekly watering. In addition, these bushy plants look similar to lavender, with tiny blooms bursting up and down their flower spikes.

Depending on the variety, salvia comes in shades of pink, white, purple, blue, red, and yellow. It blooms throughout summer and into fall in sunny locations with well-draining soil. And if you cut them back in the summer, they’ll grow new flowering spikes to bloom again.

Salvias are ideal for adding texture to flower beds and borders. They bring a beautiful burst of color to any garden but are particularly attractive when planted in groups.

6. Million Bells

Hanging basket with Million Bells Flowers.

Million bell flowers are a great addition to hanging baskets, flower pots, and garden beds.

©iStock.com/Mark R Coons

Lovely million bells, or calibrachoas, are a popular annual for their profuse blooms and long flowering season. Covered with white, pink, orange, yellow, or blue flowers, million bells look like petunias and grow beautifully in containers.

These heat-loving flowers thrive in full sun but can deal with light shade. They will reward you with pretty trumpet-shaped blooms from spring to fall. If you plant them early enough in the growing season, million bells plants will produce an impressive mound of vibrant blooms! For this reason, give them plenty of space in garden beds or containers because these compact plants love to spread via trailing stems.

With their delicate petals and low-maintenance requirements, million bells are a top pick for beginner gardeners. They make a beautiful addition to your garden, and you can enjoy their bright blooms in cut flower arrangements too.

7. Chrysanthemums

vivid red chrysanthemums

Chrysanthemums bloom late in the season when other plants are starting to die off.

©Mariia Romanyk/Shutterstock.com

Cold-hardy chrysanthemums, or mums, are annual flowers that add color and a mass of flowers to fall gardens. These pretty plants thrive in full sun with well-draining soil and are available in yellow, pink, purple, white, and orange blooms.

Because they bloom late in the season when other plants are starting to die off, chrysanthemums are the perfect addition to any garden in autumn. They can handle light frosts in hardiness zones 4-9 and produce loads of cheerful daisy-shaped blooms.

Chrysanthemums are easy to maintain with regular watering and occasional fertilizing. These low-maintenance plants look beautiful when planted in groups or used as accents in garden beds.

8. Ageratum

Floss Flower

Ageratum’s delicate flowers look stunning when planted in groups.

©undefined undefined/Shutterstock.com

Ageratums, or floss flowers, are herbaceous perennials often grown as annual flowers. Because they’re easy to grow, ageratums have earned their place on our hardy annual flowers list. Additionally, they bloom in early summer, last until fall, and are low-maintenance plants with small, puffball-like blooms. Though not drought-tolerant, this plant does well in full sun with medium moisture.

Ageratum’s delicate flowers look stunning when planted in groups and make a wonderful addition to flower beds, window boxes, or containers. The most common floss flower colors are blue or lavender, but newer cultivars also come in white and pink. With its cheerful blooms and easy maintenance, it’s a great way to add color and texture to any garden.

9. Petunias

Petunias planted in baskets on salvaged bicycle

For a compact plant with continuous blooms, give petunias light pruning in early summer so they’ll flower again.

©aimpol buranet/Shutterstock.com

Your petunias won’t survive the frost, but they’re bright and cheery annual flowers that are easy to grow. And these lovely plants are drought and heat-tolerant! In addition, petunias grow quickly and provide lots of single or double blooms in white, pink, purple, and many more colors.

For hardy annual flowers, plant your lovely petunias in full sun to partial shade. And if you don’t mind that their stems get leggy and trail out of your window boxes and containers, there’s no need to cut them back. However, if you prefer a more compact plant with continuous blooms, give petunias light pruning in early summer so they will flower again.

Petunias thrive in hanging baskets and are perfect for brightening your patio or balcony. Petunias add beauty to any outdoor space with lush foliage and vibrant colors.

10. Zinnias

Zinnia, Flower, Agricultural Field, Growth, Summer

Zinnia flowers do best in full sun and moist soil.

©iStock.com/AlinaMD

Striking zinnias are classic garden flowers with bright round blooms on top of tall stems. They have long-lasting flowers, love the summer heat, and grow quickly from seed. As a result, vibrantly-colored upright zinnias are a perfect hardy annual flower for vase arrangements.

These colorful plants with daisy-like blooms that are pink, purple, yellow, orange, white, red, or green do best in full sun and moist soil. Fortunately, zinnias are drought-tolerant, but they don’t like the cold, so they’re hardy only until the first frost. And if you plant some of the taller zinnia varieties, such as Zinnia elegans ‘Benary’s Giant,’ you’ll want to stake the mature plants to keep them from toppling over.

For an extra pop of color in your garden, plant zinnias in groups or use them as accents. Their beautiful blooms and vibrant colors make a wonderful addition to any garden.

11. Pansies

annuals

Pansies are still relatively drought tolerant even though they are cool weather plants.

©iStock.com/Iwona Wozniak

Small and dainty pansies are colorful, hardy annual flowers that flourish in the cooler weather of spring and fall. This quality makes pansies invaluable for gardeners in colder climates. With showy yellow, white, purple, blue, and orange flowers, these unique plants add cottage-garden charm.

Pansies prefer mild temperatures with full sun and moist soil. However, pansies are still relatively drought tolerant even though they are cool weather plants. And though they die back in summer, you can keep them going until autumn by deadheading spent blooms.

Pansies look stunning when planted in window boxes or containers, making them a great addition to flower beds. Pansies are an easy choice for any garden with their bright colors and hardy nature.

12. Bachelor Buttons

Bachelor buttons prefer moderately rich soil with full sun exposure.

©Alex Manders/Shutterstock.com

Also known as cornflowers, bachelor buttons are tall flowers (up to 3 feet) that come in a mix of blue, pink, purple, and white. These old-fashioned favorites have become popular again thanks to their easy care and frilly, colorful blooms.

Bachelor buttons prefer moderately rich soil with full sun exposure. Though they need regular watering for healthy growth, these hardy annual flowers will survive brief spells of drought. Additionally, deadheading the spent blooms encourages continued flowering throughout the season.

Bachelor buttons are self-seeders that will likely spread to other garden beds! But that’s more proof that these plants work hard to keep thriving where they’re planted and beyond.

13. Dianthus

This type of dianthus grows as a perennial or biennial in warmer zones and an annual in dry and cooler climates.

©iStock.com/Iva Vagnerova

Certain varieties of dianthus flowers, like Dianthus chinensus, are some of the hardiest annual flowers for home gardens. Also called Chinese pink, this type of dianthus grows as a perennial or biennial in warmer zones. Still, it thrives as an annual in dry and cooler climates. Moreover, its fringed bi-color flowers in bright pink or red with white make this a standout plant!

Dianthus plants prefer full sun and consistently moist soil, though they tolerate some drought. However, dianthus will perform better if you give them some shade during days with high heat.

Whether you plant them near walkways, patios, or flowerbeds, dianthus will reward you with head-turning blooms all season long.

14. Sweet Peas

Field in countryside full of sweet pea plants with pink flowers also called as Lathyrus odoratus. Summertime herbs

Sweet peas have been cultivated since the 17th century and have a pleasant honey-orange blossom scent.

©iStock.com/Leisan Rakhimova

The sweet pea flower is a hardy annual cherished for its bright, showy blooms and heady fragrance. But it’s also loved for its cold-hardy qualities! Sweet pea plants have twining vines with butterfly-shaped flowers in white, pink, purple, red, and bi-color varieties.

Sweet peas are easy to grow from seed and love the cool weather of early spring. Plant them in a sunny spot with well-drained soil and give them some support to climb on. Regular trimming of the vine tips will promote bushier growth and keep blooms coming throughout the season.

Use sweet peas as a ground cover, wind around porches or trellises for vertical interest, or let their vines trail from hanging planters. Whatever you choose, sweet peas will surely add an eye-catching and aromatic touch to your garden.

Hardy Annual Flowers Need Little Care and Offer Big Rewards

With so many hardy annual flowers, you can easily find a variety that works best for your particular climate and garden needs. Whether you’re planting in containers or beds, these plants require minimal care. And they will offer vibrant colors throughout the growing season. So have fun creating colorful and unique arrangements with these hardy annual flowers and enjoy their beauty all season long.

Summary of the 14 Most Hardy Annual Flowers 

Here’s a recap of the 14 annual flowers we took a look at that are capable of withstanding varying degrees of cold, heat, and drought conditions.

NumberFlowerColor Range
1MarigoldsGold, orange, red
2SunflowersYellow, orange, burgundy
3CosmosYellow, pink, white, red
4SnapdragonsPink, red, yellow, white, orange
5SalviaPink, white, purple, blue, red, yellow
6Million BellsWhite, pink, orange, yellow, blue
7ChrysanthemumsYellow, pink, purple, white, orange
8AgeratumBlue, lavender, white, pink
9PetuniasWhite, pink, purple
10ZinniasPink, purple, yellow, orange, white, red, green
11PansiesYellow, white, purple, blue, orange
12Bachelor ButtonsBlue, pink, purple, white
13DianthusBi-color flowers in bright pink or red with white
14Sweet PeasWhite, pink, purple, red, bi-color

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/Borislav


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About the Author

Jennifer Haase is a writer at A-Z Animals where her primary focus is on plants, pets, and places of interest. Jennifer has been writing professionally about plants and animals for over 14 years. A resident of Nebraska, Jennifer enjoys gardening, floral design, nutrition studies, and being a cat mama.

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Sources
  1. N.C. Cooperative Extension, Available here: https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/dianthus-chinensis/#:~:text=China%20pinks%20are%20biennials%20or,afternoon%20shade%20in%20warmer%20climates.
  2. Yankee Publishing, Inc, Available here: https://www.almanac.com/plant/pansies#:~:text=Are%20Pansies%20Annual%20or%20Perennial,can%20adequately%20survive%20hot%20weather
  3. Chicago Botanic Garden, Available here: https://www.chicagobotanic.org/plantinfo/smart_gardener/zinnias_hardest_working_flower_summer_garden