Of the 76 cultivars of petunia in the 1997 trial, only 26 rated 2.5 or higher. Most of these can be found in a variety of flower colors in the Carpet series or the Fantasy series. A new development in petunias for warm climates are the tropical or spreading petunias. Purple Wave and Pink Wave appeared to thrive in the summer heat, rating 3.3 and 3.0, respectively. Portulaca, which has a spreading growth habit, had two cultivars rated 2.5 or higher, Sundial Fuchsia and Sundial Orange.
Gardeners often rely on marigolds as a mainstay of the annual planting.
There are two types of marigolds. African marigolds are generally tall with large flowers while French marigolds are more compact with more numerous, but smaller flowers. Eight African marigolds and 17 French marigolds rated 2.5 or higher. The top three of each type were Antigua Primrose, Antigua Goldsmith, and Discovery Yellow of the African type and Bonanza Harmony, Bonanza Flame, and Hero Orange of the French type. Most gardeners think of red-flowered scarlet sage when annual salvia is mentioned.