Best drought resistant annuals for full sun

Most annual plants flourish better in poorer soils, since rich soils cause them to produce too much foliage.  Typically, biennials only produce flowers in the second year. Many of these plants self-sow spontaneously and must be removed where they are not intended. Here is a list of drought resistant annuals for full sun.

Argemone (Mexican poppy)

Argemone has stems with spiny leaves of a glaucous blue color. It blooms in the summer and the flowers are of the poppy type. Typically grown as an annual plant, it can reach 1m in height. They grow on poor, sandy or rocky soils.

Argemone mexicana – Mexican poppy

Brachyscome iberidifolia (swan river daisy)

Bushy annual plant that grows up to 45cm tall. It has slender stems. It blooms throughout the summer where it is covered with abundant blue-scented, fragrant marigold-type flowers.

Brachyscome iberidifolia – swan river daisy

Calendula officinalis (common marigold)

A small annual plant famous for its properties used in cosmetics. It produces abundant orange flowers from summer to autumn. It grows well in poor soils with good drainage.

Calendula officinalis – common marigold

Cosmos bipinnatus (cosmea)

Charming plant to fill the spaces that are left empty by other plants. Cosmea grows up to 1.5m and produces flowers in various shades of pink and white in the shape of a cup.

Cosmos bipinnatus – cosmea

Dimorphotheca pluvialis (weather prophet)

Annual plant of South African origin that reaches 40cm in height. It can be grown in soil or in pots in hot and sunny places. It has marigold-shaped flowers that only open in the sun. They are white with a blue center and are born above the fragrant foliage.

Eschscholzia californica (California poppy)

Blue-green leaf plant, California poppy grows up to 30cm. It produces bowl-shaped flowers throughout the summer, usually yellow or orange in color but also red or pink, followed by long seed pods that disperse in the garden.

Eschscholzia californica – California poppy