The 15 Best Annuals for Late Summer Color | Gardener's Path

06.06.2023 - 17:24 / gardenerspath.com / Lorna Kring

While perennials add longevity to our gardens, annuals are great for adding a single-season punch of vivid color, interesting form, or a splash of fragrance wherever they’re needed.

They’re terrific in beds and borders, and a mainstay in containers, hanging baskets, and window boxes.

But many of them slow down as summer wears on, fading and wilting, unable to handle the heat and dry conditions, or simply finished with their bloom cycle.

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To ensure that your garden sparkles right until autumn, choose some of the annuals from the following list. There’s a hard-working plant for every environment, from dry or wet conditions to full sun and even deep shade.

Here are 15 of the best performers to add color to your late summer garden:

Let’s take a closer look!

Also known as American or Aztec marigolds, African marigolds are noted for their large, showy flowerheads in shades of cream, orange, and yellow that grow on tall, sturdy stalks. Both flowers and foliage are fragrant when brushed against or crushed, and plants grow 1 to 4 feet tall, blooming bloom from June to frost.

T. erecta is easily grown in well-draining soil of average fertility and even moisture. Plant in full sun and provide some light shade in climates with hot afternoon sun. Remove spent flowers promptly. Provide tall varieties with support by underplanting with smaller French marigolds or plant in a site sheltered from heavy rain and strong winds.

Attractive to butterflies, the bright colors of African marigolds are attractive in beds, borders, containers, and edgings, or as a