Plants that are new on the horizon
One of the greatest pleasures I get out of my chosen profession is getting to meet with the local growers and distributors of plants and flowers. Therein that interaction I often get an introduction into the latest developments of floral species, with new habits, colors and so forth. Some may be hard to find, many are not.
This then is a short list of some interesting varieties of new and seldom used flowers suitable for seasonal color and container gardening.
Donna Dorsey’s Six Chosen Favorites
Sweet Suzie Petunia
From the Sweetunia series, this flower gets about 10” and spreads about 15”. Habit is mounding and would do great in containers or hanging baskets. Oh, my goodness is this a winner! Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. Sun/part shade
Salvia Forest Fire
This plant is the easiest plant in the world to grow. The hummingbirds love it. It reseeds and tolerates very dry conditions! Height about 18”. Does best in full sun but will perform well in part shade.
Pink Sky Petunia
Plant grows 10”-16” tall and 20” wide. Part of the Headliner series of petunias it flowers earlier in the season and mounds. Not really a trailing petunia so better in pots or mass plantings. The petunias are fragrant and attract butterflies and hummingbirds! Sun/part shade.
Sanvitalia
A creeping zinnia. It is very low maintenance and extremely heat tolerant. Plant grows 6”-10” and can get as wide as 20”. A great plant for the money! Deadheading is not necessary. The new flowers cover the old flowers up so quickly that there is no need for deadheading. Got to love it! Sun
Kangaroo Paw
The flowers are good for cutting. The plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and birds. Grows about 18” in our area. Is called a perennial but not in our zone. Don’t overwater. Sun/part shade. A native of Australia
Big Bounce Impatiens
These are Monrovia Nursery’s answer to the downy mildew disease. These are shade tolerant and very heat tolerant. Although they are available in flats they are quite expensive and grow more like a new guinea impatiens. They grow 14” – 20” high and 14” – 20” wide. Part shade
Colorful blooms break up the gray winter days! Right now daffodils, hyacinth and tulips, English daisies and ranunculus and putting smiles on our faces with their warm weather welcoming colors and fragrances. As the growing season begins, more and more plants arrive from which to choose. While our cool season early spring annuals and seasonal color are arriving weekly, soon we will have alyssum, bacopa, annual phlox, calendula, forget-me-nots, petunia, nasturtiums and much much more.
It’s time to garden again.
