Sometimes, you need a little instant magic in the garden. Whether you're planting containers for a porch, filling in borders, or just craving color that doesn’t make you wait, annuals are your best friend. Especially when the soil finally warms and the danger of frost is gone seemingly overnight, the rush to plant something, anything, with impact is very real.
Here are the best-performing, high-impact annuals that we plant (and replant) year after year for immediate color, dependable growth, and serious staying power.
For Full Sun Beds & Containers
Give them 6+ hours of direct sun, water them consistently (especially in containers), and you’ll be basking in blooms from now through the first frost.
Lantana
Why we love them: Tough as nails. Heat-loving, drought-tolerant, and butterfly-approved. Lantana thrives when others give up.
Good to know: Newer sterile varieties don’t reseed, but bloom even harder and longer.
Petunias & Calibrachoa
Why we love them: Trailing, mounding, or upright—these are the color blankets of summer, blooming non-stop with a little love.
Best for: Hanging baskets, raised beds, and container edges.
Care tip: Feed regularly with a slow-release fertilizer to keep flowers coming.
SunPatiens
Why we love them: The bold flower power of impatiens—but sun-tolerant and heat-hardy. Yes, really.
Garden use: Ideal for mass plantings, hot porch pots, or anywhere you need color that can take the heat.
Vinca
Why we love them: Glossy green leaves and cheerful blooms that absolutely thrive in dry, sunny conditions. A true Arkansas summer staple.
Best for: Low-maintenance bedding, curb strips, or sunny planters that dry out quickly.
Marigolds
Why we love them: Classic color, unbeatable durability, and natural pest-repelling properties to boot.
Best for: Borders, vegetable garden companions, and sunny pots near walkways.
Bonus: Deadhead occasionally for continuous blooming.
For Partial Shade Beds & Containers
Got a covered porch? A bed on the east side of the house? These annuals perform beautifully in part shade to shade and still bring a ton of color.
Impatiens
Why we love them: If you’ve got shade, they’ve got color—reds, pinks, whites, purples.
Best uses: Massed under trees or in porch containers.
Pro tip: Keep the soil moist but not soggy—container-grown impatiens are especially thirsty.
Coleus
Why we love them: It’s not all about flowers! Coleus brings electric foliage in patterns no bloom could match.
Bonus: Many varieties are sun-tolerant now too; ask us which ones can cross over.
Begonias
Why we love them: Compact, colorful, and practically bulletproof. Perfect for edging and containers alike.
Try: Tuberous begonias if you want cool foliage AND rose-like blooms
Caladiums
Why we love them: Caladiums are all about dramatic foliage—heart-shaped leaves splashed with white, pink, red, or green. They thrive in shady to part-sun areas where color from flowers might be harder to come by.
Best for: Tucking into containers, borders, or shady garden beds for a bold, tropical vibe.
Planting tip: Wait until soil temps are consistently warm (above 65°F), and keep the soil moist but not soggy. They’ll reward you with lush, leafy color all summer long.
🌱 Tips for Success With Annuals
Even the easiest bloomers appreciate a little setup:
Feed regularly: Use a water-soluble fertilizer every 2–3 weeks, especially in containers.
Mulch in beds: Helps retain moisture and keeps weeds down.
Deadhead (where needed): Many modern varieties are self-cleaning, but a quick trim never hurts.
Start with healthy plants: Locally grown, our benches are full of them.
Final Thoughts: Color That Doesn’t Wait
Sometimes you need a bed to look great now—for a party, a front porch refresh, or simply to feel inspired every time you walk outside.
Annuals give you that instant satisfaction. And in Northwest Arkansas, with our long warm season and wild weather swings, they’re one of the best tools you have for packing the garden with vibrant life from Spring through frost.
So go ahead—grab a flat, fill a pot, tuck something bold between your perennials, and put on a show with these annuals.
