Top annuals to add to your garden

It’s time to start planning your spring planting! Whether you’re aiming for a waterwise or lush subtropical garden, annuals are your go-to for instant colour and vibrancy. In Gauteng’s diverse micro-climates, these popular annuals can be a great addition to your garden, blooming beautifully and attracting bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects.

Annuals are plants that complete their entire life cycle—from seed to bloom, to producing seeds again within a single growing season. They provide quick bursts of colour and vibrancy, making them a popular choice for gardeners looking to fill in gaps or create seasonal displays. The best time to plant annuals is spring, when the weather starts to warm up, providing the perfect conditions for annuals to establish themselves and bloom throughout the summer months.

Here are our 10 top picks to make your garden burst with summer colour!

1. Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritima)

A timeless favourite, sweet alyssum is known for its dense clusters of delicate, fragrant white or purple flowers. Its compact, sprawling growth habit makes it ideal for edging garden beds, filling gaps between taller plants, or even softening the edges of walkways. Alyssum thrives in a wide range of climates, from the dry Karoo to coastal regions, making it one of the most versatile choices for South African gardens. It’s also a magnet for pollinators.

Note: While traditional varieties self-sow easily, some modern hybrids bred for longer blooms and enhanced hardiness may need to be replanted each year.

2. Marigolds

Marigolds are a garden staple for their brilliant orange, yellow, and golden hues that last throughout the summer. They are especially popular in dry areas due to their drought tolerance. Besides being eye-catching, marigolds have a bonus: their flowers are edible and can be used to add a splash of colour to salads. They’re also known to repel pests like nematodes, making them a fantastic companion plant in vegetable gardens. Whether planted in masse or in pots, marigolds will bring a fiery burst of colour to your garden.

3. Nasturtiums (Tropaeolum majus)

If you want a fast-growing, low-maintenance annual that spreads joy (and colour), look no further than nasturtiums. Their bright orange, yellow, and deep red flowers are a feast for the eyes, while their peppery-flavoured blooms and leaves are a culinary delight. They’re also beneficial in attracting pollinators like bees and ladybugs, which prey on pests like aphids. Nasturtiums can sprawl across garden beds or climb up trellises, making them versatile in any space.

4. Impatiens

When it comes to shaded areas of your garden, impatiens are hard to beat. Their densely packed, vividly coloured flowers range from whites to pinks, reds, purples, and oranges. These low-growing annuals thrive in both shade and semi-sun, providing a vibrant splash of colour in areas where other plants might struggle. Impatiens are excellent for border planting, hanging baskets, or filling containers, ensuring your garden is bursting with life even in the shadiest corners.

5. African Daisies (Dimorphotheca spp.)

African daisies are another versatile choice for South African gardens. These indigenous, drought-tolerant plants come in a wide range of colours, from bold yellows, pinks, and purples to softer pastels. Low-growing varieties make excellent border plants, while taller bush forms can create stunning focal points. African daisies thrive in dry conditions, making them perfect for waterwise gardens. Plus, they self-sow easily, ensuring they return year after year without much effort on your part.

6. Petunias

Known for their wide range of vibrant colours, petunias are a popular choice for adding colour to garden beds, window boxes, and hanging baskets. Their trumpet-shaped flowers bloom continuously throughout summer and into autumn. Petunias love the sun and do best in well-draining soil, making them ideal for the warm Gauteng climate. They’re also relatively low maintenance, needing only regular deadheading to keep blooming.

7. Zinnias

Zinnias are a gardener’s dream, offering bright, bold colours that range from reds and pinks to oranges, yellows, and whites. These sun-loving annuals thrive in hot weather and are drought tolerant once established, making them ideal for South African summers. Zinnias are known for attracting pollinators like butterflies, making them perfect for creating a lively, wildlife-friendly garden.

8. Cosmos

For a touch of whimsical charm, cosmos are an excellent addition to any garden. These tall, airy plants produce delicate flowers in shades of white, pink, and purple. Cosmos are particularly suited to low-maintenance or wildflower gardens, as they are drought tolerant and self-seed prolifically. Their feathery foliage and long stems make them perfect for adding height to garden beds, and they pair well with other sun-loving annuals.

9. Salvia (Salvia splendens)

Salvia is a striking annual known for its upright spikes of vibrant red, blue, or purple flowers. This heat-loving plant is perfect for creating dramatic vertical interest in your garden, and it thrives in full sun. Salvia is also a magnet for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, making it an excellent choice for those looking to support local wildlife while enjoying a beautiful garden.

10. Verbena

Verbena is a low-growing annual that forms a carpet of colourful blooms, ranging from purples and pinks to whites and reds. It’s a great choice for ground cover, hanging baskets, or as a filler in garden beds. Verbena thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, making it perfect for hot, dry climates. Its long flowering season ensures that your garden remains vibrant from spring through to autumn.

Annuals are readily available at local nurseries, either in seed trays or seed packets, giving gardeners flexibility in how they approach their planting. Seed trays are ideal for those who want a head start, as the plants have already germinated and are ready for transplanting directly into your garden. On the other hand, seed packets offer a more cost-effective option and allow for a wider selection of varieties. Sowing seeds directly into the garden is perfect for those who want to grow their annuals from scratch, providing the satisfaction of seeing them sprout and bloom over time. Whether you choose seed trays or packets, annuals are an easy way to introduce instant colour and vibrancy to your garden.

These annuals are easy to grow, stunning to behold, and perfect for creating a lush, colourful garden in Gauteng’s unique climate. Whether you’re designing a formal landscape or a relaxed cottage-style garden, these plants will provide you with months of spectacular blooms and help attract beneficial wildlife. Start planning your garden now and get ready for a summer flower extravaganza!