and spread: 30cm × 15cm (12in × 6in)
Companion plants: An exquisite, lacy companion to annuals with more solid-looking flowers, such as godetias, red poppies or Calendula. With deep blue larkspurs, the cream white lace caps make a cool contrast.
Cleome hassleriana
Spider Flower Near hardy annual
A tall, rangy annual with decorative, seven-lobed palmate leaves held on short stalks along the tall, erect spike which terminates in a series of fragrant, distinctive white or pink flowers whose narrow petals and elongated stamens and stigma give the impression of colourful, long-legged spiders. Native of South America.
Soil preference: Any fertile, free-draining, not too dry
Aspect: Sun, part shade
Season of interest: Summer
Height and spread: 1.2m × 30cm (4ft × 1ft)
Companion plants: Ideal for the border back or to grow among tall perennials such as perennial asters since it brings earlier colour. The exotic appearance makes it a good companion to broad-leaved plants such as banana, canna or hedychiums (ginger lilies.)
Atriplex hortensis
Red Orache Hardy annual
An easy annual, distinguished – especially when young – by its conspicuous slightly downy-textured, rich purple leaves which are oval, pointed and borne on flexible stems. Some of the early colour intensity is lost as the plant matures to produce, in summer, foxtail flowers which are brownish green. Self-seeds freely but is easy to control.
Soil preference: Any
Aspect: Sun, part shade, shade
Season of interest: Spring, summer
Height and spread: 1m × 30cm (3ft × 1ft)
Companion plants: Prettiest when allowed to dot itself among other plants in mixed borders or among shrubs. The foliage contrasts dramatically with the silver grey of young artemisias or with the gentle gold of Milium effusum ‘Aureum’.
Silene coeli-rosa (Viscaria oculata)
Hardy annual
A hairless, reasonably erect annual with slender stems and narrow, oblong leaves. The small but showy, pale pink or two-tone pink and white flowers are produced in profusion on longish stems for much of the summer. Tolerant of hot, dry conditions and usually trouble-free.
Soil preference: Any free-draining
Aspect: Sun
Season of interest: Summer
Height and spread: 30cm × 15cm (1ft × 6in)
Companion plants: Prettiest with other annuals such as nigellas, poppies or Anagallis, but also handy to blend with other low growing perennials such as pinks and carnations, sedums, Origanum rotundifolium and Euphorbia myrsinites.
Rhinanthus minor
Hay Rattle, Yellow Rattle Hardy, semi-parasitic Annual
An interesting member of the foxglove family which can only germinate in the presence of host plants – grasses – from which it derives much of its sustenance during the early part of its life. The narrow, toothed leaves, bright yellow, lipped flowers and semi-translucent, pale green calyces make this a distinctive grassland species.
Soil preference: Moist, grass sward
Aspect: Sun
Season of interest: Summer
Height and spread: 30cm × 15cm (1ft × 15cm)
Companion plants: The ‘impoverishing’ effect Rhinanthus has on grass growth is of great benefit because it enables other broad-leaved flowering plants to colonize more easily. Wonderful with Cardamine pratensis, cowslips, cranesbill and knapweeds.
Blue Centaurea cyanus produces an attractive picture when combined with red poppies, corn chamomile and corn marigold.
Planting Naturalistic Schemes
Many annuals which occur in the wild are opportunist plants which grow wherever the ground is disturbed. As fieldcrop weeds, many of them occur worldwide and among the most beautiful are those which colonize the ground among growing cereal crops. This cornfield scene, with its red poppies, blue cornflowers, yellow corn marigold and daisy-like corn chamomile would be simple to reproduce as part of a naturalistic planting scheme in an informal garden. Some wild annuals, however, may be too invasive to risk introducing into a garden – especially a small one.
To avoid creating problems with over-exuberant self-seeding, beds of annuals or ‘arable patches’ imitating cornfields should be contained. Solid pathways around their edges or other non-cultivable ground surfaces can help to prevent seed spread but may compromise the natural appearance. Annuals that are allowed to spill over their boundaries by self-seeding can be far more beautiful than those regimented in strict beds.
Biennials beneficial to wildlife
Myosotis sylvatica
Forget-me-not Hardy biennial
