I stand here before you today prepared to defend my clients — the Annual Color Plants of North Central Texas.
It’s come to my attention that there are those among you who feel they’re a bit too much work — that you’d rather switch over to perennial color that you could “plant and forget.”
Well, wait just a moment, my gardening friend. I believe I can prove the error of that thinking. I’ve brought facts, and I’ll make a strong case. Sit back and give me a moment. All you have to lose is frustration and worry.
I’m going to make my case in 10 Rock-Solid Statements. Once you read them, you, too, will be a believer.
1. First and foremost, annuals are in prime color for months. Perennials are in flower for only two or three weeks per species. Perennials (daffodils, iris, daylilies, etc.) look great when the entire bed is in bloom at the same time, but odds are that it will be worn out and brown just a few weeks later.
2. There are thousands of great choices of annuals. Just look through a seed catalog, then visit a good independent retail garden center near you. Hybridizers are introducing scores of new varieties every year. The choices are endless.
3. Because of that great diversity, you’ll find annuals that will thrive in all kinds of conditions, from hot, blazing sun to heavy shade. Perennials generally need really bright sites.
4. Annual color can come from foliage and not just from flowers. Just think about coleus, caladiums, copper plants and amaranthus — these plants have showy, even fiery foliage that out-dazzles most ordinary blooms severalfold. Some perennials have showy foliage (ferns, purpleheart, Solomon’s seal, etc.), but goodness, those four annuals I mentioned really rock!
5. Plantings of annuals can look mature within a couple of weeks after they’re set out. Need a spot of instant color? Buy a hanging basket and repot it into a 16-inch patio pot. It will look wonderful as soon as you water it. Cluster a mix of 4-inch pots into a large pot for the landscape. Give ‘em a little care and watch the magic unfold.
6. Looking for patio color in a big, showy pot? It needs to be annuals. That’s where the “thrillers,” “fillers,” and “spillers” fit in. “Thrillers” meaning the upright plants that become the focal points of the container — the first thing people notice when they see it gracing the patio or entryway garden. The “filler” is like baby’s breath in a floral design. It’s the plant that provides continuity to tie things together, while the “spiller” tumbles out over the pot wall to soften the look. You can do that with annuals and have them all look their best at the very same time. It would be much more of a challenge with perennials.
7. No matter what season — spring, summer, autumn, or winter — there are annuals that are at their showiest then. The most popular annuals in Texas are – pansies! Winter color. Can you name the most popular winter perennial? That’s not as easy.
8. Annuals are affordable. A flat of 4-inch annual transplants costs about the same as a couple of 1-gallon pots of some fancy perennial. Granted, those perennials are one-time purchases, so I’ll give in a little.
9. It’s much easier to work with annuals. You can always get your rototiller back into the bed to work in a new supply of organic matter between every planting. With perennials you must do all that spading and turning by hand. That gets old very quickly. This is a really big advantage to the side of annuals.
10. Nurseries are always stocked with colorful annuals. Granted, supplies may be better in spring, but even in winter you’ll find ways to perk up your plantings. Perennials are much more seasonally driven. So, when you’re asked to spruce things up because the boss and his wife are coming for dinner, there’s always a way with annual color.
I believe I have presented a sound case in support of annual color, but I do have to admit that every garden should also have room set aside for perennials as well. They bring a dignity and elegance to their surroundings. Just don’t go into planning for perennials with the idea that you’re going to be saving a lot of effort. Because you won’t.