Here are about 12 of the annuals that i grew this year, many I've grown before. I'm rating them for how interesting and impactful they were in the garden. All grew well, here in Vermont, even with the 90 degree heat we had in July. I did water regularly and planted in composted cow manure.
Mix of Nicotiana and Dahlia in the back, Verbena bonariensis in the front and Lobelia americana in the mid ground.
This created a nice layered affect, and even though the Verbena was taller than the Lobelia americana, but the sprawling nature of the Lobelia americana helps draw the eye down through the path.
Red Amaranth
Red Amaranth: The leaves and blooms are striking. It definitely has use in bouquets as the color contrasts wonderfully with other colors. Leaves are edible. I was a bit floppy in the garden.
6/10, will grow again.
Borage alba
Borage alba: White Borage, a white version of blue Borage. The blooms were sparse, and it sprawled quite a bit.
4/10 probably won't grow again, but hopefully it will seed in as Borage can do this.
Red Canna Canna indica
These were grown from seed collected in New Orleans. These are second year plants.
I really loved them for the foliage, which got over 5 feet tall, and had a great tropical feel, but the flowers are very small. I'll overwinter dried in the basement
7/10. But I have soft spot for these plants
Double White Cosmos
The double white are probably the most spectacular of the Cosmos. The flowers last longer than the singles.
I'm not crazy about Cosmos, they seem to grow leggy and floppy, but the foliage is quite interesting.
6/10 Will grow again.
Cynnoglossum Chinese Forget-Me-Not
Chinese Forget Me Not: These produce wonderful spray of deep sky blue. These can seed in and so I like that.
But they are floppy at the end of season. I've found that interspersed with other plants is the way to go, as they nicely mix in with other flowers.
7/10. Will grow again, but hoping they continue to see them seed in.
Nicotiana sylvestris and Dahlia hybrids
I absolutley love Nicotiana sylvestris, it get up to 5 feet tall and the frgrance in the evening is amazing.
I use it at the corners of my annual beds as it's foliage is quite striking too.
The Dahlias I grew from seed. They aren't quite up to cut flowers, as the stems are long enough,
but I have them crowded and i believe they need to be pinched early. Easy to over winter as tubers.
10/10 Will grow again.
Golden Lemon Balm: Melissa
. Golden Lemon Balm: This is a perennial herb, allbeit a short lived one. I love the golden foliage. It creates a nice mass of golden foliage. No real blooms, but the foliage is eye catching. It did get weeds growing in the clumps which was a pain to remove.
5/10 Might grow again, as it is an herb.
Lobelia americana
Lobelia americana: These are southern natives. I really like the spotty blue flowers. It blooms
all summer in small groups. Some might not like the somewhat sprawling habit, but I find it not too
bad, and the constant spot of blooms is nice.
8/10 Will grow again
Zinnias
Zinnia: I do have to mention Zinnias. I love them and will continue to grow them. But I found that thw reds are the most striking and so I am growing more of those and less of the other colors. The reds seem to last a bit longer as a cut, as the petals fading are less noticeable
Sunflowers
Sunflowers: This was my first year growing sunflowers. As you can see I tried a variety of types. I planted these late, or at least i thought late, in around June 8.
I wasn't sure how they would perform or how big they got, but I was really surprsed at once they got going how big they grew! These are 9-10 feet in height
10/10 Will grow more, a lot more.
Verbena bonariensis
Verbena bonariensis: The blooms on airy stems are so striking. This Verbena has such a wonderful presence.
The stems are very rigid and so make a great cut flower. As an added bonus, butterflies absolutely love this plant.
Grown from seed, the plants start out tiny, and every year I have my doubts, but they always come through.
10/10 Will grow again