You’ll Eat These Annuals Up!

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Judith K. Mehl

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Photo Credit: Burpee

Plant your borage on a hill to best enjoy its cheerful, nodding flowers.

When most people think “annuals,” it’s snapdragons, petunias, geraniums and impatiens that spring to mind. Sure, these plants add gorgeous color, but there are other annual options out there that serve dual-purpose – ones that are beautiful and beneficial. What are these optimal options? Blooming ornamental herbs, like sunflowers! (Sure, you may never need to make a rope from a sunflower stalk, but the plant’s usefulness for such is what distinguishes it from other “regular” annuals, like petunias.)

Like many other colorful annuals, ornamental herbs grow fast and can be sown outside in their permanent home – no indoor babysitting or transplanting required. They do require some preliminary attention to cultural requirements, but many are flexible with their soil – as long as they get the right sun.

Here are some of my favorites:

Borage (Borago officinalis) adds a beautiful blue hue to a bed, border or rock garden and has a cucumber-like fragrance. The clusters of star-like flowers grow to 2 feet on fuzzy stems with silver, hairy leaves by early summer. The foliage can be used in salads, and whole flowers and crushed leaves can be added to cool drinks. (This herb reportedly relieves rheumatism pain and hoarseness.)

As far as planting and care goes, borage likes it dark until birth, so plant seeds where you expect them to grow, and keep them covered for about a week until they germinate. The plant likes lean soil and moderate moisture in sun or partial shade once the sprouts appear. Encourage fresh flowers midsummer by trimming.

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Photo Credit: Johnny's Selected Seeds

Not only are calendulas beautiful, their roots produce a monoglucoside that may suppress nearby weeds.

Calendula (Calendula officinalis) gained a reputation as being the workhorse of the garden because of its long growing season and tolerance for frost, making it possible to sow the seeds early. The plants grow 8-20 inches tall, and the large (1-3 inches wide) daisy-like flowers come in a brilliant color mix. Some cultures have used the plant as a medicinal herb (for treating ailments like diaper rash or toothaches), and its petals can be sprinkled on salads or crushed in lieu of saffron.

Facts

Mallow (Malva sylvestris), also called tall or high mallow, is an introduced plant to the US that escaped cultivation and is a perennial in warmer climates. It can be found anywhere in the US except for Nevada and the Southeast. The common mallow (M. neglecta), often called a weed, can be found anywhere in the US and Canada.
You can use nasturtiums in a variety of delicious ways. Before the 1860s, the plants were often substituted for watercress. People also pickled the buds and ate them with meat. They’re high in vitamin C and are considered an antiseptic.

Tips

Calendulas require partial shade in warm climates. In USDA hardiness zones 8-10, they can be sown in late summer for winter bloom.
Be sure to check how long it takes your package of sunflowers to reach maturity. Some varieties can take 110 days, making them more suitable for warmer climates.

Faqs

Q: How do I mix these annuals into my garden?
A: Ornamental edible annuals like borage, calendula, sunflowers, German chamomile, buttercups, mallow and nasturtiums will make themselves at home amidst your perennials to provide a colorful touch. Or you can nestle them into a bed of their own.

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Amazing Annuals
Annuals are recognized as providing gardeners with new choices and new inspiration to create a unique garden and to make a personal statement. Learn how to invest in annuals for your garden and how to keep them beautiful for a longer growing season.

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