Annual Flowers
from Holub Greenhouses

Annual flowers and plants are an easy way to add season-long color to Iowa gardens, flower beds, containers, hanging baskets, and landscapes. Holub Greenhouses offers a wide selection of locally grown annuals for both sunny and shaded spaces, with options for homes and businesses throughout Ames and Central Iowa.

Not sure which annual flowers are right for your space? Our gardening experts can help you choose beautiful flowers based on sunlight, growing conditions, and your gardening goals. For more than 40 years, Holub Greenhouses has helped Central Iowa gardeners find beautiful plants and practical gardening advice. Visit or give us a call today for help choosing the best annuals for your garden.

Huge Inventory of Over 200 Varieties of Annual Plants
(Seasonal availability, while supplies last)

Annuals are so fun to grow because you can switch up the placement and choose different ones each year. Once you find the flowers you love, planting them becomes easier and easier each spring. There are tons of options to choose from, and our staff can ensure you get exactly what you want every year.

Below are a few of the choices we carry at Holub Greenhouses:

Best Annual Flowers for Iowa Gardens

The best annual flowers for Iowa gardens depend on the amount of sunlight your space receives, where you’re planting, and the type of color or texture you want to add. 

For sunny Iowa gardens, petunias, marigolds, zinnias, portulaca, verbena, and salvia are popular choices. These sun-loving annuals can add dependable color to flower beds and containers throughout the growing season.

For areas with more shade, begonias, coleus, and impatiens provide colorful options for garden beds, porch containers, and other spaces that receive less direct sunlight.

Many annual flowers also perform well in containers and hanging baskets, making it easy to add seasonal color to decks, patios, porches, and smaller outdoor spaces.

Explore Our Annual Flowers

Explore our selection of annual flowers for Iowa gardens, including varieties for full sun, partial shade, flower beds, containers, hanging baskets, and seasonal displays.

Alyssum is a low-growing annual that produces clouds of tiny, fragrant blooms in white, pink, or purple. Perfect for borders and containers, it attracts pollinators and fills in gaps beautifully.

Best time to plant: Early spring after the last frost.

Begonias offer vibrant blooms and attractive foliage, thriving in shady spots where other flowers might struggle. They're ideal for hanging baskets, containers, and shaded garden beds.

Best time to plant: Late spring when soil is warm and frost is gone.

Known for its fiery, plume-like or cockscomb flowers, celosia adds bold texture and color to sunny garden beds and bouquets. It prefers hot weather and well-drained soil.

Best time to plant: Late spring to early summer after soil has warmed.

Grown for its colorful, patterned foliage rather than flowers, coleus thrives in both sun and shade, depending on the variety. It’s perfect for containers and mixed plantings.

Best time to plant: After the last frost in spring.

Dianthus has frilly, clove-scented blooms in shades of pink, red, and white. It’s a compact flower that works well in borders, rock gardens, and window boxes.

Best time to plant: Early spring once the soil is workable.

A classic favorite, geraniums offer long-lasting blooms in vibrant colors. They’re drought-tolerant and do well in containers, garden beds, or window boxes.

Best time to plant: Late spring after frost has passed.

These shade-loving flowers bloom continuously in a range of bright colors. Ideal for under trees or on shady porches, they offer easy, low-maintenance color.

Best time to plant: After last frost when temps are steady warm.

Marigolds are cheerful, pest-repelling flowers that thrive in sunny spots. Their orange and yellow blooms brighten up garden beds and vegetable plots alike.

Best time to plant: Late spring once the soil is warm.

Pansies are cool-weather favorites with cheerful "faces" in nearly every color. Great for early spring or fall, they perform best in cooler temperatures.

Best time to plant: Early spring or early fall.

Petunias bloom profusely all summer in brilliant colors. They are great for containers, hanging baskets, and sunny garden beds, especially with regular deadheading.

Best time to plant: After danger of frost.

Also known as moss rose, portulaca loves heat and sun, producing bright, rose-like blooms. It’s drought-tolerant and thrives in poor, dry soil.

Best time to plant: Late spring when the weather is warm and dry.

Salvia features tall spikes of blue, purple, red, or white flowers that attract hummingbirds and bees. It adds vertical interest to sunny borders.

Best time to plant: Late spring when soil has warmed.

Snapdragons bring unique vertical blooms in various colors and are loved for their early spring and fall performance. Great for borders and cutting gardens.

Best time to plant: Early spring or fall.

Verbena is a sun-loving annual that produces clusters of small flowers perfect for ground cover or spilling over containers. It thrives with regular deadheading.

Best time to plant: Late spring after the threat of frost.

Vinca, or periwinkle, is a low-maintenance annual with glossy leaves and continuous blooms. It’s heat & drought-tolerant, perfect for sunny areas.

Best time to plant: Late spring when soil warmed.

Violas are compact, cool-loving flowers with delicate, cheerful blooms. Similar to pansies but they appear smaller, they work well in early spring or fall displays.

Best time to plant: Early spring or early fall.

Zinnias are bright, daisy-like flowers that thrive in heat and attract butterflies. They are very easy to grow and ideal for your cutting gardens.

Best time to plant: Late spring after soil warms up.