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When you’re shopping for flowering plants for your patio containers, you’ll find two main categories: annual flowers and blooming tropicals. They look similar. They’re both covered in flowers. They’re both stunning in containers.

But they’re fundamentally different in how they grow, what they need, and what happens to them when summer ends.

Understanding the difference helps you choose the right plants for your space — and set realistic expectations for care.

Annual Flowers

What they are: Plants that complete their entire life cycle — germinating, growing, flowering, and producing seeds — in a single growing season.

How they work: Because annuals only have one season to reproduce, they’re programmed to grow fast, bloom prolifically, and set seed. This means they’re hungry and thirsty. They need regular feeding and consistent watering to keep blooming all summer long.

Examples: Petunias, impatiens, marigolds, geraniums, vinca, verbena, portulaca

Care: Regular watering (containers dry faster in heat), feeding every 1–2 weeks for continuous blooms, deadheading to encourage more flowers, full sun to part shade depending on variety

What happens in fall: Annuals die when temperatures drop below freezing. That’s it — they’re done. You pull them out and compost them.

Perfect for: Gardeners who want maximum color impact without long-term commitment, renters, people who like to switch up their container designs seasonally

Blooming Tropicals

What they are: Perennial plants (like houseplants) that thrive year-round in warm climates. In cold regions like Minnesota, they’re treated as annuals or brought indoors for the winter.

How they work: Tropicals are more similar to houseplant species that just happen to have flowers. They’re not racing to reproduce in one season. They’re built to grow steadily and bloom over time. Once established, they’re less needy than annuals.

Examples: Mandevilla, dipladenia, hibiscus, jasmine, bougainvillea, plumbago, canna lily

Care: Moderate watering (they’re more forgiving of occasional dry spells), lighter fertilizing needs, less aggressive deadheading required, full sun for best blooming

What happens in fall: You have two options. Either treat them as annuals and compost them. Or bring them indoors before temperatures drop below 50°F and keep them as houseplants through winter. They’ll slow down indoors but stay alive, ready to go back outside next spring.

Perfect for: Gardeners who want to invest in plants they can keep for multiple seasons, people with sunny patios or windows indoors, anyone willing to care for them through winter

Key Differences at a Glance

Which Should You Choose?

Choose annuals if:

• You want maximum color with minimal long-term planning
• You like changing up your container designs seasonally
• You prefer the instant gratification of fast-growing, prolific bloomers

Choose tropicals if:

• You prefer plants that are more forgiving of missed waterings
• You have space to bring plants indoors in winter (sunny windowsill, greenhouse, basement with grow lights)
• You want to invest in plants you’ll keep for multiple seasons

The best answer? Mix both. Use annuals for color-focused containers where you want maximum impact and seasonal variety. Use tropicals for statement pieces — jasmine climbing a trellis, a hibiscus in the corner of your patio — that you’ll bring in and keep through winter.

Visit Sunnyside Gardens to shop both annual flowers and blooming tropicals. Our team can help you choose the right plants for your space and explain overwintering options.