Annuals

Annuals are plants that complete their entire life cycle—germinating, growing shoots and leaves, flowering, setting seed and dying—within a period of less than a year. (Biennials, in contrast, typically take two seasons to complete their lifecycle.) Here in the Northwest, we plant annuals in early spring once the frosts subside. They bloom in late spring or early summer, and continue to provide gorgeous color until the fall frosts set in.

Seeds

Some annuals can be seeded directly in the garden. Other slower growing warm-season annuals may need to be sown into containers indoors and transplanted later—once the weather is milder and the soil is ready for in-ground planting.

The Beauty of Annuals

Annuals bring brilliant bursts of color and emotion to your landscape. We all have our favorites, and most are relatively inexpensive and reliable. Annuals are perfect for creating vibrant borders and containers. They can also be used to fill in empty spaces in your perennial bed. And since they last just a year, you have the opportunity to start fresh each spring, finding new favorites, and experimenting with different color schemes and plant arrangements every year.