Pick your zone
All annual flowers
ZinniaFull sun · Grown as an annual in every zoneFrench marigoldFull sun · Grown as an annual in every zonePetuniaFull sun · Grown as an annual in every zoneCosmosFull sun · Grown as an annual in every zoneSunflowerFull sun · Grown as an annual in every zoneImpatiensShade · Grown as an annual in every zoneWax begoniaPart shade · Grown as an annual in every zoneZonal geraniumFull sun · Grown as an annual in every zoneSnapdragonFull sun · Grown as an annual in every zonePansyFull sun to part shade · Grown as an annual in every zoneSweet alyssumFull sun to part shade · Grown as an annual in every zoneCelosiaFull sun · Grown as an annual in every zoneScarlet sageFull sun to part shade · Grown as an annual in every zoneLantanaFull sun · Grown as an annual in every zoneMadagascar periwinkleFull sun · Grown as an annual in every zoneNasturtiumFull sun · Grown as an annual in every zoneSweet peaFull sun · Grown as an annual in every zoneLarkspurFull sun · Grown as an annual in every zonePot marigoldFull sun · Grown as an annual in every zoneColeusPart shade to shade · Grown as an annual in every zoneGarden verbenaFull sun · Grown as an annual in every zoneSpider flowerFull sun · Grown as an annual in every zoneFloss flowerFull sun to part shade · Grown as an annual in every zoneMoss roseFull sun · Grown as an annual in every zone
Tender or hardy?
Tender annuals such as zinnias and impatiens die at the first touch of frost, so they go out about a week after your last spring frost. Hardy annuals such as pansies, sweet peas and snapdragons take light frost and go in up to four weeks earlier, and in mild zones they are planted in fall for winter color.
Hardiness ranges, light and size are typical figures from university extension services and botanic garden plant records; a named variety can differ, so check its tag. Planting dates come from each zone's median frost dates (NOAA 1991 to 2020 climate normals) and the timing rules in how we check.