Annual Flower Varieties
Learn How Using a Specific Named Variety or Cultivar Can Help You Select the Best Annual for Your Garden
A marigold is a marigold, but what makes one a "Snowman" and another a "Jaguar"? Knowing about varieties (cultivars) helps you pick the best one for your flower garden.
Annual flowers (see what is an annual what is a perennial ) are the most predictable in terms of mature plant size, flower color and overall look. The most popular annuals such as zinnias, petunias and marigolds are usually sold as named varieties. For example you might see marigolds labeled "Snowman" or "Jaguar." Each of these varieties has its own very specific characteristics including consistent flower color ("Snowman" is white, "Jaguar" is deep yellow with dark red flecks), and consistent plant size and shape. The mature plant dimensions are noted on the plant label or seed packet, and the directions often include a suggested spacing to give you an idea of how far apart to plant them. This allows you to design a flower bed or carpet bedding scheme with precisely aligned or contrasting colors, heights and widths.
Cultivars or Named Varieties
Uniformity is especially important in many annual flower gardens. This explains why certain plants such as marigolds or fibrous rooted begonias or geraniums are so often used in mass plantings. Not only are these reliable and easy to grow annuals, but they also bloom their heads off all summer and into the fall until frost.
But, it's not quite that simple. A marigold is not just a marigold, as mentioned above. There are many different varieties of marigold on the market, and all marigolds are not the same. Some are tall, some are petite, some have very full blooms, some are crested, some have fewer petals, some are orange, some yellow, some white or nearly so. You will find many different cultivars or named varieties, each with its own characteristics that make it unique.
You can select a specific variety based on its mature size, on its color, on its flower size, or on its scent for example. Some varieties are self cleaning, meaning you do not need to remove faded flowers or deadhead to keep the plants looking fresh. Or you could just select the one with the name you like best.
Examples of Variety
Plant breeders and seed companies are always working on new and improved varieties. In the marigold world for instance, the white marigold has long been a goal. W. Atlee & Burpee Company, for example, has been developing new marigolds for many years.
Here are just two examples of the many varieties from the current 2006 Burpee on-line catalog.
How about Marigold "Snowman Hybrid", described in the Burpee catalog as: "Pure white, extra double, ruffled blooms! Wow! The latest Burpee breakthrough in white marigolds is stunning, extra double, ruffled and white. Thick, strong stems carry uniformly large 3" blooms, creating pools of cool, pure color all summer. 'Snowman' is suited to both the garden bed and the vase, and makes an ideal partner for contrasting colored blooms...." (See above photo, Courtesy of W. Atlee Burpee & Co.)
continued as Annual Flower Variety Names.
All Flower Gardens Articles So Far
"Snowman Marigold" photo courtesy of W. Atlee Burpee & Company.
Copyright 2006 Barbara Martin
