Heirloom Annuals

Vining sweet peas bloom in vibrant colors.

Relive a little slice of history by growing a few heirloom flowers. These are flowers your ancestors may have enjoyed. Many of these plants are returning to popularity, thanks to their interesting appearances. Some heirlooms are only slightly different from modern flowers -- taller, larger- or smaller-flowered, or more fragrant. But other heirlooms are quite distinct and unusual. Here are some examples:

• Love-lies-bleeding: Long, dangling, crimson red seed heads form colorful streamers.
  
  
• Kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate: These six-foot-tall plants have pendulous pink flowers.
  
  
• Balsam: This impatiens relative sprinkles flowers amid the foliage along the stems.
  
  
• Sweet peas: Vining pea-shape plants that bear colorful pink, white, purple, and red flowers with delightful fragrances.

Some annuals will return on their own next summer from their own self-sown seeds. On the next page, learn about self-sown annuals.

Want more information about gardening with annuals? Try these:

• Annual Flowers: Plant these beauties for flowers all summer long.
  
• Annuals: Learn about all the different types of annual plants.
  
• Garden Design: Design your garden for beauty and practicality.
• Annuals Garden Design: Learn to combine color, texture, shape, and scale for a beautiful annuals garden.
  
• Tips for Growing Annuals and Biennials: Use our helpful tips to grow healthy annual and biennial plants.
  
• Gardening: Learn the basics of successful gardening.