Ten-inch annuals arrive in spring and keep going through fall—the workhorse size for quick color in beds, borders, or those gaps between perennials that need filling. Most are ready to plant straight out and will branch and fill their space without fussing.

What you get depends on the season: early spring means cool-season choices like snapdragons and dianthus; summer heat brings in the heat-lovers like vinca and marigolds; by late season, mums and ornamental kale move in. Pick what matches the weather.