Well I don't know if you/she would consider these unusual but I like salpiglossis, schizanthus, and mimulus. Nemesia is also nice, but again I don't know how unusual it is. All very easy to start from seed.

Sierra

In addition to Sierra's suggestions above, I also really like livingstone daisy and portulaca. Again, a bit on the common side but nice and easy. I also love Dimorphotheca sinuata African daisy (which I have lots of seeds for, if she needs some), Convolvulus tricolor Dwarf Morning Glory, Cleome hasselerana (it's really tall), stocks, godetia, lavatera, datura, browallia - boy, this list could get long. I'll look for some more.

Shauna

We like to cruise the boxstores for inexpensive indoor tropicals (those under two dollars or so). They can add a lot character to a summer garden.

Thanks Savonna and Shauna for your suggestions.

These annuals below are unusual in my neck of the woods, I know for a fact that these would be hard to find at my local Wal-Mart. Most of them are all easy to start from seed too.

Acroclinium roseum Timeless Rose is my favourite.
Adonis aestivalis
Agastache aurantiaca 'Apricot Sprite'
Agastache foeniculum 'Golden Jubilee'
Agastache rupestris 'Apache Sunset'
Ageratum Florist Blue ÂRed Sea tall types
Agrostemma githago 'Purple Queen' Corn Cockle
Amaranthus, ÂVelvet CurtainsÂ, Red Pygmy Torch, Green Tails.
Ammi majus Laceflower
Bidens, although I see that Proven Winners come out with a couple cultivars every year.
Anchusa azurea 'Dropmore Strain'
Asarina procumbens Climbing Snapdragon
Asclepias curassavica
BROWALLIA americana Bush Violet
Centaurea 'Black Ball' Bachelor Button, this one is really gorgeous!
Calandrina umbellate 'Ruby Violet Rose'
CAPSICUM variegated Ornamental Pepper, different, looks really nice in pots.
CENTRANTHUS ruber Red Valerian
Cerinthe major purpurescens
Chaenarrhimun origanifolium Blue Dream
Clarkia pulchella Passion of Purple
Cleome serrulata Rocky Mtn Bee Plant
Cleome Sparkler Series
Coleus Kong
Coreopsis basalis syn Calliopsis basalis
Coreopsis tinctoria and ÂRed DwarfÂ
Cymbalaria muralis Kenilworth Ivy
Cynara cardunculus Silver Leaf Giant Cardoon, although I can never get mine to flower, season to short!
Cynoglossum amabile Chinese Forget-Me-Not
Datura meteloides and Ballerina Series
Diascia
Digitalis purpurea ÂCamelot or ÂFoxyÂ
Dimorphotheca Spring Flash African Daisy
Dracocephallum moldavicum
Dyssodia tenuiloba Dahlbert Daisy
Eccremocarpus scaber Chilean Glory
Eschscholzia californica California Poppy
Flowering Kale and Cabbage, Peacock and Osaka are my favourites
Lavatera trimestris ÂRuby RegisÂ
Leonurus sibericus Siberian Motherwort
Gaillardia aristata 'Arizona Sun', IÂm hoping its not an annual and that it overwinters.
Helianthus annuus Sunflower ÂEarthwalker being my favourite!
Geranium Pelargonium ÂBlack Velvet SeriesÂ
Gilia tricolor
Gypsophila elegans Covent BabyÂs Breath, probably common, but its so easy to start from seed.
Helichrysum petiolare Silver Mist Licorice Plant, very easy to start from seed and way cheaper to start them on your own rather than buy them in the nursery. No flowers but a nice accent plant for contrast.
Helichrysum Straw Flower
Heliotropium arborescens Heliotrope
Hibiscus acetosella , nice foliage plant, mine didnÂt exceed height this year to lack of sun and heat, IÂll try again next year.
Hibiscus trionum 'Simply Love'
Impatiens balfourii
Impatiens glandulifera
Kochia scoparia trichophylla Burning Bush
Lagurus ovatus Bunny TailÂs Grass
Larkspur
Limonium Statice Mello Yellow, Russian Statice
Linaria Toadflax
Linum grandiflorum rubrum Scarlet Flax
Lopezia cordata
Malva moschata  may act as a perennial too
Malva sylvestris ssp. mauritiana 'Bibor Felho'
Matthiola longipetala bicornis Evening Scented Stock -ugly on its own, but the fragrance is out of this world! Mingle it with other plants to hide the foliage.
Melampodium paludosum Million Gold
Mesembryanthemum Livingston Daisy
NICANDRA physaloides Shoofly, will need lots or room for this one
Nigella damascena
Nicotiana sylvestris Only the Lonely
Papaver Poppy, Ladybird, Black and Danish Poppy being my favourites.
Phacelia campanularia Desert Bluebells
Phacelia tanacetifolia BeePlant
Oenothera speciosa Showy Primrose  annual here
Pennisetum setaceum Fountain Grass
Ricinus, Carmencita and NZ Purple
Rudbeckia, Indian Summer, Cherokee Sunset, Moreno and Prairie Sun
Salvia viridis (horminum) Painted Sage
Salvia coccinea
Salvia patens Blue Angel
Sanvitalia procumbens Creeping Zinnia
SILENE armeria Sweet William Catchfly
SOLANUM atropurpureum, no flourishing flowers but very unusual and something to talk about.
Stipa tenuissima Pony Tail Grass
Verbena bonariensis
Zinnia ÂProfusion FireÂ, IÂve never seen the Profusion series in the nurseries around here.

Anymore to recommend?

Sharon

Oops, I meant to say Sierra, I always get you mixed up with Savona. LOL

alpiner, wow, under $2, do you have names of those tropicals?

Although I wouldn't call snapdragons unusual, "Dwarf Magic Carpet" is difficult to find (around here you will only get it if you start it by seed yourself) and unusual compared to the more popular snapdragons. It is compact and blooms in the most unusual combination of colors. I couldn't find a good picture on the internet, and this photo doesn't show the more unusual colors, but it's the best I could find.

Ohhhhh those snaps are pretty!!! I tried the frosted flames this year.....the foliage is varigated...and a bit different....giving some interest before they bloomed.

Sierra

The Venidium "Zulu Prince" and "Orange Prince" make a great statement in the garden. Not sure how "uncommon" they are but I sure loved them this year!

Brachycome isn't unusual but it has been wonderful all summer in my garden this year..in planters or in the ground it looks great..I also had Felicia (blue marguerite) planted together with the brachycome in the front of a 1/2 barrel..they looked smashing together
{{gwi:775721}}
---savona---

Beautiful combination, Savona.

How 'bout Nigella hispanica? Just as easy (if not easier) than damascena, and with different seed capsules. You can see them developing in the flowers:

Individual flowers are very long lasting. Just say the word if you (or anyone) would like some seed.

Rick

Schizanthus - wonderful colours, intricate orchid-like flowers and bloom for about a month. They flow out of pots or stand up straight in the garden. Easy from seed & I would think progressive seeding would work.

I'll say the word! :)

Good suggestions folks! Keep them coming!

Marcia, I really like your Snaps, kind of reminds me of Halloween Corn Candy ;)

Has anybody ever grown this annual called Zinnia peruviana? I got the seed from Select Seeds and the common name is Zinnia 'Red Peruvian'. I don't recall exactly but I get the impression that it wasn't very attractive (I grew it a few years ago). Anyway I won't sow them again if it is the same spindly plant I grew years ago.

Rick
You've got mail. THE WORD. ; )

Shauna

Rick,
You've got more mail "The word"!!!!

Ang

How about Tithonia rotundifolia? Bright orange flowers on big, attractive plants with nice felty foliage. They don't do well for me here, but they're great in hotter areas.

I planted anagalis from seed. They are perfect for the front of the border and add an intense blue splash all summer long.

I've never seen it in stores and will certainly grow them again.

Tova

Rick, I must of missed your post under your photo. For sure I would be interested in some seeds. I'll say the 'Word' too ;)
Maybe to save on USA stamps, you can send a bulk order to Marcia and then she can divide them up and then we can send her the SASE? Good idea or not?

Same here, I have no success with Tithonia rotundifolia, too bad I've read that the butterflies sure love this plant.

Savona, your Felicia (blue Marguerite) kind of looks like that HETEROPAPPUS meyendorfii 'Blue Knoll' blue Chrysanthemum from Siberia, anyone try that one yet?

Sharon

I've grown Tithonia, both Torch and that dwarf type. Yes, blooms and butterflies love it, but flowers are rather sparse.

What do you all think of Phacelia campanularia? Quite a small plant, and doesn't seem to like the heat here as it poops out with the arrival of summer, but this one sure qualifies as a blooming machine during spring! Maybe it does better in cooler summers?

Tried it (Heteropappus meyendorfii) but had no germination, dang it.

I always have lots of Asarina for my hanging baskets. I have the blue ones but i believe they come in pink to. They are very easy to start from seed. I got the seeds from T&M but I believe they are more widely available now. Another one I like to grow in my beds is the Convulvulus (spelling) or dwarf morning glory. I got those seeds from T&M too. I like 'Bolero' marigolds to plant with purple 'Fantasy' petunias. Marg

Yes, Phacelia campanularia withers out here too when the summer heat arrives.....sure looks great in the spring when the daffs come thru.

Marilena, I'm just now checking out Select Seeds, wow, do they have a nice selection of unusual stuff there!

Sharon

Sharon I think I posted a question about Heteropappus Meyendorfii a year or so ago..and after talking to a friend about it I was kind of convinced it might bloom too late in the season for me..the felicia does remind me of it too...I might be game to try some of the blue knoll yet though : ) savona