10 award-winning hardy annuals

Easily grown from seeds, there are a variety of hardy annuals

Annuals are plants that complete their life cycle in one growing season. They are generally easy to grow from seed or can be bought as young plants from garden centres. Annuals are ideal for growing in summer containers and filling gaps in borders. Some examples of annuals include sunflowers, cosmos, sweet peas and zinnia.

that offer long-lasting flowers to give your garden colour and vibrancy. Here are some favourites, all having received the RHS Recommended: Award of Garden Merit.

Everlasting beauty

Grow in moderately fertile, moist but well-drained, neutral to alkaline soil in full sun

Xerochrysumbracteatum ‘Bright Bikini’ is an upright annual with strap-like narrow green leaves and double, everlasting flower-heads which grow to 8cm across. Petals bloom is shades of white and in shades of yellow, orange, red and pink, appearing in summer and autumn. Hardiness rating: H2.

Ladybird poppy

Grow in well-drained, deep, fertile soil in full sun

Papaver commutatum ‘Ladybird’ is one of the most dramatic of easy annuals, like the familiar native

A native plant is one that originated or arrived naturally in a particular place without human involvement. In the British Isles, native plants are those that were here during the last ice age or have arrived unaided since.

field poppy on steroids. The foliage is nicely divided but the glory is in the flowers. Vivid shining scarlet, the colour is bright and intense, but not gaudy, and each petal features a bold black blotch at the base. The plants are neat and bushy, and if dead-headed promptly will bloom for a long summer season. In autumn, leave a few flowers to self sow. 38-45cm (15-18in).Hardiness rating: H5.

Deadheading plants: how and why

Lacy and delicate

Grow in a sunny open position in well-drained or poor soil

Orlaya grandiflora is an annual that combines well with so many other plants – and which is bright in its own right. Featuring prettily-divided fresh green foliage, the slightly domed heads are more colourful than similar Ammi majus. The small central florets are surrounded by a ring of much larger ones, creating more impact. Good in dry soil, and an excellent cut flower too. ‘White Lace’, also with the RHS Recommended: Award of Garden Merit, is similar but slightly taller. 45-60cm (18-24in). Hardiness rating: H7.

Nasturtiums, but not as you know them

Grow in poor, moist but well-drained soil in full sun

Nasturtiums, especially dwarf nasturtiums, are notorious: their flowers are so often smothered by the foliage that all you see is leaves. In most soils, plants in the Whirlybird Seriesnot only hold their brightly coloured flowers above the leaves but the flowers look upwards showing themselves off to the best effect. There are six colours; for the best display keep the plants dryish and grow in soil that is not too rich. 30cm (12in). Hardiness rating: H3.

An essential love-in-a-mist

Grow in any well-drained soil in full sun

Nigella damascena ‘Miss Jekyll’ or Love-in-a-mist is justifiably one of the most popular of all hardy annuals, from soon after germination

Germination is the process by which a seed develops into a new plant. It starts with the seed coat absorbing water, expanding and splitting, which allows oxygen and water into the seed so its food reserves can be broken down and used by the embryo for growth. The first root (called the radicle) pushes into the soil to anchor the new plant in place and start absorbing water and nutrients. The first shoot (called the plumule) then grows upwards, out of the soil, towards the light.

until the autumn seedheads, this is a lovely plant. Finely divided leaves make an attractive rosette from which spring vertical stems carrying sky blue flowers are followed by inflated seed pods. The flowers are lovely in the garden and when cut, the seed pods too, and the green pods with their purple stripes can be dried to biscuit brown. 45cm (18in). Hardiness rating: H3.

Poached egg plant

Grow in any moist but well-drained soil in full sun

Limnanthes douglasii is a splendidly cheerful low annual, with its poached-egg flowers set against divided, fresh green leaves. It has the happy capability of enjoying conditions a little more moist than will suit many hardy annuals – even in winter. Once you have it, you’ll find self sown seedlings

A seedling is a young plant grown from seed.

that germinate in the autumn will make lush mounds of leaves where other winter annuals might rot off and then they flower prolifically in spring. 15-20cm (6-8in). Hardiness rating: H5.

Bee magnet

Grow outdoors in moderately fertile, well-drained soil in full sun

Echium vulgare ‘Blue Bedder’ is one of the best bee plants of all. You can often hear the bees buzzing on the blooms before you’re close enough to see them. Bright pink buds quickly open to rich, sparkling, violet-tinted, blue flowers over slightly rasping foliage for a long summer season. The rounded plants are ideal in a sunny place and happy in relatively poor soil. They will also often self sow for the following year. 30-45cm (15-18in). Hardiness rating: H7.

A loveable sunflower

Grow in moderately fertile, neutral to alkaline, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil in full sun

Helianthusannuus ‘Waooh!’ is a compact and branching, fast-growing annual with oval to heart-shaped, green leaves. In summer, this multi-headed form flowers with enthusiasm, with plenty of sunny yellow flowers and dark brown centres. This smaller cultivar

Gardeners often use the word variety when referring to a specific plant, but the correct botanical term is 'cultivar'. Whichever word you use, it means a distinctive plant or plants, given a specific cultivar name and usually bred to enhance certain characteristics, such as flower or fruit size, colour, flavour or fragrance, plant size, hardiness, disease resistance, etc. Additionally, it is worth knowing that, botanically, variety has another meaning - it refers to a naturally-occurring distinct plant that only has slight differences in its looks. For example, Malva alcea var. fastigiata differs from typical plants by having an upright habit.

is ideal for containers or a the front of bed, to attract bees and butterflies and then birds with the seeds. Up to 1m in height. Hardiness rating: H2.

RHS Plants for Pollinators

Easy cottage garden colour

Grow in moderately fertile, light, well-drained soil; sandy soil is ideal. Full sun essential

A regular star of RHS plant trials since 1953, Linaria maroccana Fairy Bouquet Group contains both pastel shades and brighter colours, and many bicolours. The dainty little flowers – like miniature antirrhinums – line the vertical stems which branch to form secondary spikes as the main spike fades. Blooming for a couple of months in summer, this is a lovely flower for informal summer cottage-style bouquets. Also worth sowing in the autumn. 38-45cm (15-18in). Hardiness rating: H6.

Dainty cut flowers

Grow in any well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade

Ammi majus ‘Graceland’ - dark green, feathery foliage makes the perfect background for an unusually long-lasting display of flat, lace-like heads of dainty white flowers opening from green buds. The upright plants are ideal among perennials or other tall annuals, and are especially attractive to bees, butterflies and other insects. They also make valuable cut flowers where they bring a lightness and airiness to displays of bolder flowers in pastels or brighter shades. 1.4m (4½ft). Hardiness rating: H6.