Bright and merry

Prolific bloomers Zinnia, China aster and Rudbeckia are among the outstanding annuals to feature in landscaping, writes Stephanie Choo

China Asters are ideal as edging.

WHILE most of us will just wilt under the scorching heat of the sun, annuals, which belong to the plant family Asteraceae, just look perky and happy. Some have brilliantly-coloured flower heads that resemble a daisy.

ZINNIA

Filling the compound with colours, the cultivars in the Crystal Series (Zinnia augustifolia “Crystal”) are excellent candidates for bedding and pot culture.

The plants, which possess a compact growth habit and narrow leaves, bear striking white, yellow and orange daisy-like single flowers with an orange centre. They can grow to about 25cm tall.

The interspecific hybrids of the Profusion Series (Z. elegans x Z. angustifolia) also have bright flowers atop lance-shaped leaves. The petals can be orange, red or white.

The hybrids were developed to tolerate hot, humid conditions, are highly diseaseresistant, compact in growth and do not require deadheading.

They can be used in borders and mass plantings. Dense mounds can be formed to about 30cm high; the plants also look attractive in containers.

ChINA Aster

You can enjoy the beautiful blooms of a China Aster or Annual Aster (Callistephus chinensis) in well-drained spots in partial shade or partial sun.

Tiny tubular disk flowers form the centre of each flower head and strap-shaped ray flowers are extended from the disk. Their spatulate-shaped leaves have tooth-like edges.

Dwarf varieties are about 25cm tall and are ideal for front of a border or as edging. Those that stand 90cm tall can be used as mid and back border plants.

Popular daisy-like varieties like C. chinensis “Matsumoto” and “Serenade” bear semi-double flowers in many colours and yellow centres. The centre of the single mix cultivars are also yellow but they produce large single flowers in purple, pink, red, magenta and white.

rudbeCkIA

Also known as Black-Eyed Susan or Gloriosa Daisy, Rudbeckia Hirta “Toto” plants are cheerful charmers. The compact annuals grow in upright clumps to about 40cm in height. They stun in borders when planted as well as in mixed containers because of their coloured petals.

Bright yellow, gold or deep redmahogany petals with dark brown eyes form the large round flowers of the cultivars in this Toto Series.

The “Prairie Sun” variety sports orange ring and yellow tipped-petals around a green centre. This is a tall plant that can grow up to 90cm high.

Another common Rudbeckia is the R. fulgida “Goldsturm”. This award-winning selection produces huge golden-yellow flowers with prominent brownish black centres. They’re tough and deserve a place

Zinnias can be grown in dense mounds and look attractive in containers.

in the middle of a border. They also work well as a thriller in container combos.

Rudbeckias are normally short-lived perennials. They double up as annuals in unfavourable conditions. They thrive in full

The Black-Eyed Susan makes for stunning borders.

sun locations but appreciate some afternoon shade. The flowers make excellent cut flowers and dried arrangements. They dislike water-logged soil.