For color that lasts from spring into summer, combine plants with different bloom periods rather than expecting one perennial to flower nonstop. Long-flowering annuals can fill gaps while spring and summer perennials take turns blooming. The eleven annuals below are options from a University of Massachusetts Extension guide for sunny sites; local climate, cultivar, weather and care all affect how well they perform.
11 annuals for a long display in sunny beds
These choices suit sunny gardens with average moisture, with the exceptions noted below. “Average moisture” does not mean a new planting can be left to dry out: water young plants while they establish, and follow the plant label for spacing and care.
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Angelonia
Choose a full-sun spot with average moisture. UMass includes angelonia among low-maintenance annuals suited to summer heat.
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Bidens
Bidens prefers full sun and average moisture. Check the mature spread on the cultivar label before placing it near neighboring plants.
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Blanket flower (Gaillardia pulchella)
This full-sun annual suits a site with average moisture. Confirm that the particular species or cultivar is appropriate for your local conditions.
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Cape daisy (Osteospermum × hybrida)
Cape daisy can grow in full sun to part shade with average moisture, making it an option where a bed gets some afternoon shade.
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Flossflower (Ageratum houstonianum)
Flossflower grows in full sun to part shade and prefers average moisture. Use its cultivar’s label to check mature size and placement.
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Gazania
Plant gazania in full sun with average moisture. Its local performance depends on climate and the cultivar selected.
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Lantana
Lantana prefers full sun and average moisture. It is also among the heat- and dry-condition annuals named in Kansas State Extension’s 2026 advice for Kansas gardens, but that regional recommendation is not a universal guarantee.
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Marigold (Tagetes spp.)
Marigolds suit full sun and average moisture. The genus includes different species and cultivars, so check the label for mature size and local suitability.
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Mexican heather (Cuphea spp.)
Mexican heather prefers full sun and average moisture. Kansas State Extension also includes it among plants for Kansas summer heat and dry conditions; adapt that advice to your own climate.
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Petunia (Petunia × hybrida)
Petunias grow in full sun with average moisture. Some annuals benefit from deadheading or a midseason trim; follow guidance for the specific cultivar.
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Annual phlox (Phlox drummondii)
This annual phlox prefers full sun and average moisture. Do not confuse it with perennial phlox when choosing plants for a bed.
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These are examples from UMass Extension’s Annuals for Sun, not a universal planting prescription. Annuals generally provide color for longer stretches than individual perennial bloom periods, but no fixed display length is guaranteed for every plant or garden.
How to make the color span spring and summer
Perennials typically flower in a particular season rather than continuously. Utah State University Extension gives “3-4 weeks” as a general rule for most perennial bloom periods, while noting that weather affects timing and intensity. A garden can still look colorful for much longer when plants with different bloom windows overlap and annuals fill spaces between them.
UMass Extension’s perennial guide offers a useful succession: spring daffodils and dwarf iris, late-spring bleeding heart, cranesbill and peony, followed by summer coneflower, daylily and perennial sage. Treat these as examples of a sequence, not a promise that all will thrive in every location.
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For a mixed bed, choose perennials for repeat-year structure and use annuals to fill open spaces while the perennials grow. University of Maryland Extension says a perennial planting can take around three years to become well-established and look fuller. During that time, annuals can provide color in the gaps.
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Before buying, assess conditions in the bed rather than relying on a general “sun-loving” label. Extension guidance from Maryland, UMass, Utah State and Georgia emphasizes that plant performance and bloom timing vary with species and environment.
- Sun: Note how many hours of direct sun the bed receives and whether that changes through the day. Most of the annuals above are listed for full sun; cape daisy and flossflower also tolerate part shade.
- Moisture and drainage: Match plants to the soil’s drainage and the water you can provide. Average moisture is the listed preference for the eleven examples, but newly planted annuals need establishment water.
- Space and mature size: Check each label for height and spread, then space plants as directed. Crowding can undermine the planned display.
- Wildlife pressure: Consider which animals browse in your garden and consult local guidance when that is a significant challenge.
- Climate and timing: Check local hardiness, heat tolerance and frost dates. A plant that works in one region may not suit another, and bloom timing shifts with weather.
Plant and maintain annuals for the season
- Wait until frost risk has passed for frost-sensitive annuals. Use your local last-frost guidance rather than a date from another region.
- Plant sturdy young plants at the label’s spacing. Leave room for mature growth instead of fitting plants tightly for immediate fullness.
- Water during establishment. Newly planted flowers may need supplemental water even when a mature plant is described as drought tolerant.
- Mulch and monitor moisture. UMass Extension advises mulching and watering as needed; adjust to local soil and weather rather than following a fixed schedule.
- Deadhead or shear only where appropriate. Some annuals benefit from regular deadheading or midseason shearing. Check species- or cultivar-specific instructions before trimming.
Kansas State Extension’s June 4, 2026 guidance names Mexican heather, lantana, angelonia and other heat- and drought-resistant choices for Kansas summer conditions, while stressing that newly planted annuals still need establishment water. Its recommendations are specific to Kansas, not a nationwide list.
Quick Recap
Sources and regional guidance
- UMass Amherst: Annuals for Sun
- UMass Amherst: Perennials for Continuous Color
- University of Maryland Extension: Perennials: Selection, Planting, and Care
- Utah State University Extension: Seasonal Splendor (Planting for Color)
- Kansas State University Extension: Colorful Landscapes: K-State expert suggests summer plants that are resistant to heat and drought (June 4, 2026)
- University of Georgia Cooperative Extension: Flowering Annuals for Georgia Gardens (revised May 11, 2026)
- University of Vermont Extension: Season-Long Color in the Garden
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