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consistently prolific bloomers.

They also produce lots of seeds. As with most other annuals, the only way to harvest seeds is by allowing dead flowers to remain on the plants. The Lilliput variety has small flowers, but other varieties have very large flowers.

Morning glories are very attractive, but they are the kind of flower that you either love or hate. They are easy to grow, easy to start from seed, and very fast growers. They grow as a vine so will require some support.

The greatest disadvantage to growing morning glories is that they dump seeds everywhere - not just on the ground near where they were planted; they blow everywhere, will sprout in beds far from where they were planted and can wrap themselves around everything in their path. Growing them in containers or hanging baskets may help contain them.

Mirabilis, more commonly known as four o'clock will grow very easily from seed. Depending on the color or variety, the flowers can grow as tall as 4 or more feet. Once established, they develop huge tubers that grow deep into the soil. They are extremely adaptable and will grow in even the poorest quality soil.

Four o'clock flowers bloom at night and are fragrant. They also attract hummingbirds and butterflies. They are somewhat drought tolerant and require very little maintenance. If the dead flowers are allowed to remain on the plants, they will produce seeds. Because four
o'clocks are known to produce enormous quantities of seeds and drop just as many, it's a good idea to harvest them as fast as possible.

Datura is another night blooming annual, although in warm climates, it grows as a perennial, or a self seeding annual. It will sprout very easily from seed. The flowers on datura can range in color and will be single, double or triple blooms that are wonderfully fragrant. The flowers only last the night, and once the flower falls off, a seed pod will grow in its place.

The pods develop incredibly sharp thorns as they mature. Once the seed pod matures, it will dry out and burst open. Each pod will contain literally hundreds of seeds, and if they aren't harvested almost immediately after they open (and even then, there is no guarantee,) they may dump huge amounts of seeds on the ground or in the pot.

This is a brief look at some easy to grow and very hardy annuals. Obviously there are thousands more that one can grow. The ones listed here were chosen because they adapt to a wide variety of conditions, grow easily from seed and don't require a lot of maintenance.

Learn more about this author, Theresa Rose.
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