Annuals are flowers that complete their life cycle in one growing season. They are grown from seed each year and then they bloom. Once the season is over you’ll have to replant them. Many annual flowers in Phoenix will bloom just about all year.
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Annual flowers in Phoenix can provide year-round color when planted in succession or interplanted with perennials.
One of the great things about annuals is there is no long term commitment to them. Your garden can have a new look each year with a minimum investment.
How to Grow Annual Flowers
Flowers love nutrient rich soil. Many annuals have a long growing season here in Phoenix. While in most parts of the country you’ll have to worry about frost, here you will need to worry more about the summer heat.
Provide them with consistent watering and shade in the hotter months, and cover them during frosts and this will extend their bloom time.
Most annuals do pretty well.
Deadheading the flowers, or simply pinching off the spent blooms will encourage the plant to put energy into created new blooms.
We have the best success with annuals grown in a raised garden bed or in containers. Just remember if they are in containers the soil will dry out sooner, so you’ll need to be more diligent with watering.
Annual Flowers You Can Grow in Phoenix
Many colorful annual flowers do well in the low desert. To prolong their growing season cover during frosts and provide afternoon shade. Annual flowers are also beneficial to plant near many vegetables to deter pests.
Asters, baby’s breath, cosmos, dianthus or Sweet William, globe amaranth, impatien, marigolds, pansies, pentas, petunias, poppies, portulaca, sweet alyssum, sweet peas, violas or Johnny Jump – ups, and zinnias are some of the many annual flowers you can grow in the low desert.
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Annual flowers like Zinnias and Cosmos attract butterflies. Pentas attract both butterflies and hummingbirds.
For the best selection of flowers you can purchases hundreds of different annuals in seeds. For instant gratification, you can purchase annuals in starter packages in full bloom.
Personally, I have better success starting seeds indoors with the more delicate annuals than if I plant the seeds outside. I’ve never had a problem getting zinnias, cosmos or sunflowers to grow directly from seed outside.
When to Plant Annual Flowers in Phoenix
Plant warm season annual flowers, or those that will bloom through the summer, February through May. If you plan on propagating from seed, sow indoors in December or January.
Plant cool season annual flowers in the fall. These flowers will provide winter and spring blooms in your garden.
While some of the annuals can take light frost, it is better to just plan on covering any annuals during frost warnings. Happy gardening!