Summer-flowering annuals provide masses of colour for the whole summer long. Most plants prefer morning sun and afternoon shade, but some will tolerate hot sunny conditions. A fair number will grow in partial or filtered shade, while only a select few thrive in shady conditions. So once you have decided the locations for your containers, make sure you choose the right plant.
Full sun: Alyssum, celosia, cosmos, dianthus, marigold, nasturtium, petunia, portulaca, salvia, sunflower, zinnia, rudbeckia, verbena, arctotis, felicia, gaura, gazania, lavender, pelargonium.
Celosia
Gaura lindheimeri
Dianthus
Morning sun only: Abutilon, ageratum, aquilegia, fuchsia, lobelia, nicotiana, schizanthus.
Nicotiana
Ageratum
Partial shade: New Guinea impatiens, begonia, coleus, impatiens, fuchsia, lobelia, mimulus, schizanthus, torenia.
Mimulus
New Guinea Impatiens
Shade: begonia, coleus, impatiens.
Coleus
Impatiens
Begonia
Water smart annuals: The following annuals need less water than many others: Begonia sempervirens (shade); cleome (partial shade); and alyssum, celosia, cosmos, cineraria, dianthus, eschscholzia, gaillardia, helichrysum, sunflower, marigold, nasturtium, petunia, phlox, Shirley poppies, portulaca, rudbeckia, salvia, verbena and zinnia (sun).
Cineraria
Gaillardia
