Birthday
HydrangeasAnnuals are the fastest way to make a flower bed bright in its very first season. You sow them in spring, they flower all summer and finish their life cycle in autumn, so every year you can try a new colour scheme. This article covers eight reliable annuals for Ukrainian gardens, from fragrant four o'clocks to petunias, plus a sowing calendar, flower bed planning rules and care tips to keep the blooms coming until frost.
What annuals are and why gardeners love them
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Annuals are plants that complete their whole life cycle — from seed to flowers and new seed — within a single season. Gardeners also treat as annuals some perennials from warm countries that cannot survive our winters: snapdragons, four o'clocks, verbena and petunias. They are grown as "bedding plants" too.
The main advantages of annuals are a long flowering period (many bloom from June to October), inexpensive seed and freedom to experiment. The downsides are sowing or buying seedlings every year and extra attention in the first weeks after planting. A good approach is a permanent "framework" of perennials, with annuals filling the gaps each year.
How to plan a flower bed
- Height. Tall plants (cosmos, four o'clocks, tall marigolds) go in the centre of a round bed or at the back by a fence; medium ones in the middle; low ones (portulaca, sweet alyssum, pansies) along the edge.
- Light. Most bedding plants need at least 6 hours of sun a day. For partial shade choose busy lizzies and begonias; for a hot sunny spot, portulaca and celosia.
- Colour. Two or three main colours plus one neutral — white or silver foliage — are easiest to get right. Contrasting pairs: purple and yellow, blue and orange.
- Groups. Plant in groups of 5–7 rather than singly, so the bed looks cohesive.
For unusual shapes such as a "flower stream" see our article on the flower stream garden bed, and for more ideas read how to decorate your garden.
1. Four o'clock flower (Mirabilis)
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Mirabilis jalapa comes from tropical America. Its tubular flowers open towards evening and have a strong, sweet scent, which is why it is also called "marvel of Peru" or four o'clock flower. One plant can carry flowers of different colours — pink, yellow, white and streaked. At 60–100 cm tall, it is good for the back of a border or an annual hedge.
The seeds are large: soak them for a day and sow in April for seedlings or in May directly outdoors. Note: the seeds and roots of mirabilis are poisonous, so plant it away from children's play areas.
2. Cosmos
Cosmos is native to Mexico. It is a tall (60–150 cm), airy plant with feathery foliage and simple white, pink or crimson flowers. Cosmos is undemanding: it needs sun and not particularly rich soil — in very fertile ground it produces leaves at the expense of flowers. Sow directly outdoors in May; it often self-seeds for the following year.
3. Pansies (viola)
Garden pansies like cool weather. To have them flowering in early spring, sow in June–July and plant young plants in the bed in August–September. Spring seedlings bought in April also bloom until the heat arrives. Pansies tire in summer but may flower again in a cool autumn.
4. Portulaca (moss rose)
Portulaca grandiflora is a low (10–15 cm), spreading plant with fleshy leaves, native to South America. It stores water in its leaves and stems, so it copes easily with heat, drought and poor sandy soil — ideal for rock gardens, edging and sunny balconies. The flowers open in sunshine and close in cloudy weather; modern varieties stay open longer.
5. Marigolds (chornobryvtsi)
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Marigolds (Tagetes) also come from Mexico, but in Ukraine they have become a true symbol: chornobryvtsi grow by every village house and appear in many folk songs. There are tall African marigolds (up to 90 cm), compact French marigolds (20–40 cm) and signet marigolds with small flowers. They are easy to grow, flower from June until frost and have distinctive spicy-scented leaves. Sow seedlings in April or outdoors in May.
6. Celosia
Celosia comes in a plumed form with fluffy "feathers" and a crested form whose flower head looks like a rooster's comb. Colours include scarlet, orange, yellow and magenta. It is a warmth-loving plant: plant it out only once the soil has warmed, usually in late May. The flower heads keep their colour well when dried, so celosia is popular in dried arrangements.
7. Snapdragon
The snapdragon (Antirrhinum) is a perennial grown as an annual in our climate. Squeeze a flower gently from the sides and it "opens its mouth" — children love it. Varieties range from dwarf 20 cm plants to tall 90 cm ones that are excellent for cutting. Snapdragons tolerate cold, so seedlings can go out as early as early May. Cut off faded spikes and new ones will follow.
8. Petunia
Petunias come from South America and remain the most popular bedding plant for beds, balconies and hanging baskets. Bushy varieties form neat mounds, while trailing types (such as Surfinia) cascade in long stems. The seeds are tiny: sow them on the surface of the compost in February–March without covering. Petunias need sun, regular watering and feeding — without them flowering weakens by August.
More annuals worth growing
- Zinnia — bright, dense flowers; loves warmth, tolerates heat and is great for cutting.
- China aster — a classic of autumn bouquets, flowering from late summer until frost.
- Nasturtium — fast-growing, good for balconies and vertical planting.
- Sweet alyssum — a low, bee-friendly carpet with a honey scent.
- California poppy — silky flowers for dry, sunny spots.
- Sweet pea — a fragrant climbing annual for a support or fence.
Care tips for non-stop flowering
- Plant seedlings out after the last frost — mid-May in most regions.
- Water regularly for the first two weeks while plants establish, then as the soil dries.
- Mulch the soil: it keeps moisture in and weeds down.
- Feed every 2–3 weeks with a fertiliser for flowering plants.
- Deadhead faded flowers so the plant does not waste energy on seed and keeps blooming longer.
- In autumn, collect seed from your favourite plants (except F1 hybrids, which do not come true).
Frequently asked questions
Which annuals flower the longest?
Marigolds, petunias, ageratum, sweet alyssum, zinnias and begonias bloom from June until frost with good care.
Which annuals can be sown directly outdoors?
Cosmos, calendula, nasturtium, California poppy, sweet alyssum, four o'clocks and marigolds — in May, once the soil has warmed.
Which annuals grow in shade?
Busy lizzies, wax begonias, lobelia and torenia tolerate partial shade better than most bedding plants.
Can annuals survive the winter?
No, frost kills them. But some, such as cosmos and calendula, self-seed and come up again the following spring.
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Author: Maria Svitlovir
Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.
