Long-lasting annuals for your garden
By:
Karen Weir-Jimerson
Whether you’re looking to perk up the planters on your porch or fill out bare spots in your garden, these long-lasting annuals will add color and interest to your garden for more than one season.
Get more than one season out of your annuals
This time of year, we’re all looking for plants that can take the heat in stride. But ultimately, gardeners aren’t just looking for plants that can take hot temperatures; they also want plants with improved flexibility to move from season to season — from spring’s cool weather into summer’s heat (and summer’s heat into autumn’s cool), and still bloom well. Ball FloraPlant has been breeding a series of plants to do just this. See a few of the results below and be sure to check out other plants in the series as well.
Check out our 3 quick and easy steps for planting your best annuals
Bloomify™ Rose lantana (Lantana camara)
New in 2018, this lantana is sterile, so it won’t set seed. Lovely ball-shaped habit, great for hanging baskets.
Size 12 to 14 in. tall, 10 to 12 in. wide
EnduraScape™ Purple verbena (Verbena peruviana)
Great improved color and resistance to powdery mildew.
Size 8 to 12 in. tall, 18 to 24 in. wide
MegaCopa™ Sky Blue bacopa (Sutera cordata)
Flowers two weeks longer than predecessors. Larger flowers and improved performance in heat.
Size 4 to 6 in. tall; 12 to 18 in. wide
Bondi™ Blue scaevola (Scaevola aemula)
This compact scaevola thrives in hot, dry conditions. Great for hanging baskets.
Size 6 to 10 in. tall, 12 to 18 in. wide
Lucky™ Red lantana (Lantana camara)
Late seed set keeps plants blooming longer. Looks good in planters and hanging baskets.
Size 12 to 16 in. tall, 12 to 14 in. wide
Spotlight™ Black Heart sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas)
Resists heat-induced leaf fade and color loss. A compact sweet potato vine with handsome, heart-shaped leaves.
Size 8 to 10 in. tall, 16 to 20 in. wide
Bloomify™ Rose lantana (Lantana camara)
New in 2018, this lantana is sterile, so it won’t set seed. Lovely ball-shaped habit, great for hanging baskets.
Size 12 to 14 in. tall, 10 to 12 in. wide
Bondi™ Blue scaevola (Scaevola aemula)
This compact scaevola thrives in hot, dry conditions. Great for hanging baskets.
Size 6 to 10 in. tall, 12 to 18 in. wide
EnduraScape™ Purple verbena (Verbena peruviana)
Great improved color and resistance to powdery mildew.
Size 8 to 12 in. tall, 18 to 24 in. wide
Lucky™ Red lantana (Lantana camara)
Late seed set keeps plants blooming longer. Looks good in planters and hanging baskets.
Size 12 to 16 in. tall, 12 to 14 in. wide
MegaCopa™ Sky Blue bacopa (Sutera cordata)
Flowers two weeks longer than predecessors. Larger flowers and improved performance in heat.
Size 4 to 6 in. tall; 12 to 18 in. wide
Spotlight™ Black Heart sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas)
Resists heat-induced leaf fade and color loss. A compact sweet potato vine with handsome, heart-shaped leaves.
Size 8 to 10 in. tall, 16 to 20 in. wide
Product Recommendations
Here are some supplies and tools we find essential in our everyday work in the garden. We may receive a commission from sales referred by our links; however, we
have carefully selected these products for their usefulness and quality.
