Eight Effortlessly Tended Annual Blossoms with Rapid Growth Rates
Hurry Up Blooms For Your Garden: Top Fast-Growing Annual Flowers!
Need some quick color for your garden? Look no further than fast-growing annuals! With brilliant bursts of color and low-maintenance requirements, these powerhouse plants are the perfect choice to create a beautiful outdoor landscape. Check out the recommendations from gardening gurus to find the best fast-growers that fit your garden.
- Laura Janney, CEO of The Inspired Garden Masterclass
- Michael Clarke, landscape architect, horticulturist, and founder of Yardwork
Zinnias
Zinnias are vibrant and daisy-like flowers with rounded petals in a variety of hues. These hardy annuals thrive in sunlight and well-draining soil.
"If you need fast-growing and low-maintenance, zinnias are your answer," says Laura Janney, CEO of The Inspired Garden Masterclass. "They breathe life into gardens and are sensational as cut flowers for brightening indoor spaces. Plus, they come in a variety of colors and sizes, and they are deer-resistant!"
When your zinnia blooms have already seen better days, be sure to deadhead them to encourage more blooms.
- Hardiness Zone: 2 to 11
- Light: Full sun
- Soil: Well-draining
Angelonia
Angelonia, also known as summer snapdragon, boasts beautiful clusters of flowers that grow on bushy plants. These fast-growing flowering plants bloom in shades of white, pink, and purple.
"Angelonia is incredibly low-maintenance due to its rapid growth and hardiness," Janney explains. "It is heat, humidity, and drought-tolerant, making it a staple in our gardens. Its bell-shaped flowers offer a touch of English cottage charm and provide a continuous display of color throughout the summer." Janney recommends regularly cutting back and deadheading your Angelonia to keep those blooms coming all summer long.
- Hardiness Zone: 9 to 11
- Light: Full sun
- Soil: Well-draining, moist
Sunflowers
Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) are irresistible with their cheerful yellow blooms.
"Sunflowers are fast-growing annuals that bask in the sun and thrive in well-draining soil," explains Michael Clarke, landscape architect, horticulturist, and founder of Yardwork. "Water them regularly, especially when the soil starts to dry out, but avoid overwatering, as they don't like soggy roots."
- Hardiness Zone: 2 to 11
- Light: Full sun
- Soil: Well-draining
Gomphrena
Gomphrena, or globe amaranth, features elegant globe-shaped flower blossoms in shades of pink, purple, orange, red, or white. Although some gomphrenas can be perennials in warm zones, most grow best as annuals.
"Gomphrenas add a whimsical touch to any garden with their little gumball blooms," says Janney. "They are sun and heat tolerant, offering a great contrast to the straighter blooms in the garden. They also make fantastic cut flowers and are deer-resistant." Janney recommends planting gomphrenas in clusters to create a statement, and deadheading spent blooms to encourage more.
- Hardiness Zone: 2 to 11
- Light: Full sun
- Soil: Sandy, loamy, well-drained
Marigolds
Marigolds have cheery pom-pom-like flowers in warm colors such as yellow, orange, red, white, and gold. These popular bedding plants grow easily and quickly.
"Marigolds are drought-tolerant but flourish with regular watering," clarifies Clarke. "Remove spent flowers to encourage new blooms for a tidy appearance."
- Hardiness Zone: 2 to 11
- Light: Full sun
- Soil: Moist, well-draining
Snapdragons
Snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus) bring eye-catching splashes of color to outdoor landscapes and are fast-growing plants that are typically grown as annuals. These low-maintenance flowers have blooms in shades of yellow, pink, white, purple, red, orange, and some bicolor combinations.
"Position them towards the back as heat-tolerant varieties can grow tall," advises Janney. "They may not love the heat, but if you keep them well-watered, they will keep going all summer. Cut down spent blooms to promote a bushier appearance."
- Hardiness Zone: 7 to 11
- Light: Full to partial sun
- Soil: Well-draining, moist
Cosmos
Cosmos are colorful annuals that grow quickly and easily. They have daisy-like flowers that appear in shades of pink, red, white, orange, or yellow. "Cosmos have long, slender stems with finely textured leaves, and sweet, daisy-like blossoms bring a dreamy vibe to the garden," Janney remarks.
Plant cosmos in sunny locations with well-drained soil, and group them together to create stunning displays of color. Deadhead spent blooms to inspire more.
- Hardiness Zone: 2 to 11
- Light: Full sun
- Soil: Well-draining, acidic soil
- If you're seeking a splash of color for your outdoor gardening endeavors, consider taking tips from realsimple's gardening gurus. Anna Brones, a gardening expert, recommends fast-growing annuals like cosmos, marigolds, and zinnias for a quick pop of color.
- For a burst of vibrant flowers reminiscent of daisies, zinnias are an excellent choice. According to Laura Janney, CEO of The Inspired Garden Masterclass, zinnias thrive in sunlight and well-draining soil, making them an easy addition to any home-and-garden lifestyle.
- As a gardening novice, Angelonia, also known as summer snapdragon, is a low-maintenance option that even fashion-and-beauty aficionados can enjoy. With beautiful clusters of flowers blooming in shades of white, pink, and purple, these fast-growing plants offer a touch of English cottage charm.
- Sunflowers, with their cheerful yellow blooms, are an ideal choice for extreme outdoor gardening. Michael Clarke, landscape architect and horticulturist, suggests watering them regularly but avoiding overwatering, as they don't like soggy roots.
- Gomphrena, or globe amaranth, adds a whimsical touch to any garden with its little gumball blooms. These fast-growing flowers are sun and heat tolerant, perfect for those lazy summer afternoons spent in food-and-drink indulgence.
- Marigolds, with their cheerful pom-pom-like flowers in warm colors, are a great choice for easy-to-care-for plants. According to gardening expert Anna Brones, these popular bedding plants grow easily and quickly, making them an ideal addition for both beginners and experienced gardeners.
- Cosmos, with their dreamy daisy-like blossoms, create stunning displays of color when planted in sunny locations with well-drained soil. As with other fast-growing annuals, deadheading spent blooms encourages more growth and keeps the garden looking fresh and vibrant.