Colour in the garden
As the days grow shorter and the air begins to cool, gardeners can rely on late summer annuals to keep their gardens lively and colourful. These vibrant plants extend the blooming season and provide eye-catching displays right through to the first frost. Whether your garden gets full sun or stays shady, here are some of the best annual flowers for late summer interest.
Annuals for sunny locations
Cosmos. Cosmos bloom generously from mid-summer until the first hard frost. Their daisy-like flowers, in shades of pink and white, contrast beautifully with ferny foliage. They prefer full sun and well-drained soil and are perfect for cutting gardens.
Zinnias. Zinnias are heat-tolerant annuals that come in a dazzling array of colours and forms. Varieties like ‘Queen Red Lime’ offer lime-green petals that deepen to rose in the centre. Full sun and regular deadheading will keep them blooming prolifically.
Marigolds. Marigolds (Tagetes) are garden workhorses, offering long-lasting blooms in orange, yellow, and red. African and French marigolds are popular choices. Their strong scent is said to deter garden pests, making them useful in companion planting.
Sunflowers. Sunflowers make a bold statement in late summer. Tall and sun-following, they add height and structure to the garden. Dwarf varieties are excellent for smaller spaces and containers. All sunflowers thrive in full sun and well-drained soil.
Celosia. Celosia brings bold texture with either plume-like or crested flowerheads in red, orange, and yellow. These heat-loving plants add fiery colour and intrigue to sunny borders or containers.
Annuals for shade
Impatiens. Impatiens brighten shady areas with continuous blooms from early summer to frost. Available in shades of pink, red, coral, white, and violet, they’re easy-care and ideal for under trees or shaded beds.
Begonias. Begonias (Begonia spp.) are versatile and tolerant of both shade and some sun. Wax and fibrous types are excellent for shade, offering green foliage and long-lasting flowers in red, pink, or white.
Coleus. Grown for their colourful foliage, coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides) thrive in partial shade to shade. Leaves can be green, burgundy, chartreuse, or multi-toned, offering strong visual contrast even without flowers.
Browallia. Browallia (Browallia speciosa), or bush violet, produces small, star-shaped blue or violet flowers. It’s an underused option for shaded beds or containers, blooming continuously until frost.
Torenia. Also known as wishbone flower, Torenia (Torenia fournieri) grows well in shade and produces trumpet-shaped blooms in blue, pink, purple, or white. It’s an excellent choice for hanging baskets and containers.
Lobelia. Lobelia (Lobelia erinus) brings delicate, trailing blooms in blue, purple, red, or white. Some cultivars tolerate sun, while others thrive in cool, shady spots—ideal for edging and container displays.
