Types of Annual Flowers for North Texas

Brilliant Bluebonnet, the State Flower

• The most abundant and perhaps most beautiful North Texas annual flower is the Bluebonnet, the state flower. The favorite of artists and photographers is the largest, hardiest species, the Lupinus texensis. It is also the easiest to grow. For home gardeners, bluebonnets should be planted in the fall and just covered with a light soil. This annual responds best when planted on a well-drained slope in the full sun; for this reason the bluebonnet normally grows well along Texas highways. These beauties grow to a height of between 8 and 16 inches tall.rnrnThere are actually five species of bluebonnets that dot different regions of the Texas landscape but the Lupinus texensis is considered the "queen" and appears only in the north and north central parts of the state.

Texas Paintbrush

• Paintbrushes generally bloom from mid-March through May. This flower, so aptly named for its combination of reds and oranges, is a breathtaking sight when displayed against its friend, the bluebonnet. The paintbrush also likes a well-drained, sloping area, in full sun. Seeds should be planted in the fall. Depending upon soil and moisture conditions, this Texas annual varies widely in height--it can range from 6 to 18 inches tall.

Salvia

• There are several types of salvia plants, all from the mint family. Salvia splendens is most frequently encountered in the landscape of North Texas. Commonly known as scarlet sage, salvia is a shrub-type plant with brilliant scarlet red flowers, a favorite of home gardeners as an annual bedding plant. Salvia normally grows up to 30 inches tall, displays bright-green leaves and stalks of scarlet flowers, which bloom from summer to the first frost. Salvia thrives in full sun to partial shade and likes a variety of well-drained soils.

Snapdragons

• Gardeners plant snapdragons lavishly in North Texas during the fall, as a showy spring annual. The flowers thrive in full sun, are available in several varieties and on average grow to a height of between 6 to 36 inches (depending upon the variety). Snapdragons can grow to a width that varies from 2 to 24 inches. These Texas annual flowers appear as vertical and tube-like, with multiple blossoms per stem in shades of pink, purple, red, orange, white and yellow. Snapdragons should be planted in the fall (September through October) for blooms in the spring.

Pansies

• An excellent spring flower planted in the fall, pansies love the sun. The plants are hardy and grow to an average height of about 10 inches. Pansies are available in a variety of color combinations, including blue, mahogany, black, purple, pink, orange, red, lavender, peach, white and cream. Seedlings should be planted from September to October to enjoy spring blooms.