Annual flowers are a great way to add color to your landscape in Oregon, but there are two types: hardy and tender. Hardy annuals are cool-season flowers that thrive in cooler temperatures, so they can be planted in the early spring or fall. On the other hand, tender annuals are warm-season flowers that don't do well in the cold, so they're best planted in the late spring or early summer. Some examples of hardy annuals include pansies, poppies, and phlox, while begonias, verbenas, impatiens, and coleus are tender annuals.

What are hardy annual flowers?

Orange poppy annual flowers on a property in Gresham, OR.

Hardy annual flowers are cool-season annuals that thrive when the temperatures are cooler. They can tolerate light freezes, so they're resilient to cold weather. Because of this, you can plant them in the early spring or fall to bring color to your landscape during the transitional seasons. Some hardy annuals bloom in the spring, while others bloom in the fall, so you'll want to consider when you want them to flower when choosing which ones to plant.

What are tender annual flowers?

Pink begonia annual flowers in Gresham, OR.

Tender annual flowers are warm-season annuals that don't do well in cold temperatures. They're native to more tropical climates and can't survive frosts or freezes. Because of this, you'll want to plant them in the late spring or early summer after the cold weather has subsided. That way, they have the best chance of establishing and thriving to bring color to your landscape throughout the warmer months.

Tender annual flowers can usually withstand hot temperatures, though some may require more watering to keep them from wilting.

Examples of Hardy & Tender Annual Flowers

Now that you know the difference between hardy and tender annual flowers, it's time to discuss some examples of each. Here are some popular hardy annuals you can plant to bring color to your landscape:

  • Pansies: Pansies are a common hardy annual flower that can tolerate cold temperatures. They have a distinct look, with large, flat petals that come in various colors, including purple, yellow, white, and red.
  • Poppies: Poppies are another hardy annual flower that can tolerate cooler temperatures. They have delicate, paper-like petals that come in shades of red, orange, yellow, and pink.
  • Phlox: Phlox is a hardy annual flower that can tolerate cooler temperatures. It has clusters of small, star-shaped flowers that come in shades of pink, purple, and white.

Meanwhile, here are some popular tender annuals you can plant to bring color to your landscape:

  • Begonias: Begonias are a common tender annual flower that can't tolerate cold temperatures. They have waxy, asymmetrical leaves and small, bright flowers that come in shades of red, pink, and white.
  • Verbenas: Verbenas are another tender annual flower that can't tolerate cold temperatures. They have clusters of small, tubular flowers that come in shades of purple, pink, and white.
  • Impatiens: Impatiens are a tender annual flower that can't tolerate cold temperatures. They have small, rounded leaves and bright flowers that come in shades of pink, red, orange, and white.
  • Coleus: Coleus is a tender annual flower that can't tolerate cold temperatures. It has large, colorful leaves that come in shades of green, yellow, pink, and red.

Call us today to schedule our annual flower installation service!

If you want to bring color to your landscape, you've come to the right place! At J&C Lawn Care, we offer our annual flower installation service to property owners in Gresham, OR, and throughout the nearby areas, such as Happy Valley and Troutdale. Our team will work with you to determine whether you want hardy or tender annuals, then plant them at just the right time to ensure they have the best chance of thriving. No matter what, you can trust that we'll transform your landscape into a colorful display of flowers! Call us today at (971) 284-2035 to schedule our annual flower installation service.