An indispensible annual

[Kelaidis]

As I grow older I grow more and more annuals. I know this distresses many of my rock gardening friends...but that's too bad. I think that many annuals proffer colors and qualities that aren't matched by perennials. Some self sow and maintain themselves as reliably as perennials.

One that has impressed me enormously this spring is Roemeria refracta, a tiny poppy from the Mediterranean. It is only five or so inches tall and barely 8 inches across. It has been blooming for the better part of two months and shows no sign of stopping. It has multiplied tremendously since I first obtained it a few years ago, and is small enough and delicate enough that it doesn't seem to negatively impact its neighbors.  I shall encourage it to spread more widely in my dry garden.

[Hoy]

Very nice!
I haven't grown this particular annual but I often grow other similar  poppies. I would believe that your climate should be ideal for annuals of this kind?

[Mary Ann and Chuck Ulmann]

Mary Ann does annuals too!  Many aren't alpines but they are very, very bright.  If you went to John and Anita Kistler's gardens in their heydays, it wasn't hard to tell which one was John's..bright colors with annuals. . . John never could turn down a bright red or bright orange no matter what it was!! Chuck

[McDonough]

Mary Ann does annuals too!  Many aren't alpines but they are very, very bright.  If you went to John and Anita Kistler's gardens in their heydays, it wasn't hard to tell which one was John's..bright colors with annuals. . . John never could turn down a bright red or bright orange no matter what it was!! Chuck

Welcome to the NARGS Forum Chuck and Mary Ann.  I too like a few annuals that "naturalize" in my garden.  I'm a fan of Cleome, there are some really good native North American ones, although with recent taxonomic upheaval, most of the North American species are now Polanisia.  One of my favorites is Polanisia dodencandra (Cleome marshalliana), with the fun common name of redwhisker clammyweed, native to most of North America.  Like all Cleome, they flower indefinitely as they advance up the stem; I find the flowers charming, little upright white "teeth", long red eyelashes, and a bright orange nectariferous ovary.  And look at those upright pods!
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=PODO3

Plants can flower as small as 4" tall, but typically grow 1-2' tall, although in good years with lots of rain and if they seed into a richer soil area in sun, they can grow to 4' tall and make impressive plants.  All parts of the plant are glandular-sticky, with an acrid scent.  The large pea-pod-like seed pods are like maracas or salt shakers when they dry.  They pull out very easily and have almost not root, so an easy annual to allow to self seed, for interest through the summer.

Panayoti: I like the idea of having a little red poppy (Roemeria refracta) seeding about, these types of things provide summer color yet still look like natural wildflowers instead of bedding petunias and marigolds.  I have a couple other annuals I'll post here.

[vanachterberg]

Very nice! I wonder where I can get seed of this.
Barbara van Achterberg

[McDonough]

Very nice! I wonder where I can get seed of this.
Barbara van Achterberg

Which one Barbara?  Roemeria refracta or Polanisia dodencandra?

[McDonough]

One of my favorite native annuals that self sows around in my garden, a welcome infill for summer dormant alliums and bulbs, is the little Bluecurls, or Trichostema dichotomum. It is native to the eastern half of the USA and Canadian provinces. Now, there's one fellow who sometimes attends our local NARGS chapter meetings who will spin into a rant when he sees this plant at a chapter plant sale, claiming it to be one of the worst weeds possible and chiding the irresponsible member for donating such rubbish.  However, I find Bluecurls to be a thoroughly pleasant little annual that is easily controlled, never getting out of hand in the nearly two decades I've had it in the garden.  In fact, in late fall I pull up the dried plants and shake out the seeds to ensure some new plants appear the following year.

The common name of Bluecurls is an apt one, describing the long exserted stamens that curl downwards, adding a cute factor to the small bright blue flowers.  Plants don't get overly large (although listed as being able to reach 30"), for me they grow as compact little bushy plants rarely over a foot tall, usually less, the plants well branched, bearing simple leaves and a fresh batch of perky blue flowers every morning, the blooms dropping by mid to late afternoon.  All parts of the plant are sticky and give off a strong resinous aroma when brushed, which I rather like.  Does great even in very dry or drought conditions.  Also valuable, is the late flowering from August - October.

This annual plant gives the impression of being a wild plant, it even has a perennial look to it, so it fits well and looks natural in rock garden.
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=TRDI2&photoID=trdi2_004_avp.jpg

[IMYoung]

That is a pretty, cheerful plant, Mark. Even if it were to prove weedy, I think I'd forgive it, being so brightly blue..... there are MUCH worse weeds, and perennial ones at that    so I would agree with you to be rather tolerant of the cute thing!

[Hoy]

Bluecurls (that's blåkrøller in Norw.) seems to be a loveable plant I would like to try at my cabin. If you ever get too much seed, Mark!

[McDonough]

Bluecurls (that's blåkrøller in Norw.) seems to be a loveable plant I would like to try at my cabin. If you ever get too much seed, Mark!

Is Bluecurls a different genus in Norway?  There are other genera that have these curled stamens and styles. I was googling, and it seems there is considerable variability among Trichostema dichotomum, depending on where it is found geographically. I would have to say, the ones I'm growing are a particularly good looking form, and compact growing.  I'll save some seed this year.  There are also some intriguing western American Trichostema species, some being perennial shrubs, I'll gather up some links later.  But I'll start with this link, to T. lanatum at Las Pilatas Nursery, a handsome evergreen shrub (must be perennial) looking something like one of the better Salvia species.
http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/trichostema-lanatum

[RickR]

You can put me on your hopeful seed list for Blue Curls too, Mark.  Those stamens are unusual.  (I love weird.) 

Here is another useful annual: Nigella hispanica.  In good conditions it will grow 2ft+.  But in the more austere, it's very dwarf, flowering as short as 6 inches.  Like other nigellas, it has interesting seed pods, different from the more common N. damascena (Love in the Mist).  Here it is with Melica ciliata, which is whiter than the pic shows.

[Hoy]

Is Bluecurls a different genus in Norway?  There are other genera that have these curled stamens and styles. I was googling, and it seems there is considerable variability among Trichostema dichotomum, depending on where it is found geographically.

No, we have no plants called Bluecurls/blåkrøller in Norway and Trichostema is not a native genus either although blue/blå is a very common part of plant names.

[McDonough]

Is Bluecurls a different genus in Norway?  There are other genera that have these curled stamens and styles. I was googling, and it seems there is considerable variability among Trichostema dichotomum, depending on where it is found geographically.

No, we have no plants called Bluecurls/blåkrøller in Norway and Trichostema is not a native genus either although blue/blå is a very common part of plant names.

Trond, I misunderstood, when you said "Bluecurls (that's blåkrøller in Norw.) seems to be a loveable plant", I naturally assumed you have a plant in Norway called Bluecurls because you went to the trouble of providing a Norwegian name.  So, you're simply translating the word/name "bluecurls" as a language exercise, is that correct?

[Hoy]

Trond, I misunderstood, when you said "Bluecurls (that's blåkrøller in Norw.) seems to be a loveable plant", I naturally assumed you have a plant in Norway called Bluecurls because you went to the trouble of providing a Norwegian name.  So, you're simply translating the word/name "bluecurls" as a language exercise, is that correct?

Yes, I forgot to tell that I translated the name. Think you can learn a little Norwegian! Or at least notice the similarities.....

[Jane Hendrix]

Among my 1,000 perennial species are 3 or 4 annuals.  The one that never fails to grab the attention and interest of visitors to my experimental gardens is Felicia bergeriana 'Cub Scout' (Kingfisher Daisy).

This short, somewhat hairy species stands about 6 to 12 inches tall in bloom.  It is very easy to grow.  I start seeds indoors at 60 degrees F.  The seed germinates within 3 days!  About 4 weeks later, the plants begin blooming while still under my fluorescent lights.  I have tried this species in sun, shade, moist and dry and the preferred location is constantly moist to wet soil in full sun.  The flowers close at night or when in shade so a full-sun location is a must.  

You might look upon this species as "just another daisy" and, yes, it is a daisy -- a small daisy, at that.  It is its electric-blue color that is so eye-catching.  The color is similar to the intense blue of Eritrichium nanum (Alpine Forget-Me-Not).  The plants go into my garden in bloom in late May and continue to bloom until mid-October and are quite frost-hardy. Lots of viable seed is produced; however, the seed does not germinate in the open garden in my climate.