Mandevilla
Photos from Japan, Asia and around the world // Getty Images
This beautiful vine will keep its vibrant color all summer long. Mandevillas come in white, pink, red and coral and their trumpet-shaped flowers will brighten up any deck, patio or pot. Although typically treated as annuals, they can be brought indoors in the winter. Just be careful, as they can lose their leaves and become messy.
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Fan flower
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This low-growing annual produces a mass of small, fan-shaped flowers in three colors: white, pink, and purple. These sunny blooms tolerate heat and drought well, so try planting them along walkways, in pots, or in a windowsill.
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Sweet potato vine
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With burgundy, chartreuse, or mottled leaves, this beautiful annual adds punch to mixed containers — just remember to give it plenty of space to spread out.
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Catmint
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Cat mint is a perennial plant that doesn't mind heat, poor soil, or drought once established. With its minty-scented, silvery-green leaves and pollinator-pleasing purple flowers, it's a must-have in any garden.
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Biden
Maureen Photos // Getty Images
This plant produces vibrant, daisy-like flowers in bright colors such as orange and yellow, even in mid-summer, and doesn't need to be deadheaded to keep blooming.
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Russian Sage
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Russian sage is a beautiful perennial with striking purple flower spikes that bloom for weeks. As an added bonus, it keeps deer and rabbits away.
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Daylily
Ali Majidfar // Getty Images
If you want a perennial that will survive neglect, choose a daylily. This hardy plant will tolerate most soils and requires very little care. Although each flower only blooms for a day (hence the name), there are many on one stem. They come in every height and color you can imagine, with one or two petals.
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lavender
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This Mediterranean native does not tolerate heat or drought. In fact, it prefers sandy or rocky soil and does not like conditions that are too wet. There are many varieties of lavender, so be sure to choose one that will grow best in your USDA plant hardiness zone.
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Dichondra
Oreste Lijechka // Getty Images
With silvery-green leaves and a dense, creeping habit, this annual produces spectacular flowers in a pot or windowsill planter, either alone or in a mixed container.
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Salvia
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Perennial salvias are hardy, produce fruit reliably, are loved by pollinators, come in pink, blue and purple, and are generally avoided by deer and rabbits.
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Angelonia
Photos from Japan, Asia and around the world
Also known as summer snapdragon, this striking annual produces bright pink, purple or white flower spikes that bloom all season long. Although delicate looking, this extremely hardy plant can be planted in flower beds or containers as an upright accent plant.
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Marigold
Thosapol Tondeekyeow / EyeEm
This hardy annual is a classic. It was probably your grandma's favorite. It's popular all over the world, from Mexico to India. Marigolds are so hardy that they can withstand a fair amount of heat and continue to bloom until a hard frost. They come in bright orange, yellow, cream, and variegated varieties.
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petunia
Annie Japo
These old-fashioned annuals provide a burst of color all season long. Newer varieties continue to bloom without the need for deadheading and spread quickly to fill an area. Petunias look especially great in hanging baskets or window boxes.
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Cornflower
Jackie Parker Photography
This cheerful perennial comes in every shade of the rainbow: the coneflowers are favorites of pollinators, and the seed heads provide winter food for birds.
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Calibrachoa
Dale Fornoff
This may look similar to a petunia, but it's a completely different plant. For best results, use it in a basket or windowsill box. This annual comes in every color, from hot pink to lemon yellow to vibrant orange, and has single or double petals.
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Caladium
Amy Comer / IM
This houseplant has pretty heart-shaped leaves with pink, green and white speckles that make it very attractive. Caladiums can be planted in a special container or in the garden. In warm climates they can survive the winter, but in cooler climates they can be potted and brought indoors to overwinter as a houseplant.
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Moss Rose
Photo by Ubo Pakes
This low-growing annual, also known as portulaca, has thick, fleshy leaves that retain moisture and are drought tolerant. It produces gorgeous flowers in vibrant shades of pink, yellow, red, orange, and white.
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Globe amaranth
Faroni
Heat, humidity, drought. This hardy annual tolerates it all. Globe amaranth's round flowers create an interesting contrast with other plants, making it a great edging plant along walkways.
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hibiscus
Maren Caruso
Native to the tropics, hibiscus adds an exotic touch to any pot. They come in a variety of vibrant colors, from deep red to pink, orange and yellow, and some are perennials and some annuals. Read the tag to be sure what you're buying.
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Cuphea
Ruth Peterkin
Also known as the cigar plant or firecracker plant, this plant is a favorite of hummingbirds. Cuphea is an annual in most USDA hardiness zones, but a perennial in some areas. Plant in medium-moist, well-drained soil.
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