Home + Garden Garden Flowers Easy Annual Flowers That Deliver Color All Summer In cutting gardens or borders, inexpensive annuals like zinnias, strawflower and cosmos bloom in explosive color all summer—and come fall, leave parting gifts of seeds for next year. By Teresa Woodard Teresa Woodard Teresa Woodard is contributing garden editor at Midwest Living where she covers everything from houseplants and bonsai to daffodils and peonies. A lifelong Ohioan (except for her college days studying journalism at Indiana University), she gardens on two acres outside Columbus. She also teaches youth about growing food at an urban community garden and is working on a book project about American garden design. She loves hiking with her German short-haired pointer and traveling to favorite garden destinations. Midwest Living's Editorial Guidelines Updated on March 17, 2023 Photo: Sugar Hill Photography/Courtesy of Pepperharrow Farm Mother Nature built annuals like zinnias, strawflowers and cosmos to be bloom-making machines that run almost nonstop. Unlike perennials, annuals have just one year to leave their genetic mark on the planet, so they grow fast.They also need to produce a lot of seeds. So, like male peacocks unfurling their royal feathers, they attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds with alluring shades of scarlet, orange, gold and magenta. Plus, these annuals have evolved (and in some cases, been bred) to be fighters. They're pest-resistant and weather-tolerant. And if you cut off their flowers for bouquets, they'll eagerly produce more. 12 of the Easiest Flowers to Grow in a Midwest Cutting Garden ‘Queeny Lime Orange’. Zahara Starlight Rose. ‘Zowie! Yellow Flame’. ‘Queeny Lime Orange’. PHOTO: Courtesy of All-America Selects Zahara Starlight Rose. PHOTO: Kritsada ‘Zowie! Yellow Flame’. PHOTO: Courtesy of All-America Selects Zinnias Grown by the Aztecs, zinnias vary in size from 1 to 4 feet. Some newer varieties are mildew-resistant, but sunny, well-drained spots are still best. Tried and True Giant Series Large, double, dahlia-like flowers. Lilliput Series An old beehive zinnia. State Fair A popular mix with daisy-like blooms. New and Now Zinderella Series Tufted peach or lilac blooms. 'Zowie! Yellow Flame' Yellow and hot pink bicolor. 'Envy' A green double and semi-double that likes partial shade. Double Zahara and Profusion Series Mildew-resistant. Sundaze ‘Flame’. Dreamtime ‘Jumbo Rose’. ‘Cottage Bronze’. Sundaze ‘Flame’. PHOTO: Marty Baldwin Dreamtime ‘Jumbo Rose’. PHOTO: Denny Schrock ‘Cottage Bronze’. PHOTO: I Love Photo and Apple/Getty Strawflowers These papery flowers can be a tad fussy as seedlings (preferring wetter conditions than they will once grown), so some pros like to just buy plants. Tried and True Tall Double Mix Back-of-bed height and red, yellow, pink and white double blooms. Tom Thumb Mixed A dwarf version with 15-inch plants. New and Now Sundaze Golden Beauty Compact, heat-loving plants with generous blooms; ideal for containers, hanging baskets or borders. Dreamtime 'Jumbo' Series Large, abundant blooms in rose, white, yellow and red. A Beginner's Guide to Cutting Gardens Double Click Mix. 'Sea Shells' cosmos. Sensation Mix. Double Click Mix. PHOTO: Courtesy of Ball 'Sea Shells' cosmos. PHOTO: Bob Stefko Sensation Mix. PHOTO: Courtesy of National Garden Bureau Cosmos Drought-tolerant and content in bright sun and poor soil, cosmos are easy to direct-sow and are available in a wide range of sizes, from 1 to 6 feet. Tried and True Sensation Mix A variety of pink single blooms with yellow centers. Bright Lights Mix Yellow and orange semi-double blooms that draw butterflies. New and Now Double Click Mix Red, pink and white double and semi-double blooms. Sea Shells Mix Unusual, tubular, shell-shape petals. Cupcakes Mix Flower shape evokes cupcake wrappers. Sonata Purple or 'Lemonade' Newer, unusual hues. Peter Krumhardt How to Save Seeds for Next Year Let the flowers dry fully in the garden. Collect the seed heads and lightly crush them in hand to release next year's seed crop. Store in envelopes in a cool, dry place. Keep in mind that hybrids' seeds will yield more varied results than those from heirlooms. 5 Easy Annuals to Grow From Seed Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit