An Annual with Architectural Form?

15 years ago

I'm looking for an annual with architectural form. I also have a thread over at the Perennials forum about the same thing.

I want a plant to be the focal point of a new bed I'm planning just outside my back door. The bed will be prominent in my main family room's view, so I need a really interesting focal point.

I'd like for it to be similar-looking to a Phormium, for example (sword-shaped leaves with bold coloring like a deep red, variegation, etc.). I think it should be medium height, maybe 3 or 4 feet. Don't hesitate to recommend a shorter or taller plant, however, because I'll consider anything.

The site gets sun from an hour or so after sunrise until late afternoon. I'd like to start the plant from seed myself, if possible.

Is there any such annual?

Thanks in advance for your help.

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Comments (11)

Donna
15 years ago
The red forms of cordylines are stunning and resemble both phormiums and yuccas (which are also great architectural plants, especially the variegated ones).

Angelicas, amaranthus, and some sunflowers can also make great focal points. If you live in Arizona, I would think some of your barrel cacti or other forms of cactus would fill the bill.
zen_man
15 years ago
azmountains_gardener,

Another candidate might be Red Leaf Castor Bean. The seeds are poisonous, however. It is also carried in some seed catalogs like Johnny's Selected Seeds.

ZM
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sarahbarah27
15 years ago
Yes those suggestions (castor bean and Amaranthus) are right what i was thinking. There are different types of both shorter/taller. The Amaranthus Towers or Candleabra varieties are tall and stately, and easy to grow from seed!
flora_uk
15 years ago
How about some of the coloured corns like Zea mays Japonica (variegated foliage) or Fiesta? Also ornamental Millet or other tall grasses. (I am assuming by 'annual' you mean something you can sow and see mature in one year, rather than tender perennials like Phormiums.)
marquest
15 years ago
This is a long shot but...How about a Canna

Tropicana
Bengal Tiger
Stuttgart
Intrigue
rokal
15 years ago
Canna or banana would be good. Check out the Ensete Maurelli Banana. This grows quickly and is a real show stopper with dark sword like foliage.

You can buy starter plants on ebay at an affordable price.
noinwi
15 years ago
What about Cardoon? It's large, unusual, has flowers and it's edible.

Here is a link that might be useful: Cardoon images
flora_uk
15 years ago
The last 3 suggestions aren't annuals. Not sure if that matters since the OP also posted on Perennials forum.
marquest
15 years ago
Flora the last three suggestions are annuals in our climate. If a plant cannot survive freezing for 3 months it is an annual in our climate.
flora_uk
15 years ago
It's a question of botanical nomenclature. I was interpreting 'annual' in the botanical sense, a plant which grows from seed, flowers and produces its own seed and dies all in one season. I would call perennials which do not survive the winter, tender perennials. They are still botanically-speaking perennials even if they die in some climates.

Cannas and bananas don't overwinter in my climate either, but I wouldn't call them annuals.
marquest
15 years ago
Flora you are correct but in the line of her question we were giving suggestions that she would not be able to expect to be a perennial in her garden and the best description for that would be annual for discussion sake not as informational of perennial, or annual.

In my climate I use a lot of plants that if I brought them inside for the winter they might survive but we use the term annuals for these plants. Maybe a odd wasteful gardening habit but it is what we do and how they are described.