This document discusses the use of hardy annuals, half-hardy annuals, and container plants in garden design. It provides examples of suitable plant species for each category and describes their characteristics and uses. Hardy annuals are cold tolerant and provide color for one season, while half-hardy annuals require starting indoors and adding seasonal interest. Container plants bring versatility and changing displays to patios and other areas not suitable for in-ground planting. Specific plants are highlighted for their decorative qualities and heights for use in beds, borders, and containers.

1. RHS Week 30
Hardy and Half Hardy Annuals and
Container plants in design

2. Learning objectives
1. State the purpose and use of hardy annuals in
garden design
2. State the purpose and use of half-hardy plants in
garden design
3. State the purpose and use of patio or basket
plants in garden design
For each of the plant types listed above :
4. name Five, suitable for planting in a variety of
garden situations. State details of their decorative
merits, height and spread and site requirements;
describe a situation where each could be used
effectively

3. Use of Hardy Annuals in Design
 Cold/frost resistant – grow, mature,
flower and die in one year. Usually sown
where they are to flower – bedding
annuals can be grown in pots for later
planting out.
 Provide good colour and interest but
only for late spring and summer
 Annual only beds therefore over by the
frosts – lack year round interest
 Can also be used in patches or drifts in
mixed borders or sown in containers.
 Enable changed colour schemes to be
used each year.

4. Hardy Annuals
 Lobularia
maritima
 Iberis umbellata

5. Hardy annuals
 Helianthus annuus
 Tropeaolum
majus

6. Hardy annuals
 Clarkia elegans
 Matthiola incana

7. Hardy Annuals
 Lathyrus odoratus
 Calendula
officinalis

8. Hardy annuals
 Papaver rhoeas
‘Shirley series’
 Rudbeckia hirta

9. Half hardy and tender annuals in
design
 Not cold tolerant so started under glass with
heat.
 Some are botanically perennials but grown
as annuals due to lack of cold tolerance
 Useful as they can be bedded out either in
bedding displays or as drifts in mixed
borders and come into flower relatively
quickly after planting out.
 Classic bedding schemes are replanted two
or three times a year – high labour and
planning
 When used to provide variety among
permanent planting they are less hard work.

10. Half- hardy and tender annuals
and bedding plants
Impatiens
walleriana
Nicotiana x sanderae

11. Half- hardy and tender annuals
and bedding plants
Salvia
splendens
Tagetes patula

12. Half- hardy and tender annuals
and bedding plants
Begonia
semperflorens
Cleome spinosa

13. Half- hardy and tender annuals
and bedding plants
Heliotropum
arborescens
Pelargonium x hortorum

14. Half- hardy and tender annuals
and bedding plants
Petunia x hybrida Phlox drummondii

15. Containers and baskets in design
 Can be easily changed for seasonal interest.
 Baskets give good vertical interest.
 Can be used where other planting is not
possible – window boxes, paved areas etc.
 Containers can be used to grow tender
plants that can then be protected over
winter.
 Not all container plants are annual or
temporary. Large containers can be used
for perennials that can be under planted
with annuals for a changing display.
 Good for adding winter interest close to the
house – on a patio visible from a window
etc.

16. Summer plants for containers
Lobelia erinus
‘Monsoon’
Fuchsia ‘Swingtime’ Photo: John Keogh
(attribution, non-commercial)

17. Summer containers
Impatiens walleriana Begonia semperflorens

18. Summer containers
Pelargonium x hortorum Tagetes patula

19. Summer containers
Verbena x
hybrida
Note that ‘Aztec Silver’ is pink/white.
Cuphea ignea

20. Winter Containers
Viola x
wittrockiana
Hedera helix ‘Spetchley’

21. Winter Containers
Skimmia japonica Heuchera

22. Winter Containers
Polypodium
vulgare
Cyclamen coum

23. Winter containers
Carex comans ‘Bronco’
Iris ‘Katharine Hodgkin’ Photo: Rogerio Liria

24. Winter Containers
Helichrysum
italicum
Brassica oloracea (Capita
group) ‘Northern Lights’

25. Learning outcomes
1. State the purpose and use of hardy annuals in
garden design
2. State the purpose and use of half-hardy plants in
garden design
3. State the purpose and use of patio or basket
plants in garden design
For each of the plant types listed above :
4. name Five, suitable for planting in a variety of
garden situations. State details of their decorative
merits, height and spread and site requirements;
describe a situation where each could be used
effectively