{"id":358,"date":"2021-02-12T16:59:00","date_gmt":"2021-02-12T21:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jmf.webdemos.cloud\/?p=358"},"modified":"2023-09-17T13:52:02","modified_gmt":"2023-09-17T17:52:02","slug":"the-top-10-annuals-that-thrive-in-new-england","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jmflandscaping.com\/the-top-10-annuals-that-thrive-in-new-england\/","title":{"rendered":"The Top 10 Annuals That Thrive in New England"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It\u2019s never too early to start making some landscaping plans<\/a>. While it\u2019s hard to imagine anything but white in our snow-covered backyards, they can be bursting with life and color in just a few months.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before you devour that seed catalog or check out our garden center<\/a>, we\u2019d love to share our pick for the top ten annuals that do well in our little corner of the world. Ready, set, bloom!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Top Ten Year Round Plants for a New England Climate<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Many of these annuals do best with full\u2014or at least part\u2014sun, but they have been chosen because they\u2019re easy to maintain and will tolerate the heat of summer. Some may require some \u201cdead-heading\u201d around mid-summer, so we\u2019ll elaborate on that in the annual growing tips below. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Dahlia <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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In the Massachusetts Horticultural Society\u2019s 2015 field trials [1], dahlia\u2014specifically \u2018Mystic Illusion\u2019\u2014was a top performer. It\u2019s got stunning black foliage and yellow flowers, and with a long growing season, they’re sure to put a smile on your face\u2014and keep it there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dahlias are a true show-stopper,<\/a> and they come in several different colors, including purple, pink, white, yellow, and orange. With at least 42 different varieties (excluding hybrids), you should have no trouble finding the color, size, and height that\u2019s perfect for your gardening plans. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While it\u2019s not on this list, dahlias also pair well with another popular annual\u2014verbena [2].  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Angeloni<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Angelonia is a sun-loving annual that\u2019s perfect for containers<\/a>. It\u2019s a dainty plant, with lavender, purple, pink, or white flowers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A common choice for gardeners, angelonias are vigorous and have a long period of flowering. Speaking of flowers, they have blooms that look very similar to another favorite annual\u2014snapdragons. Although, unlike snapdragons, angelonia plants can tolerate super hot conditions [3].<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That isn\u2019t to say that the semi-tropical plant requires warm climates. It can do well in colder zones where it\u2019s grown as an annual, too. While it does need full sun, it doesn\u2019t require a lot of maintenance, making it a carefree, pest-resistant, and versatile choice for containers, beds, or borders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Lantana<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Speaking of carefree, here\u2019s another easy-to-grow annual (in zones 1-8, anyway): lantana. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want a semi-permanent splash of color all summer<\/a> long, lantana is an excellent choice. The cheery clusters of pink, purple, lavender, white, yellow, red, orange, and peach flowers look great in any landscape\u2014and they have an intoxicating sage-like scent, too [4]!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While they offer an attractive look and smell, lantana is toxic and may cause skin irritation\u2014or worse, if any part of the plant is ingested. That said, they should be planted in an area away from children and pets. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want help learning how to grow some of these annuals please check out our gardening guide<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Floss Flower<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Floss flower, also known as blue billygoatweed, bluemink, or Mexican ageratum, is a herbaceous annual that\u2019s frost-tender and forms clumping mounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pink, white, and blue aster-like flowers show from May through October (spring to frost). They\u2019re a common addition to many landscapes<\/a> because they\u2019re easy to maintain, moderately drought tolerant, and pest\/disease free (it\u2019s likely that even deer and rabbits will stay away) [5].<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plus, they make great cut flowers! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Mexican Heather<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Technically a broadleaf evergreen subshrub, Mexican Heather can grow like a perennial in some areas (zones 7 and 8, predominantly), but in South Shore Massachusetts\u2019 hardiness zone<\/a> of 6b, it\u2019s more likely to be grown as an annual. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While it may appear to look delicate and dainty, there\u2019s actually much more than meets the eye with this small shrub. It makes for a tough evergreen groundcover, and is well suited to container growing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bold leaves<\/a> are contrasted by fine-textured and bright purple flowers, making it an annual to truly capture your eye. It\u2019s easy to grow, practically problem-free, and a perfect annual to incorporate into any landscape [6].<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Zinnia<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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For generations, zinnias have been a favorite for gardeners around the country. They’re versatile, with common uses in group plantings or bedding, and they\u2019re downright beautiful.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even a novice gardener can enjoy a bed filled with zinnias. They\u2019re simple to grow and can either be transplanted or directly sown, although they do need full sun and well-drained soil<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then there\u2019s the varieties to mention! Nearly every color and pattern under the sun can be found in zinnias. Speckled, solid, striped, you name it\u2014there\u2019s a zinnia out there that would look great in your garden. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Petunia<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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In 2015, petunia, specifically \u2018Tidal Wave Red Velour,\u2019 was top-rated by the Massachusetts Horticultural Society [7]. It\u2019s a vigorous and gorgeously florific plant <\/a>that shares its beauty during the entire season. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Petunias as a whole are a popular flowering annual because they\u2019re easy to grow, have a bright and lively appearance, and fill the summer air with a beautiful fragrance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some petunias, like grandiflora<\/strong>, are known for their large flowers, while multiflora <\/strong>and milliflora<\/strong> have smaller plant sizes and flowers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For large landscapes, you may even consider a \u201cwave\u201d petunia<\/strong>, or another variety that\u2019s known to spread, as these can grow quickly and fill large spaces with beautiful blooms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That being said, however, petunias are also suitable for container growing, particularly multiflora and those that are known for their trailing, like supertunia. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

With a range of unique colors<\/a>\u2014including dark-as-night black and polka dots\u2014you\u2019re sure to find a variety of petunia that\u2019s perfect for you and your outdoor space [8]. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. Snapdragon<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Did you know that 2019 was the Year of the Snapdragon? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the National Garden Bureau, the childhood favorite, snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus<\/em>)\u2014which smells great, looks great, is versatile, and<\/em> attracts pollinators\u2014should be in every garden [9].<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For many, this unique annual brings back memories of youth as there\u2019s no plant that\u2019s more interesting and exciting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like some of these other plants, snapdragons are technically a perennial (and can be grown as such in zones 7-10), but they tend to be grown as an annual in most American gardens.<\/a>  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They\u2019re available in a range of sizes, suitable for a variety of uses. These include dwarf series, medium series, <\/strong>and tall series<\/strong> varieties. There\u2019s also a relatively new snaptastic<\/strong> snapdragon that retains the look of traditional snapdragons, but requires less maintenance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For some top, award-winning variety recommendations: check out Twinny Peach, Royal Rose, and Madam Butterfly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

9. Sweet Potato Vine<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Here\u2019s another plant that can serve as a perennial (primarily in zone 11), but is commonly grown as an annual. Also known as \u201cwild sweet potato morning-glory,\u201d the plant is native to North America and has been introduced to Massachusetts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like its edible cousin, sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas <\/em>or Ipomoea pandurata<\/em>) is an ornamental vine with attractive leaves and foliage that will make you feel like you\u2019re in the tropics. It\u2019s a vigorous plant (often reaching lengths of up to ten feet!) and can either be used on a trellis or as a ground cover. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are several different varieties available, all in a range of attractive colors. Although uncommon, some older varieties have pink or lavender flowers, too. While the tuber can be eaten, it has a relatively acrid and unenjoyable flavor [10]. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

10. Nasturtium<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Nasturtium is a great annual to incorporate into your landscape. Not only is it a breeze to grow, but it can also be planted to support other flowers and plants (particularly those in your veggie garden).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, nasturtium is commonly eaten as a salad green (with additional uses in natural medicine). But this shouldn’t make you think that it won\u2019t look stunning for ornamental use in a garden. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With many varieties, there\u2019s a nasturtium for any garden purpose: edges, borders, trailing walls or containers, and climbers. The plants have bright green leaves and brightly colored blossoms (typically yellow, orange, pink, mahogany, red, or cream).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the seeds are directly sown in warm soil, they\u2019ll do their own thing and, aside from weekly watering, won\u2019t require too much by way of maintenance<\/a>. They are, however, prone to aphids\u2014which make them a useful plant to deter the pests away from your veggies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Annual Growing Tips<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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