Easy Annuals

Cosmos bipinnatus 'Velouette' is an exceptional new variety with unique dark red blooms, the same sizzling dark red as Rubenza. Semi-dwarf, early flowering and uniform, they give a wonderful effect when planted in combination. They will start to bloom in as little as 70 days from sowing, going on to offer to six months of colour from May to October.

'Versailles Tetra Mix' is the cultivar of choice for commercial cut flower production and remains among the best selections for use as a cut flower for home gardeners. Held on strong tall stems, the large flowers bloom from summer right through to first frosts and provide plenty of colour both for the garden and for vases.

Cosmos bipinnatus 'Xanthos' is a new cosmos that's causing rather a stir in horticultural circles. It adds a completely new colour to the Cosmos range. Unique soft-yellow blooms are produced in profusion on compact dwarf plants. Growing to a height of 60cm tall, this truly exceptional Cosmos has already been granted one of the most prestigious horticultural awards, a Fleuroselect Gold Medal.

A little bit different from other Cosmos varieties, Cosmos sulphureus 'Polydor' produces huge quantities of semi-double, bowl-shaped flowers in a range of terrific golden hues, yellow, gold, orange and orange-red. Growing to a very useful 75cm (30in) tall, these adaptable plants are absolutely great for cutting, pots and borders.

Dahlia Redskin gives an impressive display. The rich dark bronze foliage serves as a dramatic background for the large, spectacular single flowers in a delightful mix of rich colours and includes shades of purple, orange, bronze, garnet and maroon. All American Selection winner.

Didiscus caerulea, known as the Blue Lace Flower for its unusual sky-blue flower colour. With delicate lacy umbel shaped flowers, each flower head is composed of tiny, star-shaped, sweetly fragrant flowers. Perfect for the cutting garden and suitable for country cottage style or contemporary arrangements.

Didiscus caerulea 'Pink Lace Flower' is the pink form of this delicate flower. The plants grow to a height of around 60 to 70cm tall and the graceful large flower heads grow to around 8cm across. Easy to grow from seed in any rich soil in full sun, they mix easily with others in the garden or the bouquet.

Eschscholzia are of the easiest and most colourful annuals to grow, with masses of beautiful silky flowers in shades of gold. They bloom profusely over a very long season, succeed in all soils and garden positions and are heat and drought-resistant. They give a garden performance second to none!

This is a lovely cultivar of the California poppy, the blooms of Eschscholzia 'Alba' open a light creamy colour and slowly fade to white. Justifiably popular and very easy to grow from seed they bloom profusely from mid summer until frosts. They are fascinating to the eye and are breathtaking in massed plantings or containers.

Remarkably uniform and neat in appearance, the deep rose-red satiny blooms of Eschscholzia californica ‘Carmine King’ are borne individually on long stalks. The elegant single blooms form a shallow cup-shaped flower, perfect for bees to tumble around while being covered in pollen.

Justifiably popular and very easy to grow from seed, Eschscholzia californica are one of the easiest and most colourful annuals to grow. 'Purple Gleam' is an elegant and unusual cultivar of the California poppy, with single, satiny blooms in lovely shades of purple-pink to lilac-purple.

The best and truest red ever seen in a Californian Poppy. Eschscholzia californica 'Red Chief' has been outstanding in trials, the intensely coloured blooms are produced all summer long above low-growing mounds of feathery blue-green foliage.

With flowers that resemble a rose, Eschscholzia californica 'Rosa Romantica' is a lovely and quite unique California Poppy, the petals are streaked in the most romantic of shades, soft pink-rose and salmon-fuchsia overlay creamy white on each elaborately painted petal.

Summer Icicle adds wonderful contrast to bright summer bedding and container displays and is at home in the border where it performs well in hot and dry soils. The flowers form small white cups at the top and centre of the plant. It is top branching so ideal for use as a cut flower.

Felicia 'The Blues' is one of the few Felicia’s with entirely blue flowers. It is drought tolerant and very easily grown from seed. Flowering in just 8 to 10 weeks from sowing the stunning electric-blue flowers are borne above tidy, compact foliage.

You can't see it or touch it. But it's so integral a part of the garden experience that it penetrates the very soul. It's fragrance. And none of our other four senses has the power to trigger emotions as strong or memories as sweet as scent does. Practice your own individual form of 'aromatherapy' in the garden.

With brilliant golden-yellow flowers surely make this one of the loveliest wild flowers for the garden. The Corn Marigold is at its most impressive when in a meadow setting and as a border plant with other annual cornfield ... or perhaps, regrettably, we must now say 'ex-cornfield' flowers.

Godetia grandiflora 'Duchess of Albany' Godetia grandiflora produces pure white, cup-shaped blooms that cluster atop 45cm (18in) stems. The petals appear very delicate, they are sheer and almost translucent with a remarkable silky softness yet are quite durable and hardy.

Heleniums are much under-rated garden plants. They are a mainstay of the summer and autumn border but are so often overlooked. They are hardy, colourful, easy to grow, tolerate difficult growing conditions, provide months of colour, are attractive to insects and unaffected by most pests and diseases.

If there's one plant that can inject a little razzle-dazzle into the border during gloomy late summers it is Helenium. From late July 'Helena' blooms with masses of vibrant blooms in a spectrum of rich colours from gold to mahogany red. Perfect for the back of the border and wonderful for cutting.

Helenium hoopesii is considered by some to be the most valuable of the species. It blooms with bright golden yellow disk florets that each form a kind of rounded knob that transforms the flower from your typical two-dimensional daisy into something much more interesting and sculptural.

Sunflower ‘Autumn Beauty’ produces numerous long-stemmed flowers from summer to late autumn in a variety of solid and bi-colour bright warm colours including golden yellow, bronze, brown and burgundy. Each plant produces numerous long-stemmed flowers each with dark centres.

Helianthus annuus 'Cut Flower Mixture' offers a diverse range of sunflower varieties that are suited to outdoor cut flower production. In a wide range of shapes and colours, lemon, golds and reds. The heights range from 80 to 150cm (32 to 60in). They are lovely in borders or vases.