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Coreopsis tinctoria

Golden Tickseed is a brightly colored, long-blooming annual. The daisy-like flowers, which are yellow-orange with dark-red centers, bloom June-September. The flowers are good fresh-cut. The nectar is attractive to butterflies, native bees, and other beneficial pollinators, and the seeds attract birds. This plant aggressively self-seeds, but that can be minimized by removing spent flowers, which also encourages more blooms. The common name originated from the resemblance of the seeds to ticks. Plant Golden Tickseed in masses in borders, wildflower gardens, or naturalized areas.

Consolida ajacis

Rocket Larkspur’s spikes of blue, pink, or white flowers bloom June-August. The flowers are excellent fresh-cut or dried. Remove the spent flowers to encourage more blooms. This plant prefers well-drained soils, so avoid planting in wet locations. Use Rocket Larkspur in beds, borders, or cutting gardens.

Cleome hassleriana

Cleome is an annual plant with palm-shaped, aromatic leaves and showy, fragrant flowers blooming on tall, rigid stems from summer to first frost. Flower colors are combinations of white, pink, and purple. The nectar attracts hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies, and the seeds are a food source for birds. If left on the plants, the seed pods dry and split open, dispersing seeds for next year’s growth. The seed pods can be removed to prevent aggressive self-seeding. Use Cleome in beds, back of borders, foundation plantings, wildlife gardens, and mixed in with shrubs.

Celosia argentea

Celosia is a long-blooming annual with plume-like, vividly colored flowers on erect stems. The flowers bloom throughout summer and into fall, and are good fresh-cut or dried. This plant thrives in hot, humid weather. Use massed in beds and borders, as an edging plant, or in containers.

Capsicum annuum

Ornamental Pepper is an annual vegetable commonly planted in ornamental gardens for its vibrant, colorful fruits. Plants are available with fruits in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. Keep the plants well-watered, and avoid disturbing the roots when cultivating. Mulching is recommended. For a splash of color and edible fruits, plant it in beds, borders, or any sunny garden area. It is also good as a container plant, and can be brought indoors to overwinter in a sunny location.

Bracteantha bracteata

Strawflower is an annual, which blooms June to frost in a variety of colors (yellow, orange, red, pink, and white). The daisy-like flowers have a straw-like texture. It is an “everlasting,” meaning it retains its color and shape when dried. Strawflower is excellent for both fresh-cut and dried flowers. Use taller varieties in beds or borders and shorter ones as edging plants or in containers.

Begonia cultivars

Begonia is a long-blooming annual, which comes in a variety of flower colors, including white, pink, red, and bicolor. The compact plants have attractive, waxy, green to bronze leaves and fleshy stems. The flowers bloom from May to frost. Begonia performs best in sun-dappled shade with consistent moisture. This plant is most attractive when massed in beds or borders. It can also be used in container plantings.

Amaranthus tricolor

Joseph’s Coat is a bushy annual grown for its vibrantly colored foliage. A variety of cultivars are available with leaves in shades of greens, yellows, reds, and browns. This plant is sometimes grown for culinary purposes, as the leaves are edible. The tiny, red-green flowers are inconspicuous. Tall plants may need to be staked. Use massed in beds and borders, or as an attractive accent along paths or edges.

Ageratum houstonianum

Ageratum is one of the few annuals that can tolerate some shade. This fast-growing, long-blooming annual adds a touch of blue to the yard. Its dense, rounded clusters of fuzzy-looking, blue flowers bloom from June until first frost. Varieties are also available with purple and white blooms, and tall varieties may be used for cut-flower arrangements. Use Ageratum as an edging plant, in beds, or in containers.