Old-Fashioned Annuals

• Old-fashioned annuals are those that have been used by home gardeners for generations. Writing in "Fine Gardening," Denise Adams recommends nine such plants: cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus), which sports flowers in shades of purple, for back borders; Joseph's coat (Amaranthus tricolor), with white flowers and showy foliage, for ornamental purposes (though it's not recommended for excessively humid or rainy environments); pot marigold (Calendula officinalis); four o'clock (Mirabilis jalapa); zinnia (Zinnia elegans); balsam (Impatiens balsamina); mignonette (Reseda odorata); heliotrope (Heliotropium arborescens); and varieties of petunia.
  
  

Container Annuals

• Container annuals are those that flourish when grown in containers such as pots and window boxes. Iowa State University recommends nearly 30 flowering annuals for container growth, and 9 annuals with ornamental foliage. Among the flowering annuals are dwarf French marigold (Tagetes patula) and globe amaranth (Gomphrena globosa). Dwarf French marigold reaches a mature height of 6 to 12 inches and is suited for growth in all USDA plant hardiness zones. It bears bright-orange and yellow flowers. Globe amaranth sports small, thistle-shaped flowers in pink, purple and white. Among the recommended annuals with ornamental foliage are foxtail fern (Asparagus meyeri), vinca vine (Vinca major) and licorice plant (Helichrysum petiolare).
  
  

Coleus

• Coleus is a genus of perennial pants suited for growth in USDA Zone 11, or extremely warm environments. Writing in "Fine Gardening," Ray Rogers asserts that plants of this genus will grow as annuals in all other USDA zones, as cold winter weather will cause them to die. Among the species of coleus recommended for annual growth in cold and temperate climates are Lancelot Velvet Mocha coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides 'UF06-4-18'), a small tree with wine-red foliage, and "Freckles" coleus. "Freckles" is a cultivar of standard coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides) with mottled orange and lime-green foliage. Other coleus cultivars include Flamingo, Smallwood's Driveway and Inky Fingers. A cultivar is a plant developed specifically for gardening work.
  
  

Annuals for the D.C. Area

• The government of Fairfax County, Va., has a 3-page list of annuals recommended for growth in the Washington, D.C., area. Blood flower (Asclepias curassavica) is an annual with fire-engine-red and canary-yellow flowers. It's recommended to attract butterflies to the garden. Gardeners outside of Tennessee, however, should be wary of planting it near natural areas, because the plant is not native to anywhere beyond Tennessee and may upset the local ecological balance if it spreads. Helianthus annus is a variety of sunflower that grows annually and will take to gardens in the D.C. area. Other annuals recommended by Fairfax include larkspur (Consolida ajacis), ruby chard (Beta vulgaris) and tropical salvia (Salvia coccinea).