Annuals, being grown from seed each year, are among the easiest and most colourful of garden plants. Hardy annuals are sown where they are to flower. Half-hardy annuals are usually started in pots in a greenhouse, to be planted out in the garden when there is no risk of frost. Biennials, such as wallflowers, which take two years to come into flower, are popular and reliable bedding plants, particularly for spring displays. The qualities of annual plants are exploited to the full in the four RHS gardens.
Committees
Herbaceous Plant Committee (previously Floral A)
At London Flower Shows, this Committee judges all individual and group exhibits of hardy herbaceous and tender perennials, and annuals grown in the open for garden decoration, as well as group exhibits of roses and carnations. Individual plants in these categories judged by specialist committees are generally excluded unless the relevant committee is not meeting. At Chelsea it judges only individual exhibits, the group exhibits being judged by a Council-appointed Panel. It is also responsible, jointly with the Tender Ornamental Plant Committee, for judging the Floral Plant trials at Wisley.
RHS Trials and Awards
Three trials of annuals were judged in 2000 and 2001: all of late-flowering yellow daisies, of which some have received the Award of Garden Merit.
More on plant trials and awards