Gardening Flowers Annuals 17 of the Best Annual Plant Pairings For Summer-Long Color By Andrea Beck Andrea Beck Andrea Beck spent more than three years writing about food for Better Homes & Gardens before serving as the assistant digital garden editor. Now, she writes about lifestyle topics, including food, garden, home, and health for Hy-Vee's Seasons magazine. Her work has appeared on Food & Wine, Martha Stewart, MyRecipes, and more. Andrea holds a double degree in magazines and English, with a minor in politics from Drake University. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on August 23, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Peter Krumhardt Create stunning color in your garden by mixing and matching flower hues and textures. These annual plant combinations are a sure bet for brightening up a border, a front yard bed, or a window box. 01 of 17 Contrast Light and Dark Colors Peter Krumhardt The deep, velvety tones of 'Storm Blue' petunia seem to make the clean white flowers of 'Maverick White' geranium really pop out. This easy-to-grow combo makes a bold contrast in both garden beds and container gardens. Light: Full sun Water: Plant in well-drained soil kept evenly moist Size: 'Storm Blue' petunias will grow to 14 inches tall; 'Maverick White' geranium will grow up to 16 inches tall 02 of 17 Vary Plant Heights Marty Baldwin 'Angelmist Purple' angelonia has beautiful mauve flower spikes that create the perfect backdrop for more compact 'Orange Profusion' zinnias. Light: Full sun Water: Plant in well-drained soil (but both plants can tolerate drought) Size: 'Angelmist Purple' angelonia grows to 10 inches tall and spreads to 20 inches wide; 'Orange Profusion' zinnia matures to 18 inches tall with a one-foot-wide spread 03 of 17 Use Warm Hues in Hot Spots Marty Baldwin 'Orange Profusion' zinnias make a first-rate partner for the showy cup-shape flowers of 'Forever Blue' lisianthus. Both plants thrive in sunny spaces all summer long. Light: Full sun Water: Plant in well-drained soil kept evenly moist Size: 'Orange Profusion' zinnia grows to a foot wide and to 18 inches tall; 'Forever Blue' lisianthus grows to 10 inches tall with a spread of 8 inches 04 of 17 Support Flowers With Pretty Foliage Helen Norman You don't necessarily have to rely on flowers when thinking up stunning annual plant combinations. Here, 'Orange Profusion' zinnias and the chartreuse foliage of 'Occold Shield' geranium are a striking combination, even without the geranium's double coral blooms. Light: Full sun Water: Plant in well-drained soil (but both plants can tolerate drought) Size: 'Orange Profusion' zinnia grows to a foot wide and to 18 inches tall; 'Occold Shield' geranium gets 15 inches tall and 18 inches wide Zones: 'Occold Shield' geranium can be treated as a perennial in Zones 9-10 05 of 17 Let Silver Shades Shine Marty Baldwin Annual licorice vine's silvery foliage makes it a versatile companion for brightly colored blooms. Here, it blends beautifully with the delicate hot pink flowers of 'Profusion Cherry' zinnia. Light: Full sun Water: Plant in well-drained soil (but both plants can tolerate drought) Size: Annual licorice vine grows to 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide; 'Profusion Cherry' zinnia grows to one foot high and 15 inches wide 06 of 17 Repeat a Similar Shade Peter Krumhardt Usually, the best annuals to plant together come from the same color family. Take this combination, for example: Rich purple flowers can make any garden shine, especially when complemented with a more soothing tone. Bold 'Purple Wave' petunias make an excellent partner for the softer purple of ageratum's powder-puff blooms. Light: Full sun Water: Plant in well-drained soil kept evenly moist Size: 'Purple Wave' petunias can spread out up to 5 feet; ageratum gets 18 inches wide and 3 feet tall, depending on the variety 07 of 17 Add Some Tropical Flair Bill Holt While using bold colors together often creates an eye-catching scene, you can enhance the effect by choosing plants with a tropical look. Here, the fuzzy, tall blooms of 'Blue Horizon' ageratum set off the hibiscus-like, orange blooms of flowering maple (which is actually perennial in Hardiness Zones 9-11). Light: Full sun or partial shade Water: Plant in well-drained soil kept evenly moist Size: 'Blue Horizon' ageratum grows to 30 inches tall and 18 inches wide; flowering maple can run up to 10 feet tall and 4 feet wide 08 of 17 Take Advantage of Texture Jason Wilde Melampodium is a top-notch mounding plant with tons of tiny yellow flowers, contrasting nicely with the spiky shape of 'Victoria Blue' salvia. The white blooms of a shrub rose provide a crisp accent to the two annuals. Light: Full sun Water: Plant in well-drained soil (these plants can also tolerate drought) Size: Melampodium can grow to a foot tall and wide; 'Victoria Blue' salvia can grow to 2 feet tall, with a spread of about 18 inches 09 of 17 Spread Some Cheer with Yellow Flowers Peter Krumhardt Yellow is always eye-catching in your garden, and it's a color that exudes joy. This picture-perfect, low-growing annual plant combination idea features 'Talent Yellow' gazania, Dahlberg daisy, and white sweet alyssum. Light: Full sun Water: Plant in well-drained soil kept evenly moist Size: All three plants grow to a foot wide; 'Talent Yellow' gazania and sweet alyssum can grow to one foot tall and Dahlberg daisy grows to 8 inches tall 10 of 17 Build Layers of Color Peter Krumhardt Lots of different colors and textures help make a garden feel more dynamic. Plus, annual flowering plants that reach varying heights can bring extra interest to beds, borders, and containers. Here, 'Victoria Blue' salvia rises above mounds of creamy-white 'Perfume Antique Lime' nicotiana and 'Lemon Gem' marigolds to create a beautiful striped carpet of blooms. Light: Full sun Water: Plant in well-drained soil (these plants can also tolerate drought) Size: 'Victoria Blue' salvia grows 2 feet tall and 18 inches wide; 'Perfume Antique Lime' nicotiana getss 20 inches tall and one foot wide; 'Lemon Gem' marigold reaches 10 inches tall with a spread of 8 inches 11 of 17 Follow a Theme Marty Baldwin Layering works well with annual flowering plants that have similar colors, too. Sun-loving rich-red 'Liberty' snapdragon spires rise above the low-growing 'Fantasy Pink' petunias. Silvery licorice plant is a soothing foil that blends the two annuals together; mix in a few of these for an ideal backdrop. Light: Full sun Water: Plant in well-drained soil kept evenly moist Size: 'Liberty' snapdragon grows to 22 inches tall and 14 inches wide; 'Fantasy Pink' petunias grow to a foot tall with a spread of 20 inches; depending on the variety, licorice plant can grow to 3 feet high and 2 feet wide 12 of 17 Plant a Multicolored Tapestry Peter Krumhardt There's a lot going on in this combo. Tall 'Red Hot Sally' salvia creates a bold layer of color and texture over the variegated chartreuse leaves of 'Vancouver Centennial' geranium. It's topped off by a splash of color from fragrant 'Marine' heliotrope. Light: Full sun to part shade Water: Plant in well-drained soil kept consistently moist Size: 'Red Hot Sally' salvia and 'Vancouver Centennial' geranium grow to one foot tall; 'Marine' heliotrope grows to 20 inches tall 13 of 17 Rely on Rosy Hues Ed Gohlich Pretty 'Comet Pink' Marguerite daisy (which is hardy in Zones 10-11 but grown as an annual elsewhere) creates a mound of soft pink flowers, right when these brick red snapdragons appear above them. Light: Full sun or partial shade Water: Plant in well-drained soil kept consistently moist Size: 'Comet Pink' Marguerite daisy grows to 2 feet tall and wide; depending on the variety, snapdragon blooms can reach up to 3 feet tall 14 of 17 Make a Statement in Shade Kim Cornelison The hot hues of red 'Dragon Wing' begonias look even brighter next to the cool colors of creeping 'Summer Wave Blue' wishbone flowers. Both of these annual plants grow well in shady beds, borders, and containers. Light: Part to full shade Water: Plant in well-drained soil kept consistently moist Size: 'Dragon Wing' begonias grow to 18 inches tall and wide; 'Summer Wave Blue' wishbone flowers grow to 6 inches tall and one foot wide 15 of 17 Brighten Shady Spots With Whites Peter Krumhardt When deciding on the best annual shade plants for your garden, you can't go wrong with a luminous, all-white combination. Here, shimmering 'White Christmas' caladiums provide big-leaf texture to the combination of 'Prelude White' begonia and white polka-dot plant. Light: Part to full shade Water: Plant in well-drained soil kept consistently moist Size: 'White Christmas' caladium reaches 2 feet high and wide; 'Prelude White' begonia grows to 8 inches tall and 6 inches wide; depending on the type, polka-dot plant can reach up to 3 feet tall and wide 16 of 17 Make a Serene Shade Garden Bed Peter Krumhardt Impatiens are some of the best annuals for shady yards. Here, 'Pink Swirl' creates a beautiful contrast with 'Riviera Midnight Blue' lobelia. This combination will entice you to rest beneath your favorite tree while taking in these gorgeous blooms. Light: Full shade Water: Plant in well-drained, humus-rich soil kept consistently moist Size: 'Pink Swirl' impatiens grow to 14 inches tall and one foot wide; 'Riviera Midnight' lobelia grow to just 8 inches wide and 6 inches tall 17 of 17 Create a Riot of Color Peter Krumhardt Start with 'Dazzler Blue Pearl' impatiens to add a big dose of color to shady spots. Add to that the colorful flowers of 'Clown Rose' wishbone flower and the rich purple tones of browallia and you've created a combination that will rival any sunny garden for high-impact color. Light: Full shade Water: Plant in well-drained soil kept consistently moist Size: 'Dazzler Blue Pearl' impatiens grow to one foot tall and spreads 15 inches; 'Clown Rose' wishbone flower grows to 8 inches tall and wide; browallia grows to 3 feet tall and one foot wide, depending on the type Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit