11 Gorgeous Annuals That Will Bloom From July Until Frost

There are quite a number of flowering annuals blooming in July that will continue until your first frost. They just need the proper care! These are the plants that provide long-lasting color in the garden and support pollinators throughout the fall and winter. 

To encourage your annuals to bloom continuously, it’s important to stay on top of care. The hot summer months can be taxing, but the cool fall air just ahead offers a welcome reprieve, not just for us but also for the plants. Caring for them properly now will pay off in the long run.

Marigolds

	botanical name Tagetes spp.
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 6″-3’+
	hardiness zones 2-11

Marigolds are easy-going, bright, and cheery summer annuals that don’t mind an abundance of heat and sunshine. They’re easy to grow from seeds or starts, and they even repel insects. They make excellent neighbors for other plants for this reason. 

Once established, marigolds are fairly drought-tolerant. However, during the hottest months, they may need watering in the absence of regular rainfall. Deadhead them regularly, and they will reward you with a bounty of blooms during summer and fall. These annuals will bloom right up til the first frost. 

Salvia

	botanical name Salvia farinacea, S. splendens, S. coccinea
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1′-4′
	hardiness zones 3-11

Salvia that is perennial in warmer climates is often treated as annual in cooler climates. If you’re north of zone 8, you can still grow salvia, but it won’t survive the winter. The good news is that it will bloom throughout summer and fall if you keep up with deadheading. 

If you’re looking for a lot of bang for your buck, salvia delivers. These plants are fast-growing and produce a large number of flowers, making them an excellent food source for pollinators. They are drought-tolerant once established and excel in tolerating heat. 

Petunias

	botanical name Petunia spp.
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 6″-24″
	hardiness zones 2-11

Petunias may look soft and delicate, but they’re actually resilient annuals that bloom right up to frost. Traditional petunias benefit from regular deadheading. Since their flowers don’t last long, it’s a good idea to pay attention to them regularly.

Fertilize your petunias every two weeks and keep the soil consistently moist. They aren’t drought-tolerant. While they may be higher maintenance than some, they are excellent bloomers. In beds, baskets, and containers, petunias are among the longest-blooming annuals. 

Zinnias

	botanical name Zinnia elegans
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 6″-4′
	hardiness zones 2-11

Zinnias are an extra-easy annual that blooms from summer all the way to your first frost. They love the heat, and if they get enough, they will flower abundantly. Drought-tolerant once established, your zinnias only require minimal attention to keep them thriving. 

To see the most flowers from your zinnias, cut them. Cut the flowers often and cut them back to a branching node. This will create bushy, floriferous plants that bloom continuously. These are great for the cutting garden, as they have long stems and a great vase life. 

Celosia

	botanical name Celosia plumosa, C. cristata, C. spicata
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 6″-4′
	hardiness zones 2-11

Celosia, which you may know as cockscomb, is a lovely annual that blooms from summer until the first frost. Their interesting and unique flowers are eye-catching and provide a ton of color in the garden. This drought and heat-tolerant plant will handle the July heat well and keep right on blooming. 

With the right care and deadheading, celosia has an extra-long blooming period. They make wonderful cut flowers and are one of the best for dried arrangements. Fertilize these annuals once a month with a bloom booster and avoid overwatering. They will reward you with reliable performance. 

African Daisies

	botanical name Osteospermum spp.
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 8″-24″
	hardiness zones 10-11

African daisies are incredibly colorful and great bloomers. They produce daisy-like flowers in shades of purple, orange, white, yellow, and pink. Perennial in warm climates, most gardeners grow them as annuals. They’re tolerant of poor, sandy soil and need a moderate amount of water.

In hot climates, provide your African daisies with afternoon shade to keep them blooming until the first frost. These bloom from spring until frost and form neat, compact sub-shrubs that look great in beds and borders. 

Sweet Alyssum

	botanical name Lobularia maritima
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 4″-10″
	hardiness zones 5-10

For a beautiful, annual ground cover that blooms until frost, sweet alyssum is an ideal choice. This low-growing plant is mat-forming and remarkably tough, considering its delicate appearance. It has finely textured foliage and tiny, bountiful, honey-scented flowers. 

Give your sweet alyssum an all-over trim midsummer after the first flush, and you’ll see it bounce back quickly. Keep up with watering, as this annual prefers consistent moisture. Pollinators will be grateful for the abundance of flowers that provide nectar throughout the fall. 

Lantana

	botanical name Lantana camara
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 12″-6′
	hardiness zones 7-11

Perennial in zones 7-11, lantana is often grown as an annual, and it’s a great bloomer. This is one of the easiest plants in my garden, and I find that I can cut it back every two months without issue. Within a matter of weeks, another flush of flowers is blooming. 

Lantana is adaptable and prefers poor, sandy soil. You don’t need to fertilize, and in fact, shouldn’t if you want compact growth and flowers. With little to no care, these will bloom from spring til frost, and butterflies adore them! Be careful planting these where they are invasive, as they will push out other native species.

Cosmos

	botanical name Cosmos bipinnatus, C. sulphureus
	sun requirements Full sun
	height Up to 6′
	hardiness zones 2-11

I love cosmos in the cutting garden, and it looks wonderful in the back of the border, too. Growing up to six feet tall, the feathery foliage and slender stems make this a dainty and lovely addition. Add to that a profusion of colorful flowers, and you’ve got a true winner. 

Deadhead your cosmos regularly for more flowers. They prefer well-drained, poor soil. Too much nitrogen will encourage excessive green growth, but fewer flowers will result. Be careful about overwatering, as these annuals are prone to powdery mildew. 

Angelonia

	botanical name Angelonia angustifolia
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 12″-24″
	hardiness zones 9-11

Angelonia is one of my favorite annual summer flowers. Here in zone 9, plants that flower consistently through the hotter months are hard to find. Angelonia is often called summer snapdragon for its strong resemblance to the latter. The flower spikes come in a variety of colors, including purple, white, blue, pink, lavender, and even black.

One of the nicest things about angelonia plants is that they are self-cleaning. They don’t require deadheading to keep blooming. They tolerate heat and drought and are attractive to pollinators. These annuals reliably bloom until frost. 

Mexican Sunflowers

	botanical name Tithonia rotundifolia
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 3′-6’+
	hardiness zones 2-11

Mexican sunflower is another annual that blooms until frost, and it’s a beauty. These heat lovers start blooming in mid-summer; they thrive in the heat. Their brilliant orange and red flowers are highly attractive to pollinators, especially butterflies. 

These perform well in poor, sandy soil and don’t require fertilizer. Once established, they are drought tolerant, and overwatering is something to avoid. Deadhead them regularly for optimal flowering, and consider staking them for support as they grow tall and can become unstable.