Unlike perennial flowers, annual flowers grow continuously throughout early spring to late fall, die at the end of the last season and need to be replanted the following spring. Although this may sound daunting, annual flowers give you the chance to have an entirely new garden each and every year. Some of the most common annuals include Bachelor’s Buttons, Begonias and Pansies. These flowers are often planted in addition to perennial and biennial plants, as they can easily be changed out or rotated to fit the style of their more long-lasting counterparts.


The annual flower is frequently the highlight of many flower shows. One great example of this is the Cincinnati Horticultural Society’s yearly flower show. At this event, people from around the world come to see exhibits, go to events, and enter into a competition that judges not only the flowers, but how they are presented. The Horticultural Society is not the only institution in Ohio who judges annuals. During the yearly Harvest Home Fair, different divisions – from the junior horticulturalist all the way to the expert grower – are given very specific standards on how their annual flowers should be grown, how they should look and how they are presented. Annuals have appeared in many books and stories on mythology, medicine and cooking. For instance, marigolds can be used to make sweet buns, lobelia can be used to treat respiratory ailments, while in Greek mythology the cornflower was used to heal the wounds of Chiron.


Annual flowers, as gifts, can convey a large variety of sentiments. Many people prefer to give annuals as mixed bouquets that express a number of emotions. For instance, baby’s breath combined with California poppies can be given to a new or expectant mother. The bold appearance of zinnias combined with the more mellow-looking morning glory can be given to a dear friend to represent affection. Given the transitory nature of annuals, you might want to give them dried. Doing this ensures that they can be enjoyed for a long time to come. You may still choose to give dried annuals as a bouquet, or you may wish to create a wreath, basket or even a potpourri with whole flower heads. For a long lasting gift that is more natural-looking than dried flowers, you can also give pressed annuals. These can be presented in frames, or as part of home made jewelry or talismans.