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There’s something satisfying about watching flowers grow from tiny seeds into colorful blooms. While some flowers take their time, plenty of annuals sprout quickly and reward you with flowers in just a few months. Even if you’re getting a late start on planting, there’s still time to fill your garden with color.
These fast-growing annuals can be sown directly into garden beds, raised beds, or containers. Some will even scatter seeds and return on their own the following year. If you’re looking for flowers that grow without much fuss, these 18 varieties are a great place to start.
Marigold (Tagetes spp.)
Marigolds are one of the easiest flowers to grow from seed. Their cheerful blooms come in shades of yellow, orange, and deep red, and the bushy plants flower steadily through summer.
Plant seeds directly in the garden after the last frost in a sunny location with well-drained soil. Marigolds also attract pollinators and other beneficial insects while helping brighten vegetable gardens and flower beds.
Celosia
Celosia brings bold color and interesting texture with its feathery or plume-like flower heads. It thrives during the hottest part of summer and grows well in full sun.
Once established, it asks for very little care, making it a great choice for borders, containers, or anywhere you want extra height and color.
Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus)
Cosmos are known for their airy foliage and daisy-like flowers that bloom from summer until frost. They grow quickly from seed and perform best in sunny locations with well-drained soil.
Available in shades of pink, white, red, purple, and orange, cosmos fit almost any garden style. Once established, they tolerate dry conditions surprisingly well.
Calendula
Calendula produces cheerful yellow and orange flowers that brighten the garden early in the season. It grows best in well-drained soil and enjoys cooler temperatures and gentle sunlight.
Besides looking beautiful, calendula is often planted near vegetables because it can discourage certain pests while also being less appealing to deer and rabbits.
Pansies
Pansies grow quickly and reward gardeners with colorful blooms in solid shades and striking color combinations.
They’re well suited for containers, borders, and window boxes. The edible flowers also make attractive garnishes for salads and desserts. Plant them where they’ll receive morning sun and rich, well-drained soil.
California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica)
California poppies light up the garden with brilliant orange blooms set against blue-green foliage. These drought-tolerant flowers are easy to grow and often reseed themselves.
Direct sow seeds in spring in a sunny spot with good drainage for flowers that continue through much of the summer.
Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)
Few flowers make a bigger statement than sunflowers. Whether you choose towering varieties or compact types, they grow quickly and bring cheerful color to the garden.
They grow best when seeds are planted directly where they’ll stay since they dislike being transplanted. Give them full sun and fertile soil for the strongest growth.
Rocket Larkspur (Consolida ajacis)
Rocket larkspur produces tall spikes covered with blue, purple, pink, or white blooms that add height to flower beds.
It grows best during cooler weather and often reseeds itself if allowed to drop seed at the end of the season. Full sun and well-drained soil will produce the healthiest plants, though taller stems may need support.
Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus)
Cornflowers have long been favorites in cottage gardens thanks to their delicate blue, pink, purple, and white blooms.
They grow well in full sun and tolerate dry soil once established, making them an easy choice for beginner gardeners.
Sweet Pea (Lathyrus odoratus)
Sweet peas are loved for their fragrant flowers and climbing vines. Their blooms come in shades of pink, purple, red, and white and look beautiful growing over fences, arches, and trellises.
Plant seeds directly in fertile soil where they’ll receive plenty of sunlight. Regularly removing faded flowers keeps new blooms coming for weeks.
Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritima)
Sweet alyssum forms low mounds covered in tiny flowers with a light honey-like fragrance. White, pink, and purple blooms attract pollinators throughout the season.
It grows well in garden borders, containers, and rock gardens, filling empty spaces with flowers while asking for very little care.
Globe Amaranth (Gomphrena globosa)
Globe amaranth stands out with its round, clover-like blooms in bright shades of pink, purple, red, and white.
This heat-loving annual grows well in sunny gardens with well-drained soil and attracts butterflies throughout the summer.
Petunia (Petunia × hybrida)
Petunias are dependable bloomers that produce masses of trumpet-shaped flowers in nearly every color.
They’re perfect for hanging baskets, containers, borders, and garden beds. Plant them in full sun and remove faded flowers regularly to encourage new blooms all season long.
Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus)
Snapdragons bloom during the cooler parts of the growing season and produce tall flower spikes filled with colorful blossoms.
They grow well in full sun or light afternoon shade and prefer fertile, well-drained soil. In many gardens, they provide beautiful color during spring and again in fall.
Zinnias
Zinnias are one of the fastest and easiest annual flowers to grow from seed. Their large blooms appear in nearly every color and continue flowering from early summer until frost.
Give them full sun and well-drained soil, and they’ll reward you with armloads of cut flowers while attracting butterflies to the garden.
Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)
Nasturtiums spread quickly with trailing stems covered in round green leaves and bright flowers in shades of orange, yellow, and red.
They grow well in poor soil, tolerate dry conditions, and work beautifully in hanging baskets, containers, and along garden edges. Both the flowers and leaves are edible.
Morning Glory
Morning glory vines quickly cover fences and trellises with heart-shaped leaves and large trumpet-shaped flowers.
Their blooms open in the morning and close later in the day, creating a fresh display every sunrise. Plant seeds in full sun with well-drained soil and provide sturdy support for climbing.
Love-in-a-Mist (Nigella damascena)
Love-in-a-Mist is known for its delicate blue flowers surrounded by soft, fern-like foliage that gives the plant an airy appearance.
It blooms in late spring and early summer and grows best when seeds are sown directly outdoors in early spring. This easy annual adds texture and soft color to flower beds while asking for very little attention.
