Common Name Scientific Name Bloom Period Light Requirement Flower Color Heighta (inches) Spacingb (inches) Drought Tolerance
Ageratum Ageratum houstonianum Summer Sun to partial shade Blue, pink, white 6 to 24 10 to 12 Moderate
Amaranth, Globe Gomphrena globosa Late spring to early fall Sun to partial shade Lavender, orange, pink, purple, red, white 12 to 24 10 to 12 High
Aster, China Callistephus chinensis Summer to early fall Sun to partial shade Blue, lavender, pink, red, white, yellow 6 to 36 8 to 10 Low
Baby's breath (annual) Gypsophila elegans Late spring Sun Pink, white 6 to 24 18 to 24 Moderate
Bachelor's button Centaurea cyanus Early summer Sun to partial shade Blue, pink, white, wine 12 to 36 12 to 14 Low
Balsam Impatiens balsamina Summer Sun to partial shade Pink, purple, red, rose, white 12 to 36 12 to 14 Low
Begonia, Wax Begonia semperflorens Late spring to early fall Sun to heavy shade Pink, red, white 6 to 12 6 to 12 Low
Blue daze Evolvulus glomeratus Spring to fall Sun Blue 6 to 12 6 to12 High
Cabbage, Flowering Brassica oleracea var. acepola Fall to spring (foliage) Sun Red to white, marbled 8 to 14 12 to 18 Low
Calendula; Pot marigold Calendula officinilalis Summer to fall Sun to partial shade Gold, red, yellow 12 to 24 10 to 12 Low
California poppy Eschscholzia californica Spring Sun to partial shade Orange, red, rose, salmon, white, yellow 12 to 24 6 to 8 High
Calliopsis Coreopsis tinctoria Spring to summer Sun Bronze, maroon, purple, pink, red, yellow, 12 to 36 8 to 12 Moderate
Candytuft (annual) Iberis amara; I. umbellata Late spring to early summer Sun to partial shade Lilac, pink, red, white 12 to 18 6 to 8 Low
Castor bean Ricinus communis Summer to fall Sun Red 72 to 96 48 to 60 Low
Common Name Scientific Name Bloom Period Light Requirement Flower Color Heighta (inches) Spacingb (inches) Drought Tolerance
Cleome; Spider flower Cleome hasslerana Summer to early fall Sun Pink, purple, white 36 to 72 15 to 18 Moderate
Cockscomb; Celosia Celosia crista Summer to early fall Sun Yellow to crimson 12 to 36 10 to 12 Moderate
Coleus Coleus x hybridus Late spring to fall (foliage) Partial shade, sun for sun cultivars Grown for variegated foliage 8 to 20 6 to 10 Low
Cosmos Cosmos spp. Spring to early fall Sun Lilac, pink, red, white, yellow, 36 to 72 10 to 12 Moderate
Dahlberg daisy; Golden fleece Dyssodia tenuiloba Summer to fall Sun Yellow 4 to 8 4 to 6 High
Daisy, African Arctotis hybrids Summer Sun Bronze, pink, orange, red, white, yellow 12 to 24 12 High
Dianthus; Pinks Dianthus chinensis Spring to fall Sun to partial shade Pink, red, white 6 to 18 6 Low
Dusty miller Centaurea cineraria Spring to fall (foliage) Sun to partial shade Silver (gray) foliage 24 12 to 14 Moderate
Forget-me-not Myosotis sylvatica Spring Sun to partial shade Blue, pink, white 6 to 18 10 to 12 Low
Four-o'clock Mirabilis jalapa Summer to fall Sun to partial shade Mahogany, red, pink, purple, yellow, 20 to 24 12 to 14 Moderate
Gaillardia; Blanket flower Gaillardia pulchella Summer to early fall Sun Orange, red, yellow, 18 to 24 10 to 12 High
Gazania; Treasure flower Gazania rigens Summer to early fall Sun Cream, bronze, pink, red-orange, yellow 6 to 12 8 High
Geranium Pelargonium x hortorum Late spring to early fall Sun Bicolors, pink, red, salmon, white 12 to 24 12 Low
Gloriosa daisy Rudbeckia hirta Summer Sun to partial shade Orange, red, yellow 24 to 30 8 to 10 Moderate
Gomphrena Gomphrena haageana Late spring to fall Sun Orange, yellow 9 to 30 10 to 12 High
Common Name Scientific Name Bloom Period Light Requirement Flower Color Heighta (inches) Spacingb (inches) Drought Tolerance
Heliotrope Heliotropium arborescens Summer Sun to partial shade Blue, purple, white 18 to 36 12 Low
Impatiens Impatiens wallerana Late spring to fall Partial shade to shade Orange, pink, purple, red, white 8 to 24 10 to 12 Low
Impatiens, New guinea Impatiens 'New Guinea' Spring to fall Sun to shade Lavender, orange, purple, pink, red, salmon, white 12 to 24 18 Low
Larkspur Delphinium spp. Spring Sun to partial shade Blue, pink, purple, white 18 to 36 6 to 8 Moderate
Lobelia Lobelia erinus Spring to fall Sun to partial shade Blue, violet, white 4 to 18 4 to 6 Low
Marigold Tagetes erecta, T. patula Late spring to fall Sun Gold, orange to red-brown, yellow 8 to 48 10 to 12 Moderate
Melampodium Melampodium paludosum Late spring to early fall Sun Yellow 18 to 24 12 to 14 Moderate to high
Mexican heather Cuphea hyssopifolia Spring to summer Sun to light shade Pink, purple, white 6 to 24 24 Moderate
Mexican sunflower Tithonia rotundifolia Summer to fall Sun Orange, yellow 36 to 60 24 Moderate
Nasturtium Tropaeolum majus Late spring to early fall Sun to partial shade Orange, pink, red, speckled, yellow, white 12 8 to 12 Moderate
Nemophila, Baby blue-eyes Nemophila menziesii Early summer to fall Sun to partial shade Blue, white 6 to 12 6 to 9 Moderate
Nicotiana Nicotiana alata Summer to fall Sun to partial shade Lime green, red, white, yellow 12 to 24 12 to 14 Low
Nigella; Love-in-a mist Nigella damascena Summer Sun Blue, white, violet 12 to 30 8 to 15 Moderate
Pansy Viola x wittrockiana Early spring, fall, winter Sun to partial shade Blue, purple, white, yellow 8 to 12 6 to 8 Low
Pentas; Star cluster Pentas lanceolata Summer to fall Sun Lilac, red, pink, white 12 to 36 24 Moderate to high
Common Name Scientific Name Bloom Period Light Requirement Flower Color Heighta (inches) Spacingb (inches) Drought Tolerance
Petunia Petunia x hybrida Spring to summer Sun to partial shade White to red, purple, yellow 6 to 18 12 to 14 Moderate
Phlox (annual) Phlox drummondii Spring to fall Sun to partial shade Mauve, pink, red, white 6 to 12 6 Moderate to high
Polka dot plant; Freckle face Hypoestes phyllostachya Grown for foliage Sun to partial shade Green and white or pink and green foliage 12 to 24 18 Low
Portulaca; Moss rose Portulaca grandiflora Summer to early fall Sun Orange, rose, yellow, white 8 10 to 12 High
Salvia; Scarlet sage Salvia splendens Late spring to fall Sun to partial shade Blue, red, white 12 to 36 8 to 10 Moderate to low
Setcreasea 'Purple Heart' Setcreasea pallida 'Purpurea' Grown for foliage Sun to partial shade Deep purple foliage 12 to 18 24 Moderate
Snapdragon Antirrhinum majus Spring to early summer, fall Sun to partial shade Lavender, orange, pink, red, yellow, white 6 to 36 6 to 10 Low
Snow-on-the mountain Euphorbia marginata Summer Sun to partial shade White bracts 18 to 24 8 to 12 High
Spur flower Plectranthus fosteri 'Marginatus' Grown for foliage Partial shade Bright green foliage with ruffled white edges 12 to 24 18 Low
Statice; Sea lavender Limonium sinuatum Summer to fall Sun Blue, rose, violet, white, yellow 18 to 36 12 to 15 Moderate to high
Strawflower Helichrysum bracteatum Summer to fall Sun Orange, pink, red, salmon, white, yellow 18 to 30 8 to 10 Moderate
Sunflower Helianthus annuus Summer Sun Gold, red-brown, yellow 12 to 108 12 to 24 Moderate to high
Sweet alyssum Lobularia maritima Spring to early fall Sun to partial shade Purple, red, white 3 to 10 2 to 4 Low
Toadflax Linaria maroccana Spring Sun Bronze, orange, pink, red, white, yellow 12 to 24 4 to 6 Modearte
Verbena Verbena x hybrida Late spring to early fall Sun to partial shade Apricot, blue, pink, salmon, red, white 6 to 12 12 to 18 Moderate
Common Name Scientific Name Bloom Period Light Requirement Flower Color Heighta (inches) Spacingb (inches) Drought Tolerance
Vinca, Madagascar periwinkle Catharanthus roseus Spring to fall Sun to partial shade Pink, purple, red, salmon, white 6 to 18 8 to 10 Moderate to high
Viola; Johnny-jump up Viola cornuta; V. tricolor Early spring, fall, winter Sun to partial shade Blue, bicolors, purple, white, yellow 8 to 12 6 to 8 Low
Wishbone flower Torenia fournieri Summer to fall Partial shade Blue, purple, violet, white, yellow 8 to 12 6 to 8 Low
Zinnia Zinnia elegans Late spring to early fall Sun Orange, pink, red, white, yellow 6 to 36 8 to 12 Moderate
Zinnia, Creeping Zinna angustifolia Late spring to early fall Sun to partial shade Orange, yellow, white 6 to 12 6 to 12 High

a Height may vary with growing conditions and among cultivars of the same species.
b Spacing will vary with desired landscape effect and ultimate plant size (cultivar dependent)

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© Erv Evans, Consumer Horticulturalist
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