This is part one of two of the “annuals in the perennial bed” topic.
Most people will agree that best thing about a perennial bed is the bright color that it provides throughout the summer. But even the longest blooming perennials have times in the season where they do not look like much. That is why it is always a great idea to add annuals to your perennial bed. Many annual species will bloom the entire summer, and have bright, vibrant colors. The best place for them is usually the perennial border, but some taller annuals will be able to fit in the middle of the bed as well. Try using larger swaths of annuals whenever possible to give the garden a big burst of color. Another way to use annuals in the perennial bed is by using a large pot full of bright colors on a stand to create an intresting focal point in the middle of the garden.
I asked our greenhouse grower to come up with a list of annuals that he thinks works best in the perennial bed and he broke the plants down into sunny and shady locations. This first list is for very sunny locations:
- You can’t beat petunia–especially Whispers Red, Supertunia Bordeaux (purple), Whispers White, Bubblegum (a really LARGE plant, pink) or Whispers Pink (bright, hot pink).
- Marigold for yellow or orange.
- Ageratum for blue. Ageratum from packs are good but less vigorous than Ageratum from larger pots.
- For a ground cover: Lobularia. It is a very vigorous and heat-tolerant form of Alyssum.
- More subtle would be any of the Coleus that we grow –great foliage color. They mix very well with perennials.
- Zonal Geraniums, especially if you need something taller than petunias.
- Verbena. They occupy the same niche as petunias, but not quite as blatant.
- Annual grasses (several heights available) look like perennials and can help fill an area until the permanent plants grow out.
- Lantana is slow to get going, but from July until frost looks like a flowering shrub, and it is virtually indestructible.
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