Fun and Wacky Annuals

Abutilon megapotamicum ‘Chinese Lantern’ (Flowering Maple) – A low spreading plant, growing to 24” across in one season.  Dark green leaves are mottled with yellow, and provide the backdrop for the 1” red, yellow and black bell-shaped flowers.  Best grown in full sun, well-drained soils.

Abutilons x ‘Fire Glow’ (Flowering Maple) – Sprawling to 2-3’ in a season, the 2” diameter flowers are bright yellow with a red base (calyx).  A knockout!  Best grown in full sun, well-drained soils.

Abutilon x ‘Moonchimes’ (Flowering Maple) – Another great sprawling form, with 2” soft yellow bell-shaped flowers.  Best grown in full sun, well-drained soils.

Abutilon x ‘Paisley’ (Flowering Maple) – A vigorously growing plant, reaching 3-4’ in one season!  The large foliage is green and gold, and provides a great backdrop to the orange blooms.

Aeonium atropurpureum – Looking for a really cool looking succulent?  Whorls of deep dark red paddle shaped leaves produce a rosette, growing to 12” in height.  Full sun and excellent drainage are needed for proper growth.  Great for containers! 

Agastache ‘Tutti Frutti’- The orange pink flowers appear on spikes from May to frost.  The foliage has the delicious fragrance of bubble gum, which also aids in keeping the deer at bay!  A tender perennial, growing to 24-30” in full sun and well drained soils.

Alocasia longiloba (Elephant Ears) – Growing to 3-4’, the plants have gray-green arrow shaped leaves on speckled stems.  Best in light shade.

Begonia ‘Benitochiba’ – A wow of a plant!!  The large leaves are maple shaped and are metallic silver washed with burgundy.  Grows to approximately 18” in height.

Begonia boliviensis ‘Bonfire’ – A more vigorous, upright, yet still tight growing Begonia, Bonfire will easily grow to 24” in one season.  The plant is covered with bright red/orange flowers throughout the summer, complimenting the dark green foliage which is margined in dark red.

Begonia conchifolia ‘Bull’s Eye’ – The thick glossy leaves are marked with a prominent red bull’s eye in the center.  A more compact grower, to 10”.

Begonia ‘Boston Cherries and Chocolate’ – Very wide, dark burgundy leaves that are dotted and splashed with pink. 

Begonia ‘Devil’s Paradise’ – As if the spiral, star shaped leaves are not cool enough, the leaves have a delicious combination of silver and raspberry.

Begonia fuchsioides – Fuchsia Begonia – Growing 12-16” tall and wide in a season, the plant has a cascading effect, and looks great in containers.  Covered with pink flowers all summer.

Begonia ‘Merlot’  – A great foliage plant, covered with 6” long by 1 ½” wide leaves that are deep burgundy, or Merlot in color.  Light pink flowers are produced to compliment the foliage.

Begonia parviflora – A large Begonia, growing to 5-6’ in the shady garden.  Leaves are 12” in diameter, with occasional white flowers through the summer.

Begonia x ‘Sinbad’ – Truly remarkable foliage and ease of culture has made this a favorite of the Gardens for several years.  The foliage has an attractive silver coating, which allows this plant to sparkle in a container or bed.  The pink flowers bloom all summer, making it a standout for foliage and flower!

Browallia americana – A hard to find and little used South American native, it produces light blue flowers from May to frost.  The habit is open and the branches are stiffly upright, allowing it to mix well with others in a bed or container.  It requires little care, and is happy in light shade or full sun.

Bulbine frutescens ‘Hallmark’ (Bulbine) – Native to South Africa, the strap-like succulent foliage grows to 10-12” tall.  All summer, spires of salmon flowers with fuzzy yellow anthers appear.  Bulbine is best grown in full sun with good drainage.

Caladium ‘Bi Color’ – Dark purple leaves with rose pink specks throughout.  Growing to 30” in height, it will grow best in light shade in fertile soils that are not allowed to dry out excessively.

Caladium ‘Florida Sweetheart’ – Pink foliage, with deep pink veins and a light green margin.  A great foliage plant for the shady container, it grows to 15” in height.

Caladium ‘Miss Muffet’ – Wavy foliage with white and green overtones, accented by red freckles!  

Canna ‘Pretoria’ – A really fun and colorful Canna for containers, bedding or mixed borders.  The 6-8’ tall green foliage is striped with light gold, providing a bright and stunning tropical effect.  Orange flowers throughout the summer compliment the gold striped foliage.  In general, Cannas are best planted in full sun in soils that do not dry out excessively; Cannas can tolerate standing water.

Canna ‘Iridiflora’ – A species Cana, native to the higher elevations of Peru and is a parent plant of many of the Cultivars available today.  Plants produce pendant bell shaped red flowers.  Growing to a height of 6-8’, it is ideally suited for sunny locations in soil that remains moist.

Canna ‘Stuttgart’ – This plant is defined by its very narrow foliage that is heavily splashed and stripped with white variegation.  Stuttgart is best grown in light shade in moist soils, a container without a drainage hole, or in a bog garden.  Very cool plant.

Cestrum nocturnum (Night Blooming Jasmine) – A tender shrub with arching branches that grows to 3’ in height.  Becomes covered with chartreuse tubular bells that are intensely fragrant at night.  Grown best in full sun and well-drained, fertile soils.

Cissus discolor – Rex Begonia Vine – Growing easily to 4’+, this foliage plant has deep purple leaves splashed with silver and black.  Grows best in sun, but will tolerate shade.  Soils should be well drained but evenly moist and fertile.

Coleus (Coleus) – There will be over 20 different varieties from which to choose!  Although Coleus was typically considered a shade plant, the new forms develop their best color and form in full sun.  These selections are great for containers or bedding.  Some of my personal favorites include:

• ‘Stormy Weather’ – Moss green foliage with burgundy and pink variegation.

Cuphea ‘David Verity’ (Cigar or Firecracker Plant) – One-inch long bright orange flowers that decorate this shrubby annual from late spring to frost.  The flowers are tubular in shape and with their white tip resemble small cigars.  Full sun and average soils.  

Cussonia paniculata var. sinuata – The Cabbage Tree – Large palmate silver green leaves atop the stem.  Full sun.

Dipladenia ‘My Fair Lady’ (Mandevilla) – A shrubby vine, growing to 2-3’ in height with light pink Trumpet shaped flowers with a yellow throat.  Soil should be rich and well drained, in a full sun or partially shaded location.

Dipladenia ‘Red Ridding Hood’ (Mandevilla) – Similar to the above, but the flowers are bright pink!

Dolichos lablab – Hyacinth Bean – A great annual vine that doubles as an ornamental and an eatable!  Purple pods follow attractive pink flowers, providing interest from July through October.  When picked young, the tender pods are great as a stir-fry.  Introduced by Thomas Jefferson. 

Duranta aurea ‘Variegata’ (Duranta) – The golden yellow leaves are banded with green, which make this low spreading annual (actually a tender sub-shrub) ideal for edging beds or containers.   Provide a spot in full sun and well drained soils.

Ensete ventricosum ‘Tandarra Red’ (Red Abyssinian Banana) – Huge waxy green and red leaves with purple margins and veins.  Perfect for providing that lush tropical flair to the garden.

Erigeron ‘Profusion’ – A great carpeting plant, ideal for between stepping-stones or the edges containers or beds.  It produces a profusion of white daisy flowers all summer.   Prefers a location if full sun, with well-drained soils.

Fuchsia magellanica ‘Versicolor’ (Fuchsia) – A semi-cascading form of Fuchsia.  The new foliage is bordered in bright pink, which gradually changes to a creamy white as the leaf matures.  Best grown in light shade, in soils that do not frequently become dry. 

Iresine ‘Purple Lady’ – Beefsteak Plant – Deep purple leaves, which are iridescent in the late day sun.  Full sun, light shade, height of 8”.

Lantana ‘Confetti’ (Lantana) – This upright growing form produce flowers in shades of pink, salmon and red throughout the summer.  If planted in a container, make certain that the plants do not become root bound and receive adequate moisture. 

Laurentia axillaris ‘Blue Stars’ – One inch blue flowers appear over this spreading plant.  The finely cut foliage reaches a height of 10-12”.  Ideal plant for containers or bedding.

Leonotis leonurus (Lion’s Ear) – Growing to 2-3’ in one season, this is a great plant for mid-summer and fall flowering.  The plant produces whorls of orange flowers that literally resemble a lion’s ear!  Provide full sun and well-drained soils.  This is a great plant for massing in beds.

Lotus berthelotii ‘Parrot’s Beak’ (Lotus Vine) – A great plant for foliage!  The soft gray foliage is needle-like, and covers this sprawling plant.  Best grown in full sun and well-drained soils.  If taken in during the winter, it will produce orange, beak shaped flowers in February and March.

Lysimachia congestifolia ‘Outback Sunset’ – A great foliage plant!  The leaves have shades of yellow, chartreuse, pink and cream, growing to 12” in height.  Light yellow flowers.  Full sun to light shade.

Musa basjoo – Hardy Banana – A great tropical looking plant, native to Japan’s Ryukyu Islands and is hardy to zone 6 if mulched heavily.  Plants can reach 10’ in height, with foliage up to 6’ in length.  Plants will produce new offsets each spring around the original plant, creating a great impact for the annual or mixed border!

Nerium oleander ‘Variegata’ – Very long foliage that is marked  with streaks of yellow makes this a very exciting addition to the garden.  Double pink flowers help to make this a ‘must have’ plants until know. 

Oxypetalum caeruleum (Tweedia) – A truly great and unusual spreading annual!  The flowers are a light blue and appear on the tips of the arching stems.  The foliage is felt-like to the touch and is an attractive gray/green.  Provide full sun and good drainage.  Removal of the developing seedpods ensures continued bloom until frost.

Origanum dicatmnus ‘Dittany of Crete’ (Oregano) – This oregano has silver foliage and beautiful hop-like foliage that is typical of the species.  Great in containers or garden areas where they receive full sun and good drainage.

Pennisetum ‘Prince’ (Prince Purple Fountain Grass) – Growing to nearly 6’ tall, this dark purple grass resembles a Phormium much more so than it does a grass!  A great backdrop plant for those hot, dry and full sun garden locations.

Pelargonium (Annual Geraniums)

Pelargonium zonale ‘Contrast’ (Fancy Leaved Geranium) – Great foliage with cream, red and green leaves, which contrast nicely with the bright orange flowers.  Great in containers!

Pelargonium zonale ‘Crystal Palace Gem’ (Fancy Leaved Geranium) – Fancy chartreuse leaves with irregular green zones, toped by coral flowers.  Named after the glass house of the 1857 plant exhibition in England.

Pelargonium ‘Indian Dune’ (Fancy Leaved Geranium) – Chartreuse leaves with a deep orange-red central pattern.

Pelargonium ‘Persian Queen’ – Clear lime green leaves make this a great foliage addition to the container or bedding scheme.  Single orange flowers appear throughout the summer.

Pelargonium zonale ‘Vancouver Centennial’ (Fancy Leaved Geranium) – Dramatic 2” palmate leaves of brick red edged with golden yellow margins, topped with Salmon flowers.

Plectranthus amboinicus ‘Green Heart’ (Plectranthus) – Light green splashes in the center of the aromatic leaves provide a nice contrast to the dark green margin.  This is a trailing plant, suitable for edging a border or trailing over a container.  The plants are very easy to grow; tolerant of full sun to light shade, average to dry soil conditions.

Plectranthus discolor ‘Green and Gold’ – Bright yellow (gold) foliage with green splashes and lines in the center of the leaves allows this plant to provide great background color for flowers.  A trailing plant, it is easy to grow in a variety of soil and light conditions.

Ruellia elegans – Bright red rosette shaped flowers appear on this 8” tall plant all summer.  Full sun to light shade, and average soil is all that is required!

Russelia equisitiformis ‘Candlelight’ – Grassy foliage gives rise to pale yellow tubular flowers throughout the summer.  Over a summer, it can spread to 2-3’ in diameter.  Best grown in full sun, well-drained soils.  Great addition to the edge of containers

Salvias  

 Here is a fantastic group of plants that many people have yet to discover, or they merely consider Salvias to be short and red!  Culturally, they only request full sun and a soil that is not excessively wet.  In return, they will provide you with a long period of bloom, beautifully shaped flowers, often good height and stature, and attractive foliage!

Salvia argentea (Silver Salvia) – A biennial, this plant produces tremendous silver rosettes of foliage during its first year, and attractive white flowers on 2-4’ stems during the second year.  If the flowers are deadheaded and seeding is prevented, it will often live for more than 2 years.

Salvia guaranitica ‘Argentine Skies’ – Growing to 5’ tall, Argentine Skies produces light blue flowers from late June to frost.  The foliage is a light green, and can easily work with either yellows or blues in the garden.

Salvia x ‘Indigo Spires’ – Up to 18” long flower spikes atop 4-6’ tall plants!  Wow!  Deep violet blue flowers from mid summer to frost, with the color of the flowers deepening with the cooler nights.

Salvia interrupta ‘Waverly’ – Beautiful lavender pink flowers that are ‘fuzzy’ appear on this 4’ tall plant from June to frost. 

Salvia involucrata ‘Bethelli’ – Large and fuzzy light gray leaves on a 6’ tall plant provide the backdrop for the deep rose colored flowers, which appear from August until frost.

Salvia involucrata ‘Mulberry Jam’ – Great for the high summer and fall border!  Deep fuchsia pink flowers grace this 4-5’ tall plant from August to frost. 

Salvia leucantha – Beginning to bloom in September, the wait is well worth your time!  The plant produces violet rose-colored flowers with a complimentary purple colored calyx or base.  Each plant produces well over 100 flower stalks, making it a standout for the late summer and autumn garden.

Salvia mexicana ‘Tula’ – Growing to nearly 6’ tall, the plant produces deep gentian blue flowers with a glowing chartreuse base.  Outrageous!  Flowers from September to frost.

Salvia splendens ‘Louie’s Orange Delight’ – Blooming from June to frost, this plant produces brilliant orange red flowers from June to frost.

Scarlet Runner Bean – Yes, I have not been able to find a botanical name!  But, what a great vine.  Growing to over 10’ tall, the bright red flowers are ornamental all summer.  The beans are good used as a snap, shell or dry bean.  Used by native American Indians.

Solanum quitoense – Lulu – Maturing to a height of 2-4’ in one season, this unusual annual is grown primarily for the foliage.  The large, 18” long green leaves have interesting purple venation, which are studded with orange thorns!  The orange fruit is eaten fresh in Peru and also made into beverages.

Tibouchina urvilleana (Princess Flower) – Very cool and exotic magenta purple flowers cover this 4-5’ tall tropical all summer until frost.  The soft and fuzzy foliage provides a nice compliment.

Tradescantia spathacea ‘Tricolor’ (Variegated Dayflower) – Long slender leaves to 5” are striped with pale pink, cream and green.  To further accent the foliage, the undersides are a beautiful complimentary purple.  A spreading plant, it is ideal for covering large areas in a bed or trailing over a container.  Performs well in sun or shade.

Tradescantia palida ‘Variegata’ (Variegated Dayflower) – Similar shaped foliage and habit as the above.  The foliage is deep purple, raspberry purple, and pale pink.  A gorgeous color combination!

 

Last Modified: 1/23/087, rugardens@njaes.rutgers.edu.
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