In no particular order because I really cannot name a favorite.
Vinca (Cataranthus roseus)
Zinnias, both tall, and the short Profusions and Zaharas
Angelonia, especially the taller varieties
Hybrid Marigolds
Pansies
Sweet Potato Vines (Yeah. That's six. Oh well.)

And for shade: Torenia

Agree with above plus sunflowers.

Martha

For non stop flowering in full sun, heat, and humidity, I recommend Angelonia, some Zinnia cultivars, Celosia, Gomphrena, Catharanthus roseus, and a great perennial we use AS an annual....Lantana.

There are also several very colorful Coleus cultivars that have been bred to do well in the full sun.

I'm going to toss in moss rose and ageratum.

Oh, and Johnny jump ups. Flowers all through the heat of the summer. And started blooming again in January. I guess it just doesn't care what the temperature is. Supposed to be an annual, but it just never died.

Other suggestions are perfect as well.

This post was edited by sara82lee on Sat, May 10, 14 at 22:56

* Geranium
* Zinnia
* Vinca

Sara, johnny jump ups are perennials....tender herbaceous perennials! Actually, we've all listed several perennials that are used as annuals.

Even though most of those would be classified as tender perennials, lots of people will bring them inside to overwinter and propagate. I kept a huge geranium in a classroom greenhouse for years, where it served as a stock plant (Mother Geranium) for a very long time, giving us countless cuttings.

Thanks rhizo! I guess I should have figured that! Others are perennial, too? Any besides lantana and geraniums?

Catharanthus roseus, Angelonia (my favorite), and sweet potato vine. :-)

rhizo, did you keep that large geranium under special lights during the winter? I lost 2 of my 4 in a large pot this winter in the basement under one CF bulb and I'm wondering if it would not have done just as well in an East window.
pat

Pat, mine was in a big greenhouse 24/7 all year round. No special lights Plus, I kept it pretty cool in there in the winter.....55ish. I turned up the heat only when I was teaching a class in there, lol.

This post was edited by rhizo_1 on Sat, May 17, 14 at 21:14