One of the benefits of a display of spring annuals is that they can be interplanted with spring bulbs and often do a useful job of hiding spent bulb foliage in late spring and early summer. Pansies, violas, bellis perennis (English daisies) and Chrysanthemum paludosum are major selections for inter-planting with bulbs at Canberra’s Spring Floriade.

Once upon a time pansies used to be distinguished by dark coloured blotches or ‘faces’ but not all hybrids are so marked these days. Pansies and violas, which tend to have smaller flowers, both belong to the genus Viola. The range, from pink, through red and blue to purple and black, is now large enough to meet most personal colour tastes.

Plant into a previously manured (so that tender roots will not get burnt) moist, friable soil in a warm, but not hot, sunny site. If spent flowers are regularly removed the plants should continue flowering well into spring.

The seed of Iceland poppies, as well as their seedlings, are extremely small and delicate so they are usually recommended as a nursery purchase. However, even these will need to be handled carefully as too much disturbance to the roots while being transplanted often leads to twisted flower stems.

Plant into a good rich soil with plenty of morning sun to ripen the flower buds. The old favourite ‘Artist’s Glory’ will flower for many weeks in shades of lemon and apricot through rose pink with a picotee edge as well as white.

Primulas are perennial by nature in their northern hemisphere habitats, where they grow to perfection in cool, moist climates. Here, summer heat ensures they are better grown as annuals. Given plenty of water, Primula malacoides ’Carmine Glow’, ‘Gilham’s White’ and the mixture ‘Lollipops’ do well in full sun or light shade.

Frost hardy, perennial Polyanthus, available in nurseries as potted colours of the rainbow, make decorative container plantings.