Annual Plants

The word 'Annual' comes from the Latin 'annus' which means year, hence annual plants are plants which complete a full lifecycle in one growing season. Generally this is between Spring and Autumn but it can be Autumn to Summer.

They are very demanding plants in terms of water, food and light as they are in a race to flower and pruduce seed before the season ends and the plants die. They tend to have masses of colour to give them the best chance of being pollenated by insects.

Generally, annuals are split into two groups. 'Hardy annuals' are plants which you would plant the seed where they are going to flower in the garden. 'Half-hardy annuals' are usually protected from colder weather by being sow from seed in pots in a greenhouse or coldframe then planted out where they are to grow in the garden after the risk of any frost has passed.

What is classed as an annual in an English climate however may not be classed the same as the same plant which may have originated for example in a warmer climate like South Africa.

 

It's not just pretty bedding plants that are classed as annual. Some weeds like Dandelions and vegetables like cabbage and beans are also classed as annuals.

Annuals 
Biennials
Perennials
Shrubs 
Trees

Alpines  
Aquatics
Bamboos
Bulbs 
Climbers 
Conifers 
Ferns  
Fruit 
Grasses  
Indoor plants  
Lawns  
Marginals 
Roses 
Vegetables