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1Marigold
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Marigolds come in a range of sizes, from compact varieties to taller plants, in warm shades of gold, orange and red. Pollinators love them, and they’ll flower from mid-summer well into autumn.
Top tip: Plant seeds about a week after the last expected frost and save the dried flowers for seeds to plant next year.
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2Zinnia
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Zinnias are wonderfully versatile, with everything from small, button-like blooms to large, dahlia-style flowers in a wide range of colours. The more you cut them, the more they produce, making them ideal for cutting gardens.
Top tip: Sow once temperatures are consistently mild and there’s no risk of frost.
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3Cosmos
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These ethereal flowers are lovely in mixed borders or as part of a cutting garden. They come in every shade from purest white to hot pink.
Top tip: Sow outdoors once all risk of frost has passed, or start indoors earlier for a head start.
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4Nasturtium
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These easy-going plants trail or mound beautifully, with flowers in shades of peach, red, orange and pink. Both the flowers and leaves are edible, making them a lovely addition to summer dishes.
Top tip: Sow outdoors after the last frost in a sunny spot.
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5Love in a Mist (Nigellas)
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With its delicate foliage and soft blue, white or pink flowers, nigella adds a romantic, cottage garden feel. It’s also loved by pollinators.
Top tip: Sow directly outdoors once the soil has warmed and conditions are mild – usually early summer.
6Ammi
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Ammi is a tall, graceful annual that looks wonderful in cut flower arrangements. Its wide, flat umbel-shaped flowers attract pollinators and it also self-sows easily, so you may never need to plant them again, once you have a good crop.
Top tip: Plant the seeds as soon as the soil can be worked. Because they’re not the longest-lasting flowers, plant seeds a few weeks apart for longest harvest time.
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7Morning Glory
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Another vining flower is morning glory, which twines gracefully up a trellis or fence line. Deadhead them if you don’t want them to reseed next year, because some types can become quite invasive in the garden if left to seed.
Top tip: Sow once the soil has warmed and choose a sunny, sheltered spot for best results.
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8Sweet Alyssum
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Sweet alyssum is a low-growing, sweetly scented flower with a delicate honey smell. Pollinators love it, and this annual can take the cold and will often continue flowering well into autumn
Top tip: Sow early in spring once the soil can be worked.
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9Larkspur
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Larkspur brings height and structure to borders with its tall spires of soft, cottage-style blooms in shades of blue, pink and white.
Top tip: Sow directly outdoors in early to mid-spring, as it prefers cooler conditions to get established.
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10Calendula
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Bright and cheerful, calendula is one of the easiest annuals to grow, producing sunny orange and yellow blooms throughout the season.
Top tip: Sow outdoors after the last frost for reliable, fast results.
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11Sweet Pea
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Sweet peas are loved for their delicate fragrance and climbing habit, making them perfect for trellises and arches. They prefer cooler conditions and can fade in high summer heat.
Top tip: Soak the seeds overnight to aid germination, then plant them about six to eight weeks before the last expected frost.
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12Dill
This herb produces lovely, large, wispy flowers that pollinators adore. They make a nice filler flower for bouquets, too.
Top tip: Sow in early spring, as dill prefers cooler growing conditions.
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13Verbena Bonariensis
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These purple flowers on tall, wiry stems make a beautiful addition to borders. They’re a great source of late-season colour and nectar for pollinators in your garden.
Top tip: You can sow seeds indoors about 8 weeks before the last frost to get a jumpstart on these somewhat slow-growing plants, or sow them directly in the garden.
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14Sunflower
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Sunflowers are the quintessential flower of summer! They come in varying heights from 2 feet to 10 feet tall and every colour from cheery yellow to chocolate brown to deepest burgundy. They attract tons of pollinators, too, especially late in the season.
Top tip: Plant the seeds from early to mid-summer for flowers that last into autumn
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15Chamomile
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These cheerful, daisy-like flowers are both pretty and practical. German chamomile (the annual type) is best for quick results.
Top tip: Sow outdoors after the last frost in a sunny position.
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Arricca Elin SanSone is a writer, editor, and content creator who specializes in lifestyle and gardening. With a background in health reporting, she applies these same research skills when writing about the science of growing things. She trials new plants in her expansive garden, and her houseplant collection consists of 60+ varieties. Arricca has written thousands of articles for publications such as Country Living, House Beautiful, Good Housekeeping, Prevention, VERANDA, Southern Living, and more. She’s happiest when digging in the dirt, baking, or spending time with the people and dogs she loves.
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