Zinderella Peach Zinnia

• Annual
• Salmon with cream-to-rose petals; spring through late summer
• 25″-30″H by 18″-20″W
• Well-drained soil
• Full sun
• Moderate water
• Deadhead spent flowers to encourage additional blooms.
• Attracts butterflies

Plant in spring through June for blooms through fall. Zinnias may experience heat stress in full desert sun. Plant in areas with reflected light, and water frequently. The cheerful flowers thrive in moist beds or containers with moderate to high organic content.

WHY WE LIKE IT: The ‘Zinderella Peach’ cultivar features double-flowered blooms in varying shades of peach. Zinnias make a showy and colorful warm-season accent plant. They seed easily, making them a good choice for beginning gardeners.

Globe Amaranth

• Annual
• Purple, red, pink, white blooms; spring and summer
• 12″-24″H by 6″-12″W
• Well-drained soil
• Full sun
• Low to moderate water
• Low maintenance; may need supplemental water during hot summer months.
• Attracts bees, butterflies

Sometimes called bachelor’s buttons, the true flowers are nearly insignificant; the bright magenta bracts provide the real show. Other cultivars are available that extend the flowerhead color palette to include shades of red, pink, lilac and white.

Why we like it: Globe amaranth make long-lasting cut flowers and retain their color when dried. Easy to grow, they’re also ideal as an attractive border plant or in summer annual beds and containers, with a blooming period that lasts through fall.

Red Velvet Cockscomb

• Annual
• Crimson blooms; early through late summer
• 24″-48″H by 9″-12″W
• Well-drained soil
• Full to partial sun
• Low to moderate water
• Deadhead approximately once a week to remove spent blooms.
• Attracts bees, butterflies

Plant young cockscomb from cell packs for immediate impact in the summer garden. When planted in late spring through early June, blooms can last through late summer.

WHY WE LIKE IT: While the ‘Red Velvet’ cultivar was introduced in 2017, the genus Celosia includes as many as 60 known species in a variety of forms and colors. Cockscomb bring unusual and eye-catching form to a flower bed or containers. Cut flowers also add long-lasting texture to floral arrangements.

Four o’ Clock

• Annual
• Multiple blooms; summer through fall
• 24″-36″H by 12″-18″W
• Well-drained soil
• Full sun to partial shade
• Moderate water
• Low maintenance; no need for deadheading
• Attracts hummingbirds and moths

These fragrant flowers open late in the afternoon and linger only until the following morning before closing permanently. New blooms will appear on subsequent evenings throughout summer. Parts of the plant, including the seeds, are poisonous if ingested.

WHY WE LIKE IT: Four o’clock is unusual in that individual flowers often bloom in different colors on the same plant, or feature a bicolored mottled or striped pattern. The sweet fragrance makes a refreshing addition to hot summer evenings.