13 Annual Flowers We’re Planting This Mother’s Day

Holidays are excellent days for planting plants. Every day thereafter, you’ll look at the budding flowers and remember the day you planted them. Whether you’re a mom and want to treat yourself, or you know a mother and want to give them a gift, planting annual flowers is a rewarding activity for the occasion. 

Some of the plants on this list are frost-tender perennials, meaning they die as frost arrives at the end of the growing season. They may survive perennially in warm zones. Others are true annuals that wither away after they flower and produce seeds. 

No matter which colors, textures, or leaf types you prefer, there are options on this list for you and the mother figures in your life. Without further ado, here are 13 annual flowers we’re planting this Mother’s Day.

Peach Melba Nasturtium

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Peach Melba Nasturtium Seeds

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Single Blend Trailing Nasturtium

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Single Blend Trailing Nasturtium Seeds

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Alaska Variegated Nasturtium

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Alaska Variegated Nasturtium Seeds

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Marigold

	botanical name Tagetes spp.
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1-4’
	hardiness zones 2-11

Marigolds are iconic in the summer garden. Their lacy foliage and shiny, bright blooms are classic features in pollinator gardens, veggie beds, and floral borders. Use small-flowered varieties for tons of tiny blooms or select large-flowering specimens with bodacious blossoms. 

Marigolds attract pollinators and predatory insects. Plant them in the garden to prevent pest infestations and to boost pollination rates in your crops. Situate them between tomatoes, onions, and peppers for maximum effect.

African, signet, and French marigolds are some of the many species available for home gardeners. Try the ‘Favourite Blend’ for yellow, gold, and red French marigold blooms. Opt for the African marigold ‘Kilimanjaro White’ if you prefer large, white blossoms with many petals. 

Nasturtium

	botanical name Tropaeolum spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-10’
	hardiness zones 2-11

Nasturtiums are frost-tender perennials that grow as annuals in zones with cold winters. They fill bare sites with their spicy, round leaves and spurred flowers. Use their edible blossoms in salads, charcuterie boards, or sandwiches for a peppery kick.

There’s a joke that you plant nasturtiums once and they never go away! That’s because they have reseeding tendencies. The pollinated blossoms morph into chunky seeds that persist in gardens. They sprout once winter shifts into spring when the days lengthen and warm.

Dozens of nasturtium types exist for you to choose from. Try trailing types as annual groundcovers or in hanging baskets. Opt for bushy varieties for beds, containers, and borders. ‘Alaska Variegated’ is my favorite; it has creamy white and green leaves and orange, red, or peach blooms. 

Sunflower

	botanical name Helianthus annuus
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 5-15’
	hardiness zones 2-11

Feed the bees, birds, and butterflies with these classic annual flowers that add gorgeous Mother’s Day charm! These towering annual wildflowers are native to North America, and many cultivars exist for us gardeners to select from. New types, like ‘Golden Honey Bear,’ have fuzzy centers with frilly petals! 

Others are dwarf or giant, depending on the type. ‘Mammoth’ and ‘Mongolian Giant’ reach over ten feet tall, while miniature versions such as ‘Sunspot Dwarf’ stay under two feet. Find cultivars with yellow, red, orange, or vanilla petals. 

Because sunflowers grow best from direct sowings after the danger of frost passes, they’re excellent candidates for planting on Mother’s Day. Sow them ½ inch deep in well-drained soil at sites with plenty of direct sunlight.

Zinnia

	botanical name Zinnia spp.
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1-4’
	hardiness zones 2-11

Zinnias, like marigolds, are essential parts of the annual Mother’s Day flower garden! They fill empty sites with bright blooms, lush foliage, and tall stems. They’re perfect for sunny sites with well-draining soil; plant them with marigolds, sunflowers, and nasturtiums for a nectar-rich pollinator garden.

Zinnias benefit from warm weather and direct sowing, like sunflowers. Plant them one to two weeks after your last average frost date, when cold temperatures are no longer present. They’ll fill the yard with late-season blooms. 

A favorite zinnia is the ‘Giant Purple’ variety. Its petals are truly purple, and they sprout on tall stems that may reach 50 inches tall. Others, such as ‘Envy,’ have green petals! Choose from colors like yellow, white, red, orange, or peach, as many types of zinnias are available online and at local nurseries. 

Pot Marigold

	botanical name Calendula officinalis
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-2’
	hardiness zones 9-11

Pot marigolds aren’t true marigolds, though they resemble them with their cheery flowers! Also called calendula flowers, these annuals sprout resin-rich petals that are edible and delicious. Use them to decorate fresh dishes during the warm months.

Though they prefer warm weather and consistent moisture, these plants dislike heat waves and long droughts. They’ll stop blooming in hot weather, though they’ll return during the fall with more blossoms. Water them regularly to keep their roots cool and resistant to heat waves.

Find pot marigolds with yellow, orange, and peach petals. ‘Oopsy Daisy’ is a lovely cultivar with many different colored flowers. The petals on each bloom have orange tips, creating a lovely spectacle for the garden or indoor floral arrangements. 

Garden Balsam

	botanical name Impatiens balsamina
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 6”-3’
	hardiness zones 1-13

Balsam fills shady beds with nectar-rich blossoms. The flowers attract hummingbirds and bees with their nectar and pollen. The seeds form in exploding pods. Watch out! When you touch them, they’ll shoot seeds throughout the yard in all directions. 

I love this plant! It’s perfect for filling bare spots in midsummer. The blooms form at the end of the growing season, providing color and nectar when not many other plants are. Collect the seeds in the fall, save them over the winter, and plant them indoors to have a fresh supply for the next year. 

Though it’s gorgeous, this frost-tender annual is a weedy invasive species in tropical regions like Florida. Consider using an alternative if garden balsam is invasive in your region. 

Love-Lies-Bleeding

	botanical name Amaranthus caudatus
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 3-5’
	hardiness zones 2-11

Love-lies-bleeding is a type of amaranth with maroon flower tassels, strappy green leaves, and arching stems. This unique annual flower can add a beautiful accent to Mother’s Day arrangements. It’s a quick-growing species with edible leaves and seeds. Cook the leaves as a spinach substitute, and harvest the seeds to cook like a grain. Boil them with water, salt, and a splash of olive oil. 

Love-lies-bleeding is one of the most ornamental of the amaranth species. It fits in with sunflowers, zinnias, and poppies. If you dislike the strong maroon color of the species’ blooms, consider trying a cultivar like ‘Coral Fountain.’ It sprouts coral-colored blossoms that blend well with green foliage. 

Love-lies-bleeding likes a rich, fertile soil that’s consistently moist but not soggy. Water it well during the growing season. After establishing itself, it’s drought tolerant for short periods of time. 

Cypress Vine

	botanical name Ipomoea quamoclit
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 10-20’
	hardiness zones 11-12

The cypress vine is an incredible climber that fills bare fences, trellises, and arbors with lacy foliage and bright red blooms. Its tubular blossoms attract hummingbirds and butterflies with the promise of sweet nectar. This vine is a perennial in regions with mild winters, though it grows well as a summer annual elsewhere. 

Cypress vine roots are sensitive to disturbance. You may start seeds outdoors this holiday, or plant them in biodegradable pots ahead of time and transplant them on the day. Use paper pots that decay after planting for minimal root disturbance. 

Though the species sprouts red flowers, some varieties offer other colored blooms. Try growing the ‘Funny Valentine Blend’ for a mix of white, pink, and red-petaled blossoms. 

Petunia

	botanical name Petunia spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 6-18”
	hardiness zones 10-11

Petunias are superb and popular bedding plants; they’re some of the most widely used annuals in the U.S.! They sprout bell-like blooms in all sizes and hues. You’ll find them in hanging baskets, multi-packs, and planters at garden centers and local nurseries. 

Discover petunias with variegated, single hues, and splattered petals. Purple, red, pink, white, yellow, orange, and purple-black flowered varieties exist throughout the states, with new varieties released annually. These plants are perennial in mild winter regions and annual in cold states. 

Though it’s easier to find starts at a local nursery, you may also start petunias from seeds in early spring. Choose a mix like the ‘Petite Charmer Blend’ for a variety of colors during the blooming season. Mixes like this one are ideal for gardeners who can’t decide on a single favorite color!

Annual Geranium

	botanical name Pelargonium spp.
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1-3’
	hardiness zones 10-11

Like petunias, annual geraniums are perennial in warm zones and annual in cold ones. They’re popular summer annual flowers that start blooming around Mother’s Day, and they are widely available at nurseries, garden centers, and online retailers. Some types, like the citronella bush, sprout aromatic leaves with lovely fragrances. 

Annual geraniums are cheap and easy to grow. They’re drought-tolerant, heat-loving, and perfect for sites with plenty of direct sunlight. Find one with your favorite color as the bloom hue; there are red, pink, white, purple, and coral varieties available.

If you have a favorite geranium, overwinter it indoors in a container and bring it outside when it’s warm again the next spring. You can also take cuttings of healthy plants and root them in soil or water under bright light.

Begonia

	botanical name Begonia spp.
	sun requirements Partial to full shade
	height 1-12’
	hardiness zones 10-11

Begonias are extremely diverse! There are tuberous types, herbaceous perennials, and annual species. Most are frost-tender specimens that require overwintering indoors. Use them in shady spots of the garden during the warmer months of the year. 

Begonias are famous for their fiery blossoms with petals in various shapes and sizes. Some are tubular, others are fragrant, while a few have spider-like petals! Find begonias available when petunias, geraniums, and marigolds are. 

As with geraniums, you can save your favorite geraniums before fall frosts arrive. Move them indoors in containers, and provide them with bright, indirect light and warm temperatures. Keep them away from harsh, hot, and cold drafts from windows, doors, and heaters. 

Poppy

	botanical name Papaver spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2-5’
	hardiness zones 2-10

Poppies grace meadows, prairies, and wild plantings with cup-like blossoms and lacy foliage. They’re superb wildflowers for gardens, landscapes, and front yards. Some poppies are short-lived perennials, though many are reseeding annuals and excellent for planting on Mother’s Day.

Opt for bread seed poppies if you make baked goods. Bread seed types produce ample seeds in their pods that lend flavor and texture to muffins, cakes, and bread loaves. Corn and Iceland poppies are ornamental types perfect for pollinator and flower gardens.

The most unique poppy I’ve discovered is the ‘Black Swan’ variety. It sprouts frilly, fuzzy, black-maroon petals on large heads. Plant seeds this holiday, as seedlings have sensitive roots and do not take well to transplanting.

Spider Flower

	botanical name Cleome hassleriana
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 3-6’
	hardiness zones 2-11

Spider flowers have spindly petals that look like spiders! They’ve been a favorite annual for gardeners since the 1800s, as they grow quickly from seeds with little care or maintenance. Spider-like flowers sprout in clusters with hues like pink, white, and purple. 

Not only are spider flowers loved for their flowers, but they’re also a favorite because of their tropical, hand-like leaves. The fronds sprout along erect stems that may reach up to six feet tall.