Annual Favorites
We would like to share with you some of our favorite tried and true plants that work well or are very popular in Calgary Every year.
Alyssum
This annual flowers from early spring until the first frost, making it one of the most useful border plants. Masses of dainty fragrant blue, pink, or white flowers are produced on 2 inches (5cm) plants. This annual does well in sun or partial shade. Space alyssum 6-8 inches (15-20cm) apart to create a carpet of color.
Coleus
This rapidly growing foliage plant can also be used as a houseplant. Pinch back the terminal buds of a 12-14 inch (30-35 cm) tall plant to produce a very full multicolored accent plant for shady areas.
Dracena Spike
These vase-shaped foliage plants have grass-like leaves that cascade as the plants mature. Dracaena makes a great centerpiece in containers or formal flowerbeds
Fushia
Fuchsias are weeping woody plants grown here as annuals. These attractive plants have large glossy leaves and produce exquisite bell-shaped single or double-pink fowers in purple, mauve, pink, or red. They are often bi-colored with combinations of these colors with white centers. Place these hanging baskets in partially shaded locations and keep them consistently moist throughout the growing season. These plants can be over-wintered indoors.
Impatiens
The bright green, shiny leaves of this plant are attractive indoors as a houseplant or outdoors as an easy to grow annual. This 8-10 inch (20-25cm) tall annual produces an abundance of salmon, pink, white, or red flowers. Plant in partial or full shade, spacing the seedlings 18 in.(45cm) apart and keep the soil evenly moist.
Lobelia
There are two basic varieties of lobelia: trailing and upright. The trailing variety looks especially good cascading over the edge of a planter box. This profusely blooming annual grows 6 inches (15cm) upright and trailing 12 inches (30cm). Lobelia produces a mass of flowers.
Marigold
Available in numerous heights, each variety produces a wide range of colors from bright yellow and orange to bronze and reddish-brown. Plant marigolds in full sun, spacing the seedlings 12-14 inches (30-35cm) apart.
Nasturtium
Nasturtiums can be planted in either fower beds or hanging containers. They grow in a mounded fashion with round, smooth leaves. Dwarf varieties are 8-10 inches (15-25cm) tall while taller varieties can grow to 24 inches (60cm) tall. The 2 inches (5cm) white blossoms come in white, salmon, yellow, orange, or red colors and have a strong fragrance. Plant this annual in full sun or partial shade, spacing the seedlings 8 inches (20cm) apart.
