Top 10 New Annuals for 2011

Continuing on last week's theme of top performing annuals to check out for 2011, I now get to talk about the top 10 new annuals for this season. Some of these plants are new to market this year while some have been on the market for awhile but are new to Levi Runions Garden Center. New varieties are always exciting, even when they are old favorites that are making a comeback as some of these annuals certainly are. 

New for 2011

1. Petunia Black Velvet

This is one of the most highly anticipated new arrivals this year. Billed as the "world's only black petunia", this petunia is not merely dark purple but truly black. Black Velvet will be a fun one to add to container combos to add drama. Think of the possibilities! Also new for this year are Phantom, which features yellow stars on a black base color and Pinstripe, which has a creamy white star pattern on black.

2. Gryphon Begonia

This foliage begonia will add plenty of interest and texture to shade gardens. Large dark green leaves with white veining add a tropical look to shade gardens and will add drama and texture when combined with other blooming begonias such as Dragon Wing.

3. Plentifall Mix Pansy

A trailing pansy! This pansy will be another great addition to the shade garden. It can be used as ground cover for shade areas or used in container combos as a spiller. The mix is beautiful with shades of blue, yellow and white. 

New to Levi Runions

4. Lophospermum Wine Red

We had this vigorous annual vine last year in cream. I can't tell you how it fared because it flew out the door before it really even took off! The tubular flowers are adorable and the wine red will be magnificent. The plant can either be grown on a trellis or in a hanging basket similar to Black-eyed Susan vine.

5. Ornamental Grass Twisted Arrows and Twisted Dart (new for 2011)

Because Blue Arrows was so popular last year, we decided to expand our ornamental grass selection with these two interesting plants. Both are combined with curly juncus to give these plants whimsical curly leaves interspersed with the upright blue leaves the plants are known for. Twisted Arrows is the taller of the two with a height of 18 to 36 inches while Twisted Dart is more compact and shorter growing to 16 inches tall. Both are great as focal points in container combos. 

6. Rose Mallow (Lavatera trimestris silver cup)

This is not a new plant by any stretch but I saw this last year on the garden tour and I had to have it! This easy to grow annual looks like a hibiscus and grows very well here in our short summers. Plant details claim this plant grows to 36" but this one was at least 60". Perfect as a focal point in the garden. These gorgeous raspberry pink flowers will not disappoint. 

7. Vinca First Kiss Blueberry

Vinca is a great heat and drought tolerant plant for the sunny areas of the garden. Generally the colors tend to shades of pinks and reds but with First Kiss Blueberry the bloom is a deep blue color. Great variation for a tried and true plant. 

8. Zinnia Zahara Series

For zinnia lovers, this series is exceptional! Mildew and leaf-spot resistant, bigger blooms, continuous blooms, heat loving, drought tolerant plants in gorgeous colors. My favorite is the Starlight Rose which has to be the prettiest flower of any kind. We will also have Zahara Yellow which is a soft lemon yellow and Zahara Double Fire, a double zinnia in bright red orange.

9. Chocolate Cosmos

Smells like chocolate, look like chocolate! What could be better? This tropical perennial can be grown as an annual here. The plant is sterile so there is no reseeding as with the annual cosmos that are most common here.

10. Petunia Sophistica Blue Morn

Yes, last year I had the Merlin Blue Morn on my list of most anticipated. Wasn't impressed. Mostly because it died. So since I am still in search of a blue morn petunia to plant with my favorite red morn petunias I had to include this on the list. We did have a couple of other varieties of Sophistica petunias last year and were impressed with their growth habit and color. If this blue morn is like others in the series, it should not disappoint. 

Top 10 (and 1/2!) Annuals to Check Out for 2011

This is far and away my favorite post of the year! I get to talk about all the plants that I love from last season and look forward to growing again this season. In order to be included in this list, plants must be easy to grow (no fussing with them to make them look good!), they must be vigorous growers, but not so much they are problematic and of course, they must be gorgeous. All plants listed will be available at Levi Runions Garden Center this season. Now on to my top 10 (and 1/2!) favorites I'm looking forward to using again in 2011.

1. Begonia Solenia Velvet Red

I first saw this gorgeous begonia at the lake resort my family vacations at a year before we carried it. It was hanging on the lodge deck and was full and covered with beautiful red blooms. In late August. The blooms are smaller than the Non-stop Begonias but far more plentiful. And to keep this plant looking gorgeous? Just water it. No deadheading, no pruning. Just water. Perfect! Solenia's compact mounding habit makes it ideal for hanging baskets. And the colors! They are gorgeous! Far and away, I preferred the velvet red, however, the salmon coral was stunning. Other colors include cherry red (more pink red than red velvet), dark pink, light pink and yellow. This begonia is drought and heat tolerant and will take more sun than Non-stop Begonia. And did I mention that it never stops blooming? This is a must-have plant for 2011.

2. Lantana Bandana Lemon Zest

This plant was on my list last year as one of my most anticipated plants of 2010.  It did not disappoint! Previously, yellow lantanas were of the gold variety or tended to be more white than yellow. This beauty was a true lemon yellow with just a hint of white. Most pictures I've seen show it about 50% yellow and 50% white in the flower heads. That was not my experience as mine tended to be mostly lemon yellow. Everything you expect in a lantana with a bright, fresh yellow.

3. Sweet Potato Vine Sweet Caroline Light Green/Sweetheart Light Green

I absolutely fell in love with this sweet potato vine last year and that's really saying something because I already love sweet potato vine. How could I love it anymore? I can love it more when its habit is perfect for container gardening and hanging baskets! The light green variety has a similar leaf shape as the ever popular Marguerite sweet potato vine (my favorite) while the sweetheart light green has heart shaped leaves in the same color. The difference with this sweet potato vine is that this plant is vigorous without being too vigorous. Some cultivars don't take over smaller containers the way Marguerite might but neither do they flourish enough to provide the desired effect. Sweet Caroline walks the line between these two extremes and is a great compact sweet potato vine for smaller containers. 

4. Ornamental Pepper Black Pearl and Sangria

While these two plants are both ornamental peppers, they really couldn't be more different. Black Pearl has dramatic black foliage and delicate lavender flowers that give way to roundish black fruit that mature to dark red mini peppers. The peppers are edible but very hot. This plant is gorgeous at every stage and is stunning with silver foliage plants and white and lavender flowers. On the other end of the spectrum is Sangria. This plant has glossy green leaves with small pointy fruit in red, purple and orange. It's a veritable explosion of color throughout the entire summer. It just keeps putting out colorful fruit. These peppers are also edible but very mild. Both are easy to grow and a wonderful alternative to flowers to add color and texture to the garden. 

5. Torenia Summer Wave Blue

I think Torenia has to have the cutest bloom ever so when we got trailing Torenia in I was over the moon. Summer Wave is a vigorous, continuously blooming trailing shade plant. The color of the flowers is magnificent and so is it's growth habit. This plant adds punch to shade gardens and is perfect in containers as a spiller or by itself in hanging baskets. 

6. Coleus Kingswood Torch

With so many coleus varieties out there, it's sometimes easy to get overwhelmed with all the choices. They are all pretty! Kingswood Torch stands out for it's rich and vibrant color. This coleus has a rosy red center that blends to a gorgeous coral. The leaf margins are deep burgundy-purple tipped in yellow-green. Pictures DO NOT do this plant justice. They often look just red which is not a true representation of how beautiful this plant is. It's a larger coleus (up to 36' or more) and is good alone or as the focal point in container combos. As an added bonus, this beauty will grow just fine in sun or shade. 

7. New Guinea Impatien Celebration Sunset Apricot

The flowers on this New Guinea impatien are very large even by New Guinea impatien standards and the color is breathtaking. The color is a combination of rosy pink-red that morphs to a shimmery coral orange at the margins. The dark green foliage sets off these blooms beautifully. 

7 1/2. New Guinea Paradise Painted Series

I have to admit that I've been slow to get on board with these beauties but now I am a full-fledged fan. I've made them my 7th and 1/2 choice because we've had them for a few years. The variegated foliage alone makes this plant a stunner and then it blooms those gorgeous, large New Guinea impatien blooms! The foliage varies from dark green to yellow to burgundy, pink and red depending on the cultivar. White tends to have the least variegation with simple green and yellow leaves while red is more complex with pink and orange shades in the foliage. The other colors fall somewhere in between. Gorgeous from start to finish. I particularly love this plant combined with Baby Tut and trailing Torenia for a tropical mini-garden. 

8. Ornamental Grass Blue Arrows

Looking for an alternative to the traditional spike in container combos? Blue Arrows fits the bill. Very narrow and straight grey-blue leaves grow in a compact clump up to 36" high. It gives a very similar look as the spike with a bit more interest and texture. Drought and heat tolerant, this low maintenance plant is a terrific focal point for container combos. 

9. Petunia Sanguna Atomic Blue and Blue Vein

Not only is the color of this trailing plant absolutely fantastic but its habit is perfect for hanging baskets. In addition to trailing well it has a nice mounding habit before it trails which eliminates the "flat-top" that can happen with some trailing cultivars. Also, it is vigorous but does not get crazy which means it needs less pruning throughout the season and looks less played out at the end of summer. And the blooms! They are constant! Did I say the color was absolutely fantastic? It is. Combine Atomic Blue with Blue Vein (which has the same growth habit) and the result is purely divine. 

10. Cuphea Hyssopifolia Allyson "Mexican Heather"

Not a new plant by any means but I fell in love with its charms last year. If the delicate glossy green foliage doesn't get you, the adorable lavender flowers will. It also has a unique growth habit in that it grows in an almost triangular shape. In containers, this plant stays fairly petite but might get larger when grown in the garden. It's not fussy about soil and is drought tolerant. 


Next week: Top 10 New Plants for 2011

Top 10 New Annuals for 2010

One of the many perks of working in a garden center is attending seminars put on by plant vendors. And the best part of these seminars is the pack trial results! New plant varieties are always exciting. Seeing them early? Priceless to a plant geek like me. Below is a list of the top 10 plants I’m looking forward to for spring 2010. Some of these are new plant introductions for 2010 and some are previously released varieties new to Levi Runions Garden Center.

1. Lantana Bandana Lemon Zest (full sun) New for 2010

I am not a fan of gold yellows as most yellow lantanas are but I love sunny lemon yellows. Previously lemon yellow lantanas were predominantly white flowers clusters with yellow eyes. Lemon Zest provides similar coloring with much more lemon yellow. As with all the Bandana series, Lemon Zest has a mounding habit and heat tolerance. Perfect for containers and hanging baskets.

2. Verbena Fuego Denim Blue (full sun) New for Levi Runions

A lavender blue trailing verbena that seems to be a richer color than the lilac. I loved the lilac but I think this color verbena will go even better in container combos.

3. Euphorbia Breathless White and Breathless Blush (full sun) New for 2010

The Breathless series is an alternative to the ever popular Diamond Frost. It also boasts better mounding habit quicker growth. In addition, Breathless Blush boasts red-tinged foliage with pinkish white flowers. Excellent filler for containers and hanging baskets.

4. Diascia Picadilly Denim Blue (full sun) New to Levi Runions

I love diascia and I love blue flowers. What could be better than blue diascia? Great filler plants for containers and hanging baskets.

5. Millet Jade Princess (full sun) New for 2010

A chartreuse millet with a compact growth habit. Burgundy seedless flower heads look fantastic all season and contrast beautifully with foliage. Jade Princess is slightly smaller than Purple Majesty but still gets up to 4 feet. This millet loves heat.

6. Supertunia Vista Silverberry (full sun) New to Levi Runions

This gorgeous white petunia with pink throat and veins mounds beautifully and is perfect in hanging baskets. Even better? This petunia looks incredible with one of my other favorites, Supertunia Vista Bubblegum. I’m very excited for this addition to the greenhouse!

7. Lobularia Snow Princess (full sun) New for 2010

Heat tolerant and massive blooms! This vigorous mounding/trailing plant is excellent for hanging baskets and containers.

8. Sweet Potato Vine Sidekick Lime (full sun) New to Levi Runions

We tried Sidekick Black Heart last year and were very impressed with the growth habit. Sidekick Lime is very similar to my favorite Marguerite in color and leaf shape. However, Sidekick Lime has a more compact growth habit making it ideal for smaller containers and hanging baskets.

9. Sweet Potato Vine Illusion Emerald Lace (sun/part shade) New for 2010

You can never have enough sweet potato vine! This new variety features the popular chartreuse color foliage with deeply lobed leaves. This plant will provide wonderful texture as well as color to container gardens.

10. Petunia Blue Morn (full sun) New for 2010

I’m a huge fan of the Red Morn petunia and expect Blue Morn to be just as spectacular. The beauty of these petunias is the subtle bi-coloring of the flowers, in this case, blue with a soft yellow throat.

Top 10 Annuals: Favorite Performers to Check Out for 2010

Performance and growth habit go a long way for a plant to find a place in my heart. The following are my top 10 performing annuals to check out for 2010.

1. Supertunia Vista Bubble Gum (full sun)

While I am generally not a huge fan of pink, the shade of this mounding/cascading petunia looks almost good enough to eat! In addition, this plant blooms profusely. While some petunias can get spindly or sparse towards summer’s end, this Supertunia does not. It responds well to pruning and did I mention it blooms profusely? Perfect for hanging baskets or as a filler plant in container gardens.

2. Non-Stop Mocca Yellow Begonia (part sun/shade)

Hands down the best yellow flower for shade. Beautiful clear yellow blooms are contrasted by dark green foliage. Stunning! Like all Non-stop begonias, Mocca Yellow is a continuous bloomer. Excellent in container gardens as either a focal point or filler.

3. Techno Heat Lobelia (full/part sun)

We had both blue and electric blue last spring and both performed superbly. The gorgeous blues provided excellent contrast to a variety of plants combos. Try it with pink, yellow or red. Responds well to pruning, stands up to heat and sun, and has excellent rebound after drought. Perfect in container gardens or hanging baskets either in combos or alone.

4. Gum Drop Cherry Blossom Double Wax Begonia (sun/part sun)

Great heat and drought tolerant annual. The double pink and white blooms are gorgeous and abundant. Blooms tend to be pinker with more heat adding interest as the blooms change color across the season. It is a shorter plant (10”), however, has an equal spread so is not as petite as typical wax begonias. Use in container gardens alone or as a filler plant.

5. Diascia Genta Antique Red or Genta Pink (full sun)

I couldn’t choose just one! Both are gorgeous colors and blend well in combos. The habit is semi-trailing so is better suited as filler in container gardens rather than a true trailer. The delicate foliage and profuse blooms make this plant a container gardening must have.

6. Gartenmeister Fuchsia (shade)

This is one of several upright fuchsias available. What I love about this one is the rich dark green foliage that contrasts brilliants with the bright pink-orange blooms. The flowers differ from typical fuchsias in that they are tubular, similar to a honeysuckle bloom, but dramatic, again, because of its shocking color. Great for a focal point in container gardens.

7. King Tut Grass (sun/partial sun)

This ornamental grass can take drought, heat, sun and water, and even some shade. This plant is a true trooper. King Tut grows very larger so is suited to garden planting and very larger containers. Plant with other vigorous growing annuals. Stunning tropical looking plant that is also great in water gardens.

8. Cabaret Yellow Calibrachoa (full sun)

This cali boasts profuse beautiful lemon yellow blooms. This is a perfect soft lemon yellow that combines easily with other annuals. Cabaret yellow is an ideal trailing plant for hanging baskets, either alone or in combos, and container gardens.

9. Lantana Bandana Series (full sun)

Again, I couldn’t pick just one! The cherry, rose, pink and red varieties all feature multi-color flower clusters with varying shades of the named color mixed with soft to deep yellow. A very heat and drought tolerant plant. While this plant gets very large in the south where it hails from, here in the Midwest, our short growing season and cooler temps keeps it in check. Lantana is great a filler in hanging baskets and container gardens.

10. Purslane (Portulaca) Rio Scarlet (full sun)

Gorgeous red pink blooms on a heat and drought tolerant plant. Tends to be flat in gardens but is a wonderful trailing plant in container gardens. Prefers lots of sun and heat but in those conditions, will bloom throughout the hottest days of summer.