One-Year-Flowering Plants: 120 Species: A Practical Illustrated Guide for Landscape Plants (Issue 4)

Author: Xue Congxian
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2000-01-01
Features: An annual herbaceous flower refers to a plant that completes its life cycle—seed sowing, growth, blooming, fruiting, and aging to death—within a year. Plants of the same category also include biennials, which have a life span of up to two years. In the South China region, most belong to annual herbaceous flowers, while biennials are less likely to bloom in flat areas. Annual herbaceous flowers have a short cultivation period, typically blooming within 2 to 6 months, after which they naturally die. Examples include pansies, zinnias, cockscomb, salvia, marigolds, daisies, and marigolds. This book includes 120 species of annual herbaceous flowers, nearly all the cultivated varieties in the South China region.
Annual herbaceous flowers are divided into spring-sown and autumn-sown varieties based on sowing season. Tropical plants, which prefer high temperatures, are suitable for sowing in spring in the South China region, blooming from late spring to summer, and dying in autumn. Temperate plants, which prefer cool or warm conditions, are suitable for sowing in autumn, blooming from winter to spring, and naturally dying in summer.
In terms of growth habits, annual herbaceous flowers are all sun-loving plants. They require ample sunlight for normal growth and blooming. Insufficient sunlight can lead to poor development, etiolation, and difficulty in flowering. Propagation of annual herbaceous flowers primarily relies on sowing, with very few cases of cuttings. Since sowing is asexual reproduction, some varieties may exhibit degeneration in offspring (e.g., marigolds, petunias, and cockscomb), resulting in inferior blooming quality. To maintain high quality, hybridized new seeds must be used for sowing.
Although annual herbaceous flowers have a short lifespan, they bloom vibrantly and beautifully, making them suitable for container planting, cut flowers, or flower bed beautification. In landscape applications, their varieties can be rotated seasonally, providing people with fresh, colorful, and spectacular visual enjoyment.