Stephen Albert
Annuals with their consistent flower colors and uniform growth habit make an eye-catching feature for containers and window boxes. Most modern hybrid annuals are bred to provide reliable, long-lasting displays.
When selecting annuals for pots and windowboxes, choose compact and intermediate-sized cultivars that need little training and support and that easily withstand breezes. The choice of annuals suitable for containers may be greater than those for the open garden; annuals are generally more tender than perennials and will often be at their best when protected by adjacent buildings.
Choose annuals that are suitable for the season—warm weather or cool weather. You may want to start spring with cool season annuals then switch to warm-season annuals summer and finish the growing season in autumn with more cool-season annuals. Garden centers commonly stock annuals for the season at hand.
Tips for using annuals in pots and containers
- Choose plants in proportion to the size of the container or containers in proportion to the size of the plants.
- In a container that can be seen from only one side, place the tallest plants at the back, then medium size, then small and cascading plants near the front.
- In a freestanding container that can be viewed from all sides, place the tallest plant in the center and position the other plants of gradually decreasing size in concentric rings.
- Keep color schemes simple; rely on just a few colors. Use whites and pastels in shady locations.
- Combine plants with foliage of different textures and forms for added interest.
Annuals for pots and windowboxes
Print out this list for your next trip to the garden center. Click on the botanical name for growing and care information.
| A-B Botanical Name | Common Name |
| Agapanthus orientalis | Lily-of-the-Nile, grow as perennial in warm regions |
| Antirrhinum majus | Snapdragon |
| Arctotis stoechadifolia | African daisy |
| Argyranthemum frutescens | Marguerite daisy, perennial best grown as an annual in container |
| Begonia x semperflorens-cultorum | Wax begonia |
| Bellis perennis | English daisy, grow as an annual in containers |
| Browallia speciosa | Sapphire flower |
| C – Botanical Name | Common Name |
| Calendula officinalis | Pot marigold |
| Callistephus chinensis | China aster |
| Catharanthus roseus | Madagascar periwinkle, perennial in warm climates |
| Celosia cristata | Cockscomb |
| Centaurea cyanus | Bachelor’s button |
| Cherianthus spp. | Wallflower |
| Cineraria maritima | Dusty miller |
| Cleome hasslerana | Spider flower |
| Coleus hybrids | Coleus |
| Cosmos bipinnatus | Cosmos |
| D-G Botanical Name | Common Name |
| Dianthus chinensis | China pink |
| Dimorphotheca sinuata | Cape marigold, tender perennial grown as an annual |
| Dorotheanthus bellidformis | Livingstone daisy |
| Eschscholzia californica | California poppy |
| Euphorbia marginata | Snow-on-the-mountain |
| Felicia amelloides | Blue marguerite |
| Fuchsia hybrids | Fuchsia, perennial grown as an annual in many regions |
| Gazania spp. | Tender perennial grown as an annual in containers |
| Gerbera jamesonii | Transvaal daisy, tender perennial |
| Gomphrena globosa | Globe amaranth |
| H-N Botanical Name | Common Name |
| Helichrysum petiolare | Helichrysum |
| Heliotropium arborescens | Heliotrope |
| Iberis umbellata | Globe candytuft |
| Impatiens balsamina | Balsam impatiens |
| Impatiens hybrids | Bedding impatiens |
| Lobelia erinus | Edging lobelia |
| Lobularia maritima | Sweet alyssum |
| Matthiola incana | Stock |
| Myosotis sylvatica | Annual forget-me-not |
| Nicotiana alata | Flowering tobacco |
| Nierembergia hippomanica | Cupflower |
| Nigella damacena | Love-in-a-mist |
| P-Botanical Name | Common Name |
| Papaver nucicaule | Iceland poppy |
| Papaver rhoeas | Shirley poppy |
| Pelargonium x domesticum | Lady Washington geranium |
| Pelargonium graveolens | Rose geranium |
| Pelargonium x hortorum | Zonal geranium |
| Pelargonium peltatum | Ivy geranium |
| Pelargonium tomentosum | Peppermint geranium |
| Petunia x hybrida | Petunia |
| Phlox drummondii | Annual phlox |
| Portulaca grandiflora | Moss rose |
| S-T Botanical Name | Common Name |
| Salvia farinacea | Mealycup sage, perennial south of Zone 7 |
| Salvia splendens | Scarlet sage |
| Tagetes erecta | African marigold |
| Tagetes patula | French marigold |
| Tagetes tenuifolia | Signet marigold |
| Torenia fournieri | Wishbone flower |
| Trachymene caerulea | Blue lace flower |
| Tropaeolum | Nasturtium |
| V-Z Botanical Name | Common Name |
| Verbena canadensis | Trailing verbena |
| Verbena x hybrida | Garden verbena |
| Viola tricolor | Johnny-jump-up |
| Viola x wittrockiana | Pansy |
| Zinnia elegans | Zinnia |
Also of interest:
Flower Gardening in Containers
Container Vegetable Gardening Guide
Choosing Plants for Containers
Pot and Container Sizes for Growing Vegetable Crops
Container and Pot Sizes: How Much Soil Do I Need?
