Annuals in the Perennial Bed, Part 2

This is the second and final part 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 interesting 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.  Bright color in shady spots can be tough to come by, especially if you want all season color.  Annuals in the shady perennial bed can really go a long way in brightening up a spot.  Here is the list for part sun to shady locations: 

• Impatiens are vigorous and tolerant of some full sunlight, but also tolerant of deep shade.  They also come in a wide variety of bright colors, and will bloom for most of the summer.
• Coleus is a great option.  They offer bright foliage colors, which is a rare change of pace in the shade garden.  They mix very well with hostas and ferns.  
• Ageratum will tolerate some shade, as long as they get some full sunlight hours.
• Ivy geraniums behave almost like a ground cover when planted in a bed.  The best results are with morning sun and afternoon shade.  They will add lots of color to the shade garden.
• Lobelia is the perfect blue for the front edge of a partial sun bed.
• Some ground covers like Lamium or Lysimachia add color and a change of texture even though they don’t flower.
  

  Here is a shade garden that Abrahamson Nurseries designed and installed. Notice how the bright pot of annuals in the middle of the bed creates a strong focal point. Also, the bed is bordered with bright annuals, giving the garden color all season long.

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Annuals in the Perennial Bed, Part 1

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.
  

  In this particular planting bed, a few varieties of annuals mix well with daylilies and roses. The annuals will give the planter great color even when the perennials are not in bloom. This bed was planted by Abrahamson Nurseries.

 

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