Annual plants grow, flower, set seed and die in one year, and are usually sown straight into the ground. Because hardy annuals do not have to be nurtured in a greenhouse first, if the ground they were growing in the previous year is raked over lightly in spring, any seed left in the soil may germinate to give another display.

All are happy in sunny places; some tolerate light shade. Most are summer flowering, beginning in June/July and continuing until autumn or the first frosts.

Wildlife-friendly hardy annuals to sow directly into a well-prepared border in March (or in a windowbox or other container) include:

• Pot marigold (Calendula) - low growing with orange-yellow flower shades.
• Poached egg plant (Limnanthes douglasii) - looks scruffy once finished flowering, but easy to pull up.
• Common or rocket candytuft (Iberis) - flowers profusely if deadheaded.
• Nasturtium (Tropaeolum) - sprawling so good for trailing over edges.
• Sunflowers (Helianthus) - short varieties available. Seedheads attractive to finches.
• Sweet alyssum (Alyssum)
• Annual chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum)
• Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus; C. moschata)