Annuals for Edging

Ageratum, Ageratum houstonianum
Alyssum, Lobularia maritima
Baby blue eyes, Nemophila menziesii
Begonias, wax, Begonia semperflorens-cultorum
Calendula, Calendula officinalis (dwarf cultivars)
Candytuft, Iberis umbellata
Dianthus, Dianthus chinensis
Dusty miller, Tanacetum ptarmiciflorum
Gazania, Gazania rigens
Johnnyjump-up,Viola tricolor
Lobelia, Lobelia erinus
Marigold, French,Tagetes patula
Moss rose, Portulaca grandifiora
Pansy, Viola X wittrocl~iana
Petunia, Petunia X hybrida
Phlox,  annual,Phlox drummondii (dwarf cultivars)
Poppy, California, Eschscholzia californica
Lavender cotton, Santolina chamaecvparissus
Snapdragon, Antirrhinum majus (dwarf cultivars)
Strawflower, Helichrysum bracteatum (dwarf cultivars).
Swan River daisy, Brachycome iberidifolia
Verbena, Verbena X hybrida
Zinnia, Zinnia angustifolia, Z elegans (dwarf cultivars)
Impatiens, Impatiens wallerana
Godetia, Clarkia amoena (dwarf cultivars)
Daisy, Dahlberg, Thymophylla tenuiloba

Fragrant Annuals

Bird's eye, Gilia tricolor
Calendula, Calendula officinalis
Candytuft, rocket, Iberis amara
Carnations, Dianthus caryophyllus (some cultivars)
Fiddlehead, Phacelia tanacetifolia
Four-o'clocks, Mirabilis julapa or M. X hybrida
Geraniums, scented, Pelargonium graveolens and others (tender perennials)
Heliotrope, Heliotropium arborescens
Johnnyjump-up, Viola tricolor
Linaria, Linaria maroccana
Meadow foam, Limnanthes douglasii
Mignonette, Redesa odorata
Nasturtium, Tropaeolum majus
Nicotiana, Nicotiana sylvestris, N. alata (some cultivars)
Petunia, Petunia X hybrida (some cultivars, such as 'Red Valentine')
Phlox, annual, Phlox drummondii
Pincushion flower, Scabiosa atropurpurea
Spider flower, Cleome hassleriana
Stock, Virginia, Malcolmia maritima
Swan River daisy, Brachycome iberidifolia
Alyssum, Lobularia maritima
Sweet pea, Lathyrus odoratus (some cultivars)
Sweet sultan, Centaurea moschata
Verbena, Verbena X hybrida

Annuals That Self Sow

Alyssum, Lobularia maritima
Baby blue eyes, Nemopila menziesii
Bachelor's button, Centaurea cyanus
Bird's eye, Gilia tricolor
Marguerite, dwarf, Leucanthemum paludosum
Monkey flower, Mimulus X hybridus
Pansy, Viola X wittrockiana
Poppies, Papaver ssp.
Washington orchid, Impatiens glandulifera

Annuals to Direct Seed
(Usually bloom later than when planted as transplants)

Alyssum, Lobularia maritima
Baby blue eyes, Nemophila menziesii
Baby's breath, annual, Gypsophila elegans
Bachelor's button, Centaurea cyanus
Canary bird vine, Tropaeolum peregrinum
Candytuft, Iberis umbellata
Chamomile, Matricaria recutita
Godetia, Clarkia amnena
Nasturtium, Tropaeolum majus
Poppy, California, Eschscholzia californica
Poppy, Iceland, Papaver nudicale (perennial)
Poppy, opium, Papaver somniferum
Poppy, Shirley, Papaverrhoeas
Sweet pea, Lathyrus odoratus
Linaria, Linaria maroccana
Washington orchid, Impatiens gladulifera

Annuals for Cutting
(Select long stemmed cultivars)

Aster, Callestephis chinensis
Baby's breath, annual, Gypsophila elegans
Bachelor's button, Centaurea cyanus
Bells of Ireland, Moluccella laevis, (biennial)
Calendula, Calendula officinalis
Carnation, Dianthus caryophyllus
Chrysanthemum, tricolor, Chrysanthemum carinatum
Coreopsis, Coreopsis grandiflora 'Early Sunrise'
Cosmos, Cosmos bipinnatus
Daisy, Marguerite, Argyranthemum frutescens
Forget-me-not, Chinese, Cynoglossum amabile
Foxglove, Digitalis purpurea 'Foxy' (biennial used as annual)
Gladiolus, Gladiolus hybrids (tender perennial)
Godetia, Clarkia amoena
Heliotrope, Heliotropium arborescens
Larkspur, Consolida ambigua
Lavatera, Lavatera trimestris
Linaria, Linaria maroccana
Love-in-a-mist, Nigella damascena
Love-lies-bleeding, Amaranthus caudatus
Marigolds, Tagetes erecta
Nicotiana, Nicotiana alata
Pansy, Viola X wittrockiana
Phlox, annual, Phlox drummondii
Pincushion flower, Scabiosa atropurpurea
Poppy, opium, Papaver somniferum
Poppy, Shirley, Papaver rhoeas
Salvia, blue, Salvia farinacea
Salvia, painted, Salvia viridis
Snapdragon, Antirrhinum majus
Statice, Limonium sinuatum
Stock, Matthiola incana
Strawflowers, Helichrysum bracteatum
Sunflower, Helianthus annuas
Sweet pea, Lathyrus odoratus
Tassel flower, Emilia coccinea
Thorow-wax, Bupleurum rotundifolium
Velvet flower, Salpiglosis sinuata
White lace flower, Ammi majus

Annuals for Full Shade

Impatiens, Impatiens wallerana
Begonia, wax, Begonia semperJ10rens-cultorum
Coleus, Solenostemon scutellarioides

Annuals for Partial Shade

Ageratum, Ageratum houstonianum
Baby blue eyes, Nemophila menziesii
Balsam, gardenlmpatiens balsamina
Begonia, tuberous, Begonia X tuberhybrida (tender perennial)
Browallia, Browallia speciosa
Clarkia, Clarkia unguiculata (C. elegans)
Foxglove, Digitalis purpurea 'Foxy' (biennial grown as annual)
Fucshia, Fuchsia X hybrida, (tender perennial)
Geranium, zonal, Pelargonium X hortorum (tender perennial)
Godetia, Clarkia amoena
Larkspur, Consolida ambigua
Lobelia, Lobelia erinus
Monkey flower, Mimulus X hybridus
Nicotiana, Nicotiana alata
Pansy, Pansy X wittrockiana
Phlox, annual, Phlox drummondii
Velvet flower, Salpiglossis sinuata

Annuals for Sunny, Hot Microclimates

African daisy, Arctotis X hybrida (Dimorphotheca)
Black-eyed Susan, Rudbeckia hirta
California poppy, Fschscholzia californica
Chilean Bellflower, Nolana paradoxa ssp. paradoxa
Cock's comb, Celosia argentea
Coreopsis, Coreopsis grandiflora 'Early Sunrise', C. tinctoria
Cosmos, Cosmos sulphureus
Creeping zinnia, Sanvitalia procumbens
Cup flower, Nierembergia hippomanica var. violacea
Fan flower, Scaevola aemula
Gaillardia (blanket flower), Gaillardia pulchella
Gazania, Gazania rigens
Heliotrope, Heliotropium arborescens
Lantana, Lantana camara (tender perennial for hanging baskets)
Livingstone daisy, Dorotheanthus bellidiformis
Moss rose, Portulaca grandiflora
Osteospurmum eclonis
Periwinkle, (vinca), Catharanthus roseus, (Vinca roseus)
Sage, scarlet, Salvia splendens
Verbena, Verbena X hybrida
Zinnia, Zinnea elegans, Z angustifolia

Flowers for Hanging Baskets

Annuals
African daisy, Arctotis X hybrida
Alyssum, Lobularia maritima
Baby's breath, annual, Gypsophila elegans
Black-eyed Susan vine, Thunbergia alata
Browallia, Browallia speciosa
Daisy, Dahlberg, Thymophylla tenuiloba
Impatiens, Impatiens wallerana
Lobilia, trailing, Lobelia erinus
Nasturtium, trailing, Nasturtium majus
Petunia, trailing types, Petunia X hybrida
Schizanthus, Schizanthus pinnatus
Swan River Daisy, Brachycome iberidifolia

Perennials (usually treated as annuals)
Begonia, tuberous, Begonia Xtuberh~brida
Bellflower, Campanula isophylla
Bellflower, Campanula porscharskyana
Bellflower, Dalmatian, Campanula portenschlagiana
Chilean bellflower, Nolana paradoxa ssp. paradoxa
Creeping Charlie (ground ivy), Glechoma hederacea
Fan flower, Scaevola aemula
Fuchsia, Fuchsia X hybrida
Geranium, ivy, Pelargonium peltatum
Geranium, Martha Washington, Pelargonium X domesticum
Kenilworth ivy, Cymbalaria muralis
Lantana, Lantana camara
Lotus vine, Lotus maculatus, L. berthelotii
Purple bell vine, Rhodochiton atrosanguineum
Vinca vine, green and variegated, Vinca major, V. major 'Variegata'
Twinspur, Diascia barberae
Bacopa, Bacopa sp.
Violet,.Tasmanian, Vicla hederacea
Verbena (trailing cultivars), Verbena X hybrida, V. peraviana, V. tenuisecta

Plants for containers
(Tender perennials and annuals)

Begonia, tuberous, Begonia X tuberhybrida
Clarkia pulchella
Daisy, African, Arctotis X hybrida (Dimorphotheca)
Fucshia, Fuchsia triphylla 'Gartenmeister Bonstedt'
Geranium, Martha Washington, Pelargonium X domesticum
Geranium, zonal, Pelargonium X hortorum (tender perennial)
Godetia, Clarkia amoena
Impatiens, Impatiens wallerafla
Licorice plant, Helichrysum petiolare
Marguaerite, blue, Felicia amelloides
Osteospurmum eclonis
Phlox, annual, Phlox drummondii
Swan River daisy, Brachycome iberidifolia
Twinspur, Diascia barberae

Tender perennials
(Can be overwintered indoors)

Geranium, zonal, Pelargonium X hortorum (tender perennial)
Geranium, Martha Washington, Pelargonium X domesticum
Geranium, ivy, Pelargonium peltatum
Gladiolus, Gladiolus hybrids
Fuchsia, Fuchsia X hybrida
Dahlia, tuberous, Dahlia cultivars
Begonia, tuberous, Begonia X tuberhybrida
Purple bell vine, Rhodochiton atrosaflguineum l

Annuals for Late Season Performance

Flowers late
Aster, annual, Callistephus chinensis
Coreopsis, Coreopsis grandiflora 'Early Sunrise', C. tinctoria
Cosmos, Cosmos bipinnatus
Dahlia, Dahlia merckii, D. pinnata
Nicotiana sylvestris
Rudbeckia, Rudbeckia hirta
Statice, Limonium sinuatum
Strawflower, Helichrysum bracteatum (tall cultivars)
Sunflower, Helianthus annuus
Sweet pea, Lathyrus odoratus
Washington orchid, Impatiens glandulifera

Like cool temperatures

Calendula, Calendula officinalis
Dianthus, Dianthus chinensis
Flowering cabbage and kale, Brassica oleracea
Phlox, annual, Phlox drummondii
Snapdragon, Antirrhinum majus
Sweet pea, Lathyrus odoratus

Annuals for Air Drying

Immortelle, Acroclinium roseum (Helipterum roseum)
Love-in-a-mist, Nigella dameascena (seed pods)
Love-lies-bleeding, Amaranthus caudatus
Pink everlasting, Gnaphalium ramosissimum
 Poppies, Papaver spp. (seed pods)
Pteropogon humboldtianum (Helipterum humboldtinanum, Helichrysum humboldtinanum)
Russian statice, Psylliostachys saworowii (Limonium saworowii, Statice suworowii)
Salvia, blue, salviafafiilacea Scabiosa, drumstick, Scabiosa stellata (seed pods)
Shoo fly plant, Nicandra physaloides (seed pods)
Statice, Limonium sinuatum (Statice sinuatum)
Strawflower, Helichyrvsum bracteatum
 Swan River everlasting, Rhodanthe manglesii (Helipterum manglesii)
Thorow-wax, Bupleurum rotundifolium
 White lace flower, Ammi majus
Winged everlasting, Ammobium alatum
Xeranthemum, Xeranthemum annuum

Big, Bold Annuals

Malva, Malva sylvestris mauritania
Nicotiana, Nicotiana lansdorffli, N. sylvestris
Sunflower, Helianthus annuus
Washington orchid, Impatiens glandulifera

Herbs Often Used in Flower Gardens

Anise hyssop, Agasthache foeniculum (perennial, often short lived)
Beebalm, Monarda didyma (perennial)*
Calendula, Calendula officinalis (annual)
Cardoon, Cynara cardunculus (tender perennial)
Feverfew,Tanacetumparthenium (perennial)*
Inula, giant, Inula magnifica (perennial)
Nasturtium, Tropaeolum majus (annual)
Signet marigolds, Tagetes tenuifolia (annual)
Tansy, Tanacetum vulgare (perennial)
 

Author's Choice, Annuals

Candytuft, Iberis umbellata
Cosmos, Cosmos bipinrlatus
Lobelia, Lobelia erinus
Nemesia, Nemesia strumosa
Phlox, annual, Phlox drummondii
Salvia, painted, Salvia viridis
Schizanthus, Schizanthus pinnatus
Strawflower, Helichrysum bracteatum 'Bikini' series
Dianthus, Dianthus chinensis
Marguerite, dwarf, Leucanthemem paludosom

Strange and Unusual, but True

Cardoon, Cynara cardunculus* (perennial grown as annual)
Mexican hat, Rudbeckia (Ratibida columnifera) 'Green Wizard'
Mignonette, Reseda odorata
Orach, red, Atriplex hortensis rubra
Shoo fly plant, Nicandra physaloides
Tassel flower, Emilia coccinea (E. javanica, E. flammea)
Thistle, milk, Silybum marianum (biennial grown as annual)
Thistle, Scotch, Onoporduj acantllium (biennial grown as annual)
Thorow-wax, Bupleurum rotundifolium
Washington orchid, Impatiens glandulifera

Annuals that Close on Cloudy Days or at Night

California poppy, Eschscholzia californica
Chrysanthemum 'Yellow buttons', Coleostephus myconis 'Yellow Buttons' (Chrysanthemum multicale)
Daisy, African, Arctotis X hybrida (Dimorphoteca)
Gazania, Gazania rigens
Godetia, Clarkia amoena (Godetia amoena)
Immortelle, Acroclinium roseum (Helipterum roseum)
Livingstone daisy, Dorotheanthus bellidiformis
Moss rose, Portulaca grandiflora
Osteospermum eclonis
Swan River everlasting, Rhodanthe manglesii (Helipterum manglesii)
Ursinia, Monarch of the Veldt, Ursinia anethoides and U. anthemoides

Annuals with Silver Foliage

Cardoon, Cynara cardunculus+
Dusty miller, Senecio cineraria (Centaurea cineraria)+
Dusty miller 'Silver lace', Tanacetum ptarmiciflorum (Chrysanthemum ptarmiciflorum)+
Lavender cotton, Santolina chamaecyparissus+
Scotch thistle, Onopordum acanthium (biennial)+ Verbascum bombyciferum (biennial)+

+Perennials or biennials used as annuals

Annuals Visited by Butterflies

Ageratum, Ageratum houstonianum
Heliotrope, Heliotropium arborescens
Pincushion flower, Scabiosus atropurpurea

Annuals with frost tolerance

(Foliage survived frost to 30° F. Not all cultivars of a species have been tested and there may be variation in frost tolerance among cultivars of the same species.)

Immortelle, Acroclinium roseum
Alyssum, Lobularia maritima
Aster, Callistephus chinensis
Calendula, Calendula officinalis
Carnation, Dianthus caryophyllus
Chrysanthemum 'Yellow buttons', Coleostephus myconis 'Yellow Buttons' (Chrysanthemum multicale)
Daisy, crown,Chrysanthemum coronarium
Daisy, dwarf marguerite, Leucanthemum paludosum
Dianthus, Dianthus chinensis
Dusty miller, Senecio cineraria and Tanacetum ptarmiciflorum
Feverfew, Tanacetum parthenium (Used as an annual in Fairbanks)
Flowering cabbage and kale, Brassica oleracea
Foxglove, Digitalis purpurea 'Foxy'
Gazania, Gazania rigens
Geranium, zonal, Pelargonium X hortorum
Hollyhock, Alcea rosea 'Pinafore Mix'
Lavatera, Lavatera trimestris
Linaria, Linaria maroccana
Livingstone daisy, Dorotheanthus bellidiformis
Malope, Malope trifida
Malva, Malva sylvestris
Monarch of the Veldt, Cape Daisy, Arctotis fastuosum
Morning glory, dwarf, Convolvulus tricolor
Nemesia, Nemesia strumosa
Nicotiana, Nicotiana alata
Pansy, Viola X wittrockiana
Petunia, PetulZia X hybrida
Phlox, annual, Phlox drummolZdii
Poppy, California, Eschscholtzia californica
Rudbeckia, Rudbeckia hirta
Salvia, blue, Salvia farinacea
Daisy, shasta, Leucanthemum X superbum
Snapdragon, Antirrhinum majus
Stocks, Matthiola incana
Strawfower, Helichrysum bracteatum
Summer cypress, Bassia scoparia trichophylla 'Acapulco Silver' (Kochia)
Sweet William, Dianthus barbatus
Tidy Tips, Layia platyglossa
Ursinia, Ursinia anethoides and U. anthemoides.
Verbena, Verbena X hybrida
Viola, Viola cornuta
Viper's bugloss, Echium vulgare
Winged everlasting, Ammobium alatum
 

The preceeding list has been excerpted from Gardening with Annual Flowers In Interior Alaska,
(Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, Circular 59). Additional annuals with frost tolerance are listed below.

Sweet Pea, Lathyrus odoratus

Earliest Annuals to Plant Outside

 As transplants

Dianthus, Dianthus chinensis
Sweet William, dwarf, Dianthus 6arbatus 'Wee Willie'
Flowering cabbage and kale, Brassica oleracea
Johnnyjump-up, Viola tricolor
Pansy, Viola X wittrockiana
Snapdragon, Antirrhinum majus
Viola, Viola cornuta (perennial grown as annual)

As seeds Sweet pea, Lathyrus odoratus

Annual Vines

Black-eyed Susan vine, Thunbergia alata
Canary bird vine, Tropaeolum majus
Chilean glory flower, Eccremocarpus scaber
Creeping gloxinia, Asarina scandens, A. barclaiana (perennial to grow as annual)
Flag of Spain, Ipomoea lobata (Mina lobata)
Hops, Humulus japonicus
Purple bell vine, Rhodochiton atrosanguineum (perennial usually grown as an annual)
Scarlet runner beans, Phaseolus coccineus
Sweet pea, Lathyrus odoratus

* May not be hardy in all locations.