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The 15 Best Annual Flowers You Need to Plant In Your Yard

These low-maintenance flowers are favorites for a reason.

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It's that time of year when you're starting to look at gardening ideas, and specifically, backyard ideas that won't break the bank. You know you want flowers—but you just aren't sure what kind. First things first: You need to consider the pros and cons of annuals versus perennials. While the best perennial flowers and plants last more than two years, they tend to be more expensive than annuals, which only last a single season.

But just because annuals are rather short-lived, don't rule them out! They are lovely for container gardens (where they can be mixed with perennials for a little "filler, thriller, spiller" action in a pot). You can also use them to freshen up your front porch or create major curb appeal. No matter how you decide to use them, you can bet these annual flowers will add color and interest to your yard. And sure, they will need to be replaced each year, but variety is the spice of life. Look at it as an opportunity to experiment with a new batch of annuals every season. And because they're often quite inexpensive, that will make it all the more fun to try new varieties—whether those that need full sun, part sun, or part shade—that will flourish with pretty petals all spring, summer, or fall.

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Angelonia

These heat- and drought-tolerant flowers are perfect for gardeners down south. Even the hottest, sunniest days won't ruin these beauties. In warmer regions, they'll continue to flourish through the fall.

Full sun; blooms summer

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Begonia

These dainty flowers, which bloom in shades of white, pink, and red, require very little maintenance and upkeep (no deadheading or pruning required!). When fall arrives, you can move them indoors or dig up their tubers to reuse for the following year.

Full sun/partial shade/full shade; blooms summer

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Celosia

These colorful beauties come in a variety of shapes (brains, fans, and plumes) and a range of colors (pink, red, orange, and yellow). Plus, they grow fast and are incredibly easy to care for.

Full sun; blooms summer

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Chrysanthemum

If you're looking to add some fresh blooms to your fall landscape, chrysanthemums (or simply, mums) are a must-have. Pick them up at your local nursery and add them to planters, or grow them from seeds starting in the spring.

Full sun; blooms late summer/fall

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Cosmos

These cute and feminine flowers grow taller the more you cut them (and faster, too), meaning you'll have pretty petals (in shades of pink, white, or purple) in your garden all summer long.

Full sun; blooms summer

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Dahlias

These stunning flowers will make your garden beds look oh-so-lush. From honeycomb-like shapes to fluffy peony-esque varieties, there are endless options. They're incredibly easy to grow and with proper care, you can dig up and reuse the tubers year after year.

Full sun; blooms summer

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Geraniums

Dress up your walkway, porch, or front yard with these perky and petite blooms. Once grown or potted, these fuss-free flowers will flourish for months.

Full sun/partial shade; blooms spring/summer

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Impatiens

These small flowers with soft and delicate petals are ideal for darker areas of your yard that aren't suitable for plants or flowers that need lots of sun. Plant them in your favorite shady spot, and you'll have beautiful blooms to enjoy all summer.

Partial shade/full shade; blooms summer

RELATED: 10 Plants for the Shady Spots In Your Garden

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Larkspur

This blue and purple petaled plant is easy to care for and ideal for colder climates. Plant them in the fall (their seeds can survive freezes) and you'll have beautiful blooms to enjoy all spring.

Full sun/partial sun; blooms spring/early summer

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Marigold

Looking to get a lot of bang for your buck? These fast-growing, vibrant orange and yellow flowers produce a hardy amount of blooms each summer. You can expect around 15+ flowers per plant.

Full sun; blooms summer

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Pansies

If you're after bold color, frost-resistant pansies are the way to go. You can find them in almost every color of the rainbow (and several multi-color options). And since they can tolerate frost, they're the perfect bloom for your garden come early spring.

Full sun/partial shade; blooms spring

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Petunias

You can't go wrong with these fuss-free flowers that are perfect for containers, pots, window boxes, hanging baskets, and garden beds. You can find them in pretty pinks, reds, whites, yellows, and purples.

Full sun; blooms spring/summer/fall

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Ranunculuses

You'll want to prep and plant these fragrant flowers in the fall for the best blooms come spring. While you can use the tubers year after year, they tend to grow best with fresh corms each year. These colorful flowers (think pinks, yellows, oranges, reds, and whites) will look stunning as part of your landscape or cut and arranged in vases.

Full sun; blooms spring

RELATED: 30+ Bulbs to Plant This Fall for a Beautiful Spring Garden

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Snapdragons

Easily add height, dimension, and bold color to your garden with these tall, easy-to-grow flowers.

Full sun, blooms summer

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Sunflowers

While you can opt to grow sunflowers in their classic golden hue, you can also find other varieties in shades of red, white, orange, and even pink. These tall flowers can grow several feet high, so you may need to stake them to give them the proper support they need to flourish.

Full sun; blooms summer/early fall

Jessica Leigh Mattern Web Editor Jessica Leigh Mattern is a web editor and writer who covers home, holiday, DIY, crafts, travel, and more lifestyle topics.

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