After the threat of frost is over, planting spring annuals is a simple way to freshen up your landscape and add a pop of color. Spring annual flowers are planted once per year, so unlike perennials, they won’t come back year after year.

Annual flowers are usually a cost-effective way to enhance your landscape with seasonal colors. They are great enhancements to any mulch or pine straw bed and many also do well when potted.

So what are some of our favorite spring annuals to plant?

These spring blooms are commonly found popping up in window boxes, pots and beds in the early spring season. These low maintenance flowers come in a variety of colors, do well in cooler temperatures and perform best in full sun or part shade when planted in a moist, well-drained soil. The pansy can be planted in Zones 4-8.
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Although many people think of geraniums as a summer flower, they actually thrive quite well through the cooler spring season as too. This annual doesn’t withstand frost well, so it is best planted when and where temps will not drop below the 40s in the spring. Try planting it in pots or window boxes to create both color and dimension in your landscape. Geraniums do well outdoors in Zones 7-10 after temperatures consistently reach above 40 degrees.
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Calendula are bright annual flowers that are actually herbs. You will usually find them in golden or yellow shades. These spring annuals don’t mind cooler temperatures at all and will offer a bloomy show for you until the summer heat finally slows them down, particularly with regular deadheading. Plant them in your beds to add warm color! Zones 3-9.
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Impatiens are actually a perennial that is commonly grown as an annual and you will see them in lovely shades of pink, red, white and purple hanging from front porches on dreamy summer days. Your impatiens will do best in filtered light or shade. Be sure to plant in well-draining soil. Zoned for 8-10, impatiens will still thrive in cooler climate zones, but be sure to bring them in or cover them in case of frost.
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Marigolds are hardy annual flowers that may actually do double duty for you. Rumor has it, in addition to adding bold pops of red, orange and yellow to your landscape, marigolds may help deter some insects, so they can be a nice compliment to any herb garden or mosquito repelling pot design! Marigolds will bloom the longest in Zones 8-9, but will thrive just fine when planted at the correct times in Zone 7 and lower.

Get outside and enjoy your landscape this spring! Need some help with lawn maintenance? Getting a custom quote from Canopy is fast and free!