One of my favorite parts of summer is the colorful blooms. As the days get longer and the weather gets warmer, flowers emerge from the ground, bringing a burst of bold color to your yard and garden. Heat-tolerant annuals can bloom all summer long with proper care, so you can enjoy thriving, colorful flowers throughout the season when you plant low-maintenance annuals.
Cosmos
With their daisy-like blooms atop slender stems, cosmos make a bold statement in any flower garden. Cosmos prefer dry soil and full sun, except in extreme heat where partial shade is tolerated. As one of the easiest flowers to grow from seed, cosmos are often sown directly in a garden bed. You’ll want to water the flowers on a regular basis, but don’t over-water. As cosmos self-seed, the garden bed may become weedy. Pull these unwanted plants to prevent them from absorbing vital moisture and nutrients.
Impatiens
Annual impatiens typically grow an average of 8 inches high and are bushy and compact. You can find impatiens in a range of soft colors, such as pink, lilac, red, and white. These flowers are fantastic fillers in garden beds and containers and blend well with other species. Impatiens require rich, well-drained soil and can wilt quickly during dry spells. Note that the closer together you plant the flowers, the taller they will grow.
Sunflowers
Make sunflowers the star of your garden. Their big, daisy-like faces and bright yellow petals make them a stunning addition to any landscape. Depending on the variety, sunflowers take an average of 50 to 110 days to bloom from seeds. Plant your sunflowers in well-drained soil in full sun and with plenty of space to grow. Once established, sunflowers require minimal maintenance besides the occasional watering.
Snapdragons
While snapdragons are actually short-lived perennials, they are often grown as annuals. These versatile flowers can grow from 1 to 8 feet high and are often seen with red, pink, white, orange, or yellow blooms. Snapdragons prefer full sun to partial shade in the spring but will typically stop blooming if the temperature gets too high. Keep them well-watered and they’ll make it through the summer and begin blooming again in the fall.
Geraniums
Geraniums are a versatile annual commonly used in containers, hanging baskets, and garden beds. These brightly colored flowers enjoy full sun in the morning with light afternoon shade, as too much heat can cause a condition known as “heat check” that causes geraniums to stop blooming. Plant geraniums in well-draining soil spaced about 8 to 12 inches apart. Water regularly but do not over-water, as soggy soil can kill the plant.
Marigolds
Marigolds are a widely recognized, low-maintenance plant often used in gardens to protect against pests. These flowers thrive in full sun and are usually able to withstand hot summers. When you water marigolds, allow the soil to dry slightly before the next watering, as too much moisture can result in powdery mildew formation. To keep the plant blooming all summer, deadhead dying blossoms by pinching the stems back to the nearest set of leaves.