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Photo Credit: ©2000 Dolezal Publishing/Tim Butler

While low-growing plants like zinnia are diminutive in size, their color can be vibrant and demand full attention.

Let’s face it: The latest fashions aren’t for everyone. While some people can carry a trendy look fabulously, others only end up feeling a bit awkward. By the same token, the latest and greatest in annuals aren’t right for every garden. When it comes time to plan out your annual plantings, think about how the forms, flowers and textures of the species you’d like to include will fit in with their surroundings – including your home and companion plants.

Start by imagining how the annuals you like would look alongside your house. Do you have a stately Georgian manor with a manicured lawn? Even though you may love the lithe and airy forms of wildflowers, you probably shouldn’t turn your stately front yard into a cottage garden. Instead, consider neat, low-growing annuals.

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Photo Credit: ©2000 Dolezal Publishing/Kyle Chesser

The spectrum of annual flowers includes both the giant and the wee. Each is suited well for use in your garden, be it in a house-high row or spilling from a 4-inch pot.

Also keep in mind the scale of the structures and landscape your annuals will adorn. A three-story Victorian would completely overpower a wee plot of pansies. Conversely, a thicket of elephant’s ear will overwhelm a cozy bungalow. And if you plant cosmos at the edge of your deck, will you even be able to see your lawn?

The dimensions of your yard dictate annuals of a certain stature. A huge yard, for example, will accommodate tall plants easily. In fact, anything smaller than a sunflower may not be seen at all. That doesn’t mean, however, that small gardens must only be filled with pint-sized plants. Low-growing annuals can actually make a small yard seem larger, and tall annuals can lend a feeling of privacy and coziness.