Planting containers or garden beds in the theme of our Grand Ole’ Flag is a classic way to design a garden scene that works for the entire summer holiday season. If you choose annual plants, you’ll be rewarded with everblooming, non-stop color from Memorial Day to Flag Day, the 4th of July, Labor Day, and all the way until the fall frost. Scroll to check out one sample garden in the American flag theme, and get a feel for all the red, white, and blue annuals available to grow your own USA flower garden this summer.
Patriotic Gardening with Red, White & Blue Annuals
sample garden
This Americana-inspired flower bed features antiqued shades of red, white, and true blue. It was planted in May using quart pots of Coleus Colorblaze® Rediculous®, Supertunia® Latte™ (Petunia hybrid), and Blue My Mind® Dwarf Morning Glory (Evolvulus hybrid). By reading plant tags, the gardener was able anticipate the size of each plant at maturity, and so planted accordingly with the Coleus at back, the Petunias in the middle, and the Evolvulus at the low point in the front. Over the course of the season, the plants filled in to create a garden tapestry, which the homeowner accented with classic sunflowers and a hand-painted, wooden flag sign. Notice how this one small planting quickly grew into a large eye-catching display!
Red Annuals
For bright cherry to deep crimson reds, look to varieties in these plant families:
Begonias, Canna Lily, Coleus, Dahlias, Flowering Sage, Geraniums, Impatiens, Million Bells, Peruvian Lilies, Petunias, New Guinea Impatiens, Snapdragons, SunPatiens®, Verbenas, Vincas, and Zinnias.
white annuals
For pure white to off-white, look to varieties in these plant families:
African Daisy, Begonias, Flowering Sage, Geraniums, Impatiens, Lantana, Million Bells, Petunias, New Guinea Impatiens, Snapdragons, SunPatiens®, Verbenas, Vincas, Zinnias, and more Assorted Annuals.
Blue Annuals
For true blue to deep purple-blue colors, look especially to varieties of Petunias plus these other annual plant families:
Flowering Sage, Flowering Vincas, Impatiens, Million Bells, Peruvian Lilies, Snapdragons, Verbenas, and more Assorted Annuals.
'Patriot Mix' Cell Pack
Take all the guesswork out by choosing a pre-designed combination of plants like Petunia Dreams™ Patriot Mix, available in cell packs while supplies last. Patriot Mix uses a 3-variety blend of red, white, and midnight blue Petunia Dreams™ plants.
'flag mix' hanging basket
If a quick, ready-to-display option is your preference, you might try Petunia Easy Wave® Flag Mix, available as an 10″ Annual Hanging Basket, while supplies last. The contents of this hanging basket can also be popped out & planted for an instantly gratifying red, white & blue garden scene. Learn more about the secret to “planting” hanging baskets.
Create your own
Planting a patriotic container garden with red, white, and blue annuals is a fun & easy way to build a quick, all-American holiday-themed display that lasts all summer.
In this video, Noelle quickly builds 2 planters that are appropriate for Sun. The first combines a red variety of Calibrachoa with a silvery Dichondra plus a blue variety of Salvia. The second blends a red Zinnia with a white-flowering Vinca plus a blue Ageratum.
Noelle also creates 1 container for Shade, which combines a red SunPatiens® with white Hypoestes (Polka Dot Plant) and a blue Torenia.
How to Plant
As with any planting project you may want to accomplish this season, we recommend preparing the soil and following Angelo Petitti’s 6 Steps for Success planting guide.
HOW TO PROPERLY PLANT