Skip to main content
Loam
  • Plants
  • Privacy
  • Support
  1. Home
  2. Plant Encyclopaedia
  3. Annuals

Annuals

35 free UK plant care guides

Loam app icon

Growing annuals? Save plants, set care tasks, and get a personalised 12-month calendar, free in the Loam app.

Download on the App Store
  • Sweet peas are climbing annuals grown for their intensely fragrant, butterfly-shaped flowers in shades of white, pink, red, purple, and bicolour

    Sweet Pea

    Lathyrus odoratus

    Sweet peas are climbing annuals grown for their intensely fragrant, butterfly-shaped flowers in shades of white, pink, r…

    Care guide →
  • Ageratum is a charming half-hardy annual native to Central America, prized for its fluffy, powder-puff blooms in shades of blue, pink, and white

    Ageratum

    Ageratum houstonianum

    Ageratum is a charming half-hardy annual native to Central America, prized for its fluffy, powder-puff blooms in shades …

    Care guide →
  • Alyssum is a low-growing annual beloved by UK gardeners for its profusion of tiny, honey-scented flowers in white, pink, purple, or apricot shades

    Alyssum

    Lobularia maritima

    Alyssum is a low-growing annual beloved by UK gardeners for its profusion of tiny, honey-scented flowers in white, pink,…

    Care guide →
  • Amaranth (Amaranthus caudatus): Native to South America, this heat-loving plant has been cultivated for centuries both as an ornamental and for its

    Amaranth

    Amaranthus caudatus

    Amaranth is a striking annual with dramatic, cascading tassels of deep crimson flowers that can reach 60cm in length, cr…

    Care guide →
  • Annual Mallow is a fast-growing hardy annual native to the Mediterranean, prized for its profusion of funnel-shaped flowers in shades of pink, white

    Annual Mallow

    Lavatera trimestris

    Annual Mallow is a fast-growing hardy annual native to the Mediterranean, prized for its profusion of funnel-shaped flow…

    Care guide →
  • Annual Scabious is a charming cottage garden favourite producing distinctive pincushion-like flowers in shades of deep purple, crimson, pink, and

    Annual Scabious

    Scabiosa atropurpurea

    Annual Scabious is a charming cottage garden favourite producing distinctive pincushion-like flowers in shades of deep p…

    Care guide →
  • Antirrhinum (Antirrhinum majus): Native to the Mediterranean region, these versatile plants have been cultivated in British gardens since the 16th

    Antirrhinum

    Antirrhinum majus

    Antirrhinum, commonly known as snapdragons, are charming cottage garden annuals prized for their distinctive dragon-face…

    Care guide →
  • Busy Lizzie (Impatiens walleriana): Native to East Africa, this compact bedding plant produces masses of flat, five-petalled flowers in shades of

    Busy Lizzie

    Impatiens walleriana

    Busy Lizzie is a tender perennial grown as a half-hardy annual in the UK, prized for its prolific flowering from late sp…

    Care guide →
  • California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica): Growing 20–40 cm tall with feathery, blue-green foliage, it blooms prolifically from June through

    California Poppy

    Eschscholzia californica

    California Poppy is a cheerful hardy annual native to the western United States, prized for its silky, cup-shaped flower…

    Care guide →
  • Cerinthe major 'Purpurascens' is a striking half-hardy annual native to the Mediterranean, prized for its unusual blue-purple tubular flowers and

    Cerinthe

    Cerinthe major 'Purpurascens'

    Cerinthe major 'Purpurascens' is a striking half-hardy annual native to the Mediterranean, prized for its unusual blue-p…

    Care guide →
  • Clarkia is a charming hardy annual native to western North America, prized for its delicate, frilly flowers in shades of pink, magenta, and white

    Clarkia

    Clarkia pulchella

    Clarkia is a charming hardy annual native to western North America, prized for its delicate, frilly flowers in shades of…

    Care guide →
  • Common Poppy (Papaver rhoeas): UK gardeners grow it to create naturalistic meadows, attract pollinators, and add vibrant colour to cottage gardens

    Common Poppy

    Papaver rhoeas

    The Common Poppy is an iconic British annual wildflower bearing delicate, papery scarlet blooms with black centres from …

    Care guide →
  • Cornflower is a charming hardy annual renowned for its vivid blue flowers, though pink, white, and purple cultivars are also available

    Cornflower

    Centaurea cyanus

    Cornflower is a charming hardy annual renowned for its vivid blue flowers, though pink, white, and purple cultivars are …

    Care guide →
  • Cosmos are graceful half-hardy annuals beloved by UK gardeners for their delicate, daisy-like flowers in shades of pink, white, and crimson, held on

    Cosmos

    Cosmos bipinnatus

    Cosmos are graceful half-hardy annuals beloved by UK gardeners for their delicate, daisy-like flowers in shades of pink,…

    Care guide →
  • Honesty (Lunaria annua): The plant produces purple or white flowers in late spring, followed by the iconic flat, moon-like seed heads prized for

    Honesty

    Lunaria annua

    Honesty is a charming biennial (despite its 'annua' name) grown primarily for its distinctive silvery, translucent seed …

    Care guide →
  • Lobelia is a charming half-hardy annual native to South Africa, beloved by British gardeners for its profuse display of tiny, jewel-like flowers in

    Lobelia

    Lobelia erinus

    Lobelia is a charming half-hardy annual native to South Africa, beloved by British gardeners for its profuse display of …

    Care guide →
  • Malope is a striking hardy annual native to the Mediterranean, producing large, trumpet-shaped flowers in vibrant shades of pink, magenta, and white

    Malope

    Malope trifida

    Malope is a striking hardy annual native to the Mediterranean, producing large, trumpet-shaped flowers in vibrant shades…

    Care guide →
  • Marigold (Tagetes patula): French marigolds are compact, bushy annuals producing vibrant orange, yellow, and mahogany-red flowers from late spring

    Marigold

    Tagetes patula

    French marigolds are compact, bushy annuals producing vibrant orange, yellow, and mahogany-red flowers from late spring …

    Care guide →
  • Mexican Sunflower (Tithonia rotundifolia): Growing up to 2 metres tall with velvety, heart-shaped leaves, this sun-loving plant creates a dramatic

    Mexican Sunflower

    Tithonia rotundifolia

    Mexican Sunflower is a vigorous half-hardy annual native to Central America, prized for its spectacular orange-red daisy…

    Care guide →
  • Nemesia is a cheerful South African annual prized for its vibrant, orchid-like flowers in shades of pink, purple, orange, yellow, and white

    Nemesia

    Nemesia strumosa

    Nemesia is a cheerful South African annual prized for its vibrant, orchid-like flowers in shades of pink, purple, orange…

    Care guide →
  • Nicotiana (Nicotiana alata): Native to South America, this member of the tobacco family produces blooms in white, pink, red, lime-green and purple

    Nicotiana

    Nicotiana alata

    Nicotiana is a tender annual prized for its tubular, star-shaped flowers that release a sweet, heady fragrance in the ev…

    Care guide →
  • Nigella is a charming hardy annual native to southern Europe and North Africa, beloved in British cottage gardens for its delicate sky-blue flowers

    Nigella

    Nigella damascena

    Nigella is a charming hardy annual native to southern Europe and North Africa, beloved in British cottage gardens for it…

    Care guide →
  • Pansy (Viola × wittrockiana): Pansies are cheerful, short-lived perennials usually grown as annuals or biennials, beloved for their distinctive

    Pansy

    Viola × wittrockiana

    Pansies are cheerful, short-lived perennials usually grown as annuals or biennials, beloved for their distinctive 'faces…

    Care guide →
  • Petunia (Petunia x hybrida): Their profuse blooms in nearly every colour imaginable, from pure white to deep purple, make them ideal for containers

    Petunia

    Petunia x hybrida

    Petunias are vibrant, trumpet-shaped flowering annuals native to South America that have become a staple of British summ…

    Care guide →
  • Phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia): Its delicate, fern-like foliage is topped with coiled clusters of lavender-blue flowers that unfurl to reveal

    Phacelia

    Phacelia tanacetifolia

    Phacelia is a fast-growing hardy annual native to California and the southwestern United States, prized in UK gardens pr…

    Care guide →
  • Poached Egg Plant (Limnanthes douglasii): Growing to just 15cm tall, it forms low spreading mats of feathery foliage smothered in cheerful blooms

    Poached Egg Plant

    Limnanthes douglasii

    The Poached Egg Plant is a charming hardy annual from California, named for its distinctive white-edged yellow flowers t…

    Care guide →
  • Pot Marigold is a cheerful hardy annual producing bright orange or yellow daisy-like flowers from spring through to the first frosts

    Pot Marigold

    Calendula officinalis

    Pot Marigold is a cheerful hardy annual producing bright orange or yellow daisy-like flowers from spring through to the …

    Care guide →
  • Salpiglossis is a striking half-hardy annual native to Chile, prized for its exotic, funnel-shaped flowers in rich jewel tones of purple, red, gold

    Salpiglossis

    Salpiglossis sinuata

    Salpiglossis is a striking half-hardy annual native to Chile, prized for its exotic, funnel-shaped flowers in rich jewel…

    Care guide →
  • Stock is a beloved cottage garden annual prized for its intensely fragrant, densely packed flower spikes in shades of pink, purple, white, and cream

    Stock

    Matthiola incana

    Stock is a beloved cottage garden annual prized for its intensely fragrant, densely packed flower spikes in shades of pi…

    Care guide →
  • Sunflowers are iconic summer annuals native to North America, renowned for their large, cheerful yellow blooms that can reach impressive heights

    Sunflower

    Helianthus annuus

    Sunflowers are iconic summer annuals native to North America, renowned for their large, cheerful yellow blooms that can …

    Care guide →
  • Swan River Daisy is a delicate Australian annual producing masses of daisy-like flowers in shades of blue, purple, pink, and white throughout summer

    Swan River Daisy

    Brachyscome iberidifolia

    Swan River Daisy is a delicate Australian annual producing masses of daisy-like flowers in shades of blue, purple, pink,…

    Care guide →
  • Sweet William is a charming cottage garden favourite producing dense clusters of fragrant, fringed flowers in shades of pink, red, white, and

    Sweet William

    Dianthus barbatus

    Sweet William is a charming cottage garden favourite producing dense clusters of fragrant, fringed flowers in shades of …

    Care guide →
  • Viola cornuta, commonly known as viola or horned pansy, is a charming perennial often grown as an annual in UK gardens, producing masses of delicate

    Viola

    Viola cornuta

    Viola cornuta, commonly known as viola or horned pansy, is a charming perennial often grown as an annual in UK gardens, …

    Care guide →
  • Wallflowers are beloved spring-flowering biennials that produce clusters of intensely fragrant blooms in shades of yellow, orange, red, and burgundy

    Wallflower

    Erysimum cheiri

    Wallflowers are beloved spring-flowering biennials that produce clusters of intensely fragrant blooms in shades of yello…

    Care guide →
  • Zinnia is a vibrant half-hardy annual native to Mexico, prized for its bold, daisy-like flowers in nearly every colour except blue

    Zinnia

    Zinnia elegans

    Zinnia is a vibrant half-hardy annual native to Mexico, prized for its bold, daisy-like flowers in nearly every colour e…

    Care guide →
Loam app icon

Get the Loam app

Growing annuals? Save plants, set care tasks, and get a personalised 12-month care calendar, all free in the Loam app.

Download on the App Store Coming soon to Android
Scan to download
Plant Encyclopaedia Privacy Policy Support

© 2026 Stephen Anderson. All rights reserved.