10 Underrated Annuals & Tropicals That Add Bold Color to Landscape Beds
When it comes to landscape design, annuals and tropicals are the quickest way to deliver seasonal color, texture, and drama. Yet many of the most show-stopping plants often lose attention to more traditional options like impatiens or petunias. Below, we’re spotlighting 10 underrated picks — from vibrant foliage to exotic blooms — that perform beautifully in landscape beds, borders, and containers.
Whether you’re refreshing a poolside garden or designing an entrance bed, these plants bring serious wow-factor.
1. Sun Coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides)
Why it’s underrated: People often think of coleus as a shade plant, but the newer sun-tolerant varieties thrive in full sun.
Best feature: Bold, richly patterned foliage in red, chartreuse, burgundy, and everything in between.
Great for: Foliage contrast, low-maintenance beds, and modern container designs.
2. Ageratum (Floss Flower)
Why it’s underrated: This low-growing annual offers delicate texture and rich, true blue blooms — a rare color in summer beds.
Best feature: Continuous blooms that attract butterflies and pollinators.
Great for: Edging, mass plantings, and softening hardscapes.
3. Zinnias (Zinnia elegans)
Why it’s underrated: Overshadowed by newer hybrids, classic zinnias are tough, drought-tolerant, and provide armloads of blooms.
Best feature: Vibrant colors and multiple shapes, from daisy-like to double blooms.
Great for: Hot, sunny beds and cut flower gardens.
4. Geraniums (Pelargonium spp.)
Why it’s underrated: Too often, a “porch pot” plants, zonal geraniums, add structure and reliable color to landscape beds.
Best feature: Large, showy blooms and scented leaves that repel deer and rabbits.
Great for: Front entry beds, commercial spaces, and Mediterranean-style designs.
5. Setcreasea (Purple Heart)
Why it’s underrated: A gorgeous trailing groundcover with striking purple foliage that intensifies in full sun.
Best feature: Unbeatable foliage color, drought tolerance, and a spreading habit.
Great for: Underplanting taller tropicals or creating contrast in mixed beds.
6. Crossandra (Firecracker Flower)
Why it’s underrated: This heat-loving tropical produces apricot-orange blooms from spring through frost.
Best feature: Glossy green leaves and a nonstop bloom cycle.
Great for: Bright, protected garden beds or containers in southern climates.
7. Angelina Sedum (Sedum rupestre ‘Angelina’)
Why it’s underrated: Often in rock gardens, this golden sedum is a surprising, low-growing filler in traditional beds.
Best feature: Neon chartreuse foliage that turns orange in cool temps.
Great for: Sun-drenched areas, borders, and spillover in raised beds.
8. Celosia (Cockscomb or Plume Types)
Why it’s underrated: This annual is more than just funky — it’s durable, sun-loving, and thrives in tough conditions.
Best feature: Unusual textures in warm colors that last all season.
Great for: Adding height, texture, and drama to floral displays.
9. Hibiscus, Cannas, and Tropical Gingers
Why they’re underrated: These tropicals bring instant lushness and a vacation vibe to home gardens, but are often underused in seasonal beds.
Best feature: Bold foliage and large blooms that make a statement.
Great for: Poolside beds, large containers, and focal points.
10. Bird of Paradise & Selloum Philodendron
Why they’re underrated: Traditionally seen as houseplants, these giants make stunning tropical accents outdoors in summer.
Best feature: Bird of Paradise offers exotic blooms, while Selloum adds deeply cut foliage and architectural interest.
Great for: Tropical-themed beds, shade gardens, and backdrop planting.
Pro Tip:
Mixing tropicals with flowering annuals gives landscape beds more dimension. Use tall varieties (like canna or bird of paradise) for height, medium growers (like sun coleus or zinnias) for color, and trailing types (like Angelina or setcreasea) for spill and texture.
Ready to Revamp Your Beds?
Whether you want a tropical oasis or vibrant seasonal color, these underrated plants are powerhouses in the right design. Want help creating a jaw-dropping display?
