Top 10 Annual Flowers
GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. — Each growing season, the West Central Research and Outreach Center trial gardens in Morris, MN put hundreds of annuals to the test to see which truly shine in real-world conditions. The 2025 Top Ten Performing Annual Flowers list highlights standout varieties that delivered exceptional color, vigor, and reliability—often with minimal maintenance required.
This year’s top performers proved they can handle heat, rain, and variable light while maintaining strong growth and continuous blooms.
Begonia iCandy Inferno
- Excellent vigor and health throughout the entire season
- Thrived even in full shade with no decline
- Large, fully double fiery red blooms contrasted beautifully with dark foliage
- Compact, well-shaped habit with no pinching or deadheading required
- Strong resistance to excess moisture
Begonia Surefire® Rose
- Improved vigor and resilience as the season progressed
- Performed exceptionally well in full shade
- Consistent bloom color and fullness
- Upright, tidy growth with low maintenance needs
- Reliable choice for both landscapes and containers
Bidens Campfire® Marshmallow
- Outstanding “flower power” from early growth through late season
- Self-cleaning blooms kept plants looking neat
- Heat tolerant and maintained uniform growth
- Bright white flowers attracted pollinators
- Consistently clean, vigorous appearance
Cleome Señorita Rosalita®
- Vigorous growth with continuous flowering from late spring to fall
- Thornless stems and self-cleaning blooms eliminated maintenance issues
- Excellent uniformity across plantings
- Upright habit provided strong vertical interest
- Improved alternative to traditional cleomes
Coleus ColorBlaze® El Brighto
- Bold, vibrant foliage color held all season
- Maintained fullness and uniform shape without becoming leggy
- Performed well in both sun and shade
- Strong landscape presence and container performance
- Reliable color impact without flowering dependence
Helianthus Suncredible® Yellow
- Constant production of bright yellow blooms all season
- Compact, mounded habit ideal for structured plantings
- Uniform growth and exceptional vigor
- Heat tolerant and no deadheading required
- Excellent low-maintenance sunflower option
Ipomoea Sweet Caroline Sweetheart Medusa Black
- Deep purple-black foliage provided dramatic contrast
- Balanced growth without overwhelming nearby plants
- Consistent performance across multiple trial beds
- Uniform shape and controlled vigor
- Strong design element in mixed plantings
Petunia Supertunia Vista® Jazzberry®
- Intense magenta-purple blooms with excellent color retention
- Withstood heat and heavy rainfall without fading
- Vigorous, spreading habit quickly filled space
- Continuous flowering with minimal care
- Reliable impact in sunny beds and containers
Portulaca Mega Pazzaz® Papaya Twist
- Highly visible, pin-striped blooms with glowing color
- Exceptional performance in hot, dry conditions
- Strong vigor and clean, compact growth
- Continuous flowering without fading
- Excellent choice for low-maintenance, high-impact areas
Vinca Cora® XDR Red Glow
- Neon-bright red blooms with nonstop flowering
- Most floriferous vinca in the trials
- Excellent uniformity in size, shape, and bloom coverage
- Maintained tidy habit in hot, humid conditions
- Strong disease resistance and reliability
Choosing proven performers means less frustration and more enjoyment in the garden. Whether you’re planting containers, filling landscape beds, or designing high-impact displays, these top ten annuals offer dependable beauty from planting time through fall.
If you’re planning your 2025 garden, these tried-and-true annuals are a smart place to start.