Table Of ContentArmitage’s
GARDEN ANNUALS
Armitage s
’
G A R D E N
ANNUALS
A Color Encyclopedia
ALLAN M. ARMITAGE
TIMBER PRESS
Portland · Cambridge
All photographs,exceptthose ofCleome
‘LindeArmstrong’(page 118,by Linda Askey)
and Clitoria ternatea(page 121,by Meg Green),
are by Allan M.Armitage.
Copyright © 2004 by Allan M.Armitage
All rights reserved
Published in 2004 by
Timber Press,Inc. Timber Press
The Haseltine Building 2 Station Road
133 S.W.Second Avenue,Suite 450 Swavesey
Portland,Oregon 97204,U.S.A. Cambridge CB4 5QJ,U.K.
Designed by Susan Applegate
Printed in China
Library ofCongress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Armitage,A.M.(Allan M.)
[Garden annuals]
Armitage’s garden annuals:a color encyclopedia/Allan M.Armitage
p. cm.
Includes index
ISBN 0-88192-617-5
1.Annuals (Plants)—Encyclopedias.
2.Annuals (Plants)—Pictorial works.
I.Title.
SB422.A68 2004
635.9'312'03—dc21 2003056520
This book is dedicated
to all the plant breeders
I’ve met overthe years.
It is your dedication and insights
that have allowed me to write
about the extraordinary diversity
ofornamental plants.
Thank you for enhancing
this thing we call gardening;
you are my heroes.
Contents
Preface 8
Part One.Armitage’s Garden Annuals,A to Z 11
Abelmoschus 12 Calibrachoa 87 Eschscholzia 162 Lobularia 229 Pseuderanthemum291
Abutilon 13 Callistephus 89 Euphorbia 163 Lotus 230 Reseda 291
Acalypha 15 Canavalia 91 Eustoma 165 Lychnis 231 Rhodochiton 292
Acmella 18 Canna 92 Evolvulus 167 Lysimachia 232 Ricinus 293
Agastache 19 Capsicum 97 Felicia 168 Mandevilla 233 Rudbeckia 295
Ageratum 23 Cardiospermum 99 Fuchsia 169 Matthiola 235 Ruellia 298
Alcea 23 Caryopteris 100 Gaillardia 173 Melampodium 236 Russelia 300
Alocasia 25 Catananche 101 Gazania 175 Mimulus 238 Salpiglossis 301
Alonsoa 29 Catharanthus 102 Gerbera 178 Mirabilis 239 Salvia 303
Alpinia 31 Celosia 104 Gilia 180 Moluccella 240 Sanvitalia 310
Alternanthera 32 Centaurea 109 Gladiolus 180 Monopsis 241 Scabiosa 312
Amaranthus 34 Cerinthe 111 Glaucium 182 Musa,Ensete 241 Scaevola 313
Anagallis 38 Chrysanthemum 112 Gloriosa 183 Mussaenda 243 Senecio 315
Angelica 39 Chrysocephalum 113 Gomphrena 184 Nelumbo 244 Setcreasea 317
Angelonia 40 Cirsium 114 Graptophyllum 187 Nemesia 246 Solanum 318
Anisodontea 42 Clarkia 115 Hamelia 189 Nemophila 247 Stachytarpheta 321
Antirrhinum 43 Cleome 115 Helianthus 190 Nicotiana 248 Stictocardia 322
Arctotis 45 Clerodendrum 119 Helichrysum 194 Nierembergia 252 Strobilanthes 322
Argemone 47 Clitoria 121 Heliotropium 195 Nigella 254 Sutera 323
Argyranthemum 47 Cobaea 121 Hemigraphis 198 Odontonema 256 Tagetes 325
Asarina 51 Coleus 122 Hibiscus 199 Orthosiphon 256 Tecomaria 328
Asclepias 52 Colocasia 127 Hypoestes 200 Osteospermum 257 Thunbergia 329
Asystasia 55 Consolida 130 Iberis 201 Otacanthus 260 Tibouchina 332
Ballota 56 Convolvulus 131 Impatiens 203 Papaver 260 Tithonia 333
Barleria 57 Coreopsis 132 Ipomoea 209 Passiflora 265 Torenia 335
Basella 57 Cosmos 134 Iresine 214 Pavonia 267 Trachelium 337
Begonia 58 Cuphea 137 Kaempferia,Cornu- Pelargonium 267 Tropaeolum 337
Bellis 66 Curcuma 140 kaempferia 214 Pennisetum 272 Turnera 340
Bidens 68 Dahlia 141 Kochia 216 Pentas 274 Tweedia 340
Brachycome 70 Datura 145 Lablab 217 Perilla 276 Verbena 341
Bracteantha 72 Dianella 147 Lantana 218 Petunia 277 Vigna 346
Brassica,Beta 74 Dianthus 148 Laurentia 222 Phlox 281 Viola 346
Breynia 79 Diascia 152 Lavatera 223 Plectranthus 282 Xanthosoma 352
Browallia 79 Duranta 156 Leonotis 224 Plumbago 285 Xeranthemum 353
Brugmansia 80 Echium 158 Limonium 225 Polygonum 286 Zea 353
Caladium 83 Emilia 159 Linaria 226 Portulaca 286 Zinnia 354
Calendula 85 Erysimum 160 Lobelia 228
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Part Two.SelectedPlants for Specific Characteristics or Purposes 359
Fall Interest 360 For Naturalizing 360 Herbal Plants 362
Shade 360 For Floral Designs 361 Natives 362
Cool Season 360 For Containers and Baskets361 Vines 362
Winter Annuals 360 For Edging 361 Love the Heat 362
Unique Flower or Fruit 360 Foliage 361 Love the Water 362
Edible Plants 360 Fragrance 361 Bulbous Roots and Grasses 362
Architectural Features 360 Biennials 361 Poisonous 362
Prickly Plants 360 Fruit 361 Cut Flowers 362
U.S.D.A.Hardiness Zone Map 363
Index ofBotanical Names 364
Index ofCommonNames 367
7
Preface
SOME THOUGHTS OF THE AUTHOR
Gardening is anything but staid and On annuals From hybridizing,selection,propaga-
steady.When you talk with people who Nothing has changed faster in the last tion,distribution,promotion,and mar-
enjoy gardening,they are often so ex- decade than the development,distribu- keting—not to mention the tedious jobs
cited they can hardly stand still.They tion,and use ofannuals.In 1995,the ofremoving viruses and the tissue cul-
want to get out there and put a pond in predominant group ofannuals were turing needed for some material—the
their yard,or learn how to put in a stone bedding plants such as petunias,mari- outlay oftimeand money is significant.
wall,or build a path.They get dirty and golds,and alyssum.They were the en- Yet isn’t it amazing how many annuals
downright exuberant when a particular gine that supplied most ofthe annual (and perennials) are so poorly labeled?
plant or weed is discussed.Put garden- color in gardens.Today,those plants are Labels are often missing,or too small
ers together in a garden,and ifthey still popular,but the volume ofnewcom- for anyone over forty to read,or simply
drink (which most do),they have to ers like angelonia,cuphea,verbena,and state “4-inch annual,”and on and on.
sip and walk at the same time.The most coleus has quadrupled as these genera What is the point ofgoing through such
conservative people,who would never become more available to the gardening an expensive,time-consuming practice
ask a stranger for the time ofday,do public.Add bacopa,duranta,osteosper- when retailers accept such shoddy
not hesitate to ask a gardener for a piece mum,and stictocardia to the mix,and labels? The losers,ofcourse,are the
ofa plant they’re lusting for.Vibrant, to be sure,we’re not in Kansas anymore. gardeners,who seldom know what they
exciting,and changing—but hardly However,while the genera keep appear- are buying,and furthermore will be
dignified. ing,the number ofspecies ofannuals unable to purchase the same thing next
within that category is often limited to year.And what a mess is created when
On plant preferences one or two,and in many ofthese new the same plant is sold under two,three,
There are those who are collectors— genera,there may be only a handful of or even four different names! We are a
their passions run to hydrangeas,day- cultivars.The large number ofcultivars patient lot,we gardeners,but not stupid.
lilies,or iris.In general,they are in the ofbedding plants like petunias and Get your labels cleaned up,and we will
minority,which is just as well;they are impatiens,by contrast,mirrors their come back for more.Make it simple to
rather boring.I mean,how many day- longevityandpopularity.Withoutdoubt, buy the product,and then get out of
lilies can be described in a single sitting? some ofthe less common material our way.
(Answer:67.) Most gardeners enjoy all shown in this book will be common-
plants ifthey perform well for them,al- place in five years,providing additional On new plants
though to be sure,we have many “woody diversity each year. A lady named Rachel walked into our
camps”and an equal number of“herba- greenhouse,which was overflowing
ceous camps.”As for me,I love them all. On plant names with new and colorful exotic plants.She
Annuals,perennials,shrubs,trees, Most gardeners would be astonished at selected two plants and approached me
bulbs,and ferns,who cares,as long as the amount oftime and effort that goes to pay.I told her that they were research
they look good. into making a new cultivar ofplant. plants and not for sale,and,with great
8
disappointment,she turned to put them keep all this new stuffin perspective. Perennials;in that book,the information
back.However,herselectedplantscaught They will soon be recognizable,but until is far more specific and in-depth,and
myeye,and I was floored! Believing she then,there are some lovely new gerani- the images support the text.Between
had the entire contents ofthe green- ums I’d be happy to share with you. the two,you’ll learn everything you ever
house from which to choose,she had wanted to know about annuals but were
picked up a 4-inch pot of‘Better Boy’ About the book afraid to ask.
tomato and a 6-inch pot ofLeyland I wrote this book because people,in- It was also written tocomplement
cypress! Uncommonly common plants cluding myself,love pictures.It is de- another wonderful color book,Armi-
when surrounded bysuch beauty.I signed to provide well-researched and tage’s Garden Perennials.With the two
asked her why she had chosen these useful information,but in this book,the together,you can have your own photo-
(after all,I figured I was making the text supports the images shown.It was library ofmore than 2800 images,and
world a better place),and she looked me created as a complement to my larger some good reading to boot.I hope you
straight in the eye and said,“That’s all I annual book,Armitage’s Manual of enjoy yourself,enjoy your reading,and
recognized.”Now,thanks to Rachel,I Annuals,Biennials,and Half-Hardy enjoy your garden.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thanks to Stephanie Anderson,who
helped with the incredible job ofimage
management,and to Judy Laushman,
who read over the text and provided
insightful comments.And without
doubt,the book is far better because
ofmyeditor,Franni Bertolino Farrell.
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