It’s that time of year again when I start to look for what’s new in the plant world. The first place I go to is the All-America Selections (AAS) organization (www.all-americaselections.org).
The AAS, established in 1933, is a non-profit, independent organization whose mission statement very clearly explains what they do: "To promote new garden seed varieties with superior garden performance judged in impartial trials in North America." This year, they have announced four new annual bedding plants worth trying in your garden this year.
Like most impatiens, BouncePink Flame impatiens is ideally suited for the shade, perhaps more so than older varieties because it is completely resistant to downy mildew – the scourge or cool, moist shade. But it will grow well for you in the sun as well. And because of its disease resistance and vigour, it will last from spring to first frost. You will be amazed by the continuous masses of stunning bicolour, three centimetre diameter pink blooms. No deadheading or staking required and it is equally at home in containers and hanging baskets as well as in the ground as low-growing edging (25 – 60 centimetres tall). Available only as plants, not from seed.
Another winning impatiens, SunPatiens Spreading Shell Pink is also resistant to downy mildew. And like its name implies, it is tolerant of full sun and heat. It has a vigorous root system that lets it take off as soon as it’s planted in the spring and continues to give its all up until first frost. The large (five – 7.5 centimetres), soft pink or coral blooms stand out against dark green foliage. A low-maintenance plant, it is suited for containers and hanging baskets as well as an edger or medium to tall divider in the garden. And with its spreading habit, Sunpatiens makes a good groundcover too. Available only as plants, not from seed.
Trilogy Red petunia is, as one would expect, a solid red petunia cultivar. Like the rest of the Trilogy series, Red has a compact mound form with large, non-fading blooms for a season-long show. It is very heat tolerant and shakes itself off quickly after a rain, choosing not to look bedraggled like other varieties after a soaking. Plant in full sun in containers and hanging baskets or in the garden as a medium tall (25 – 60 centimetres) divider. From seed.
Summer Jewel salvias are dwarf sized salvias (25 – 60 centimetres), and the latest introduction, White, is a welcome addition to the previous two cultivars, Pink and Red (also previous AAS winners). It flowers on average two weeks earlier than other white salvias and as a bonus, bees, butterflies and humming birds all love the large flowers. Heat, wind and rain tolerant, plant in full sun for best performance. Great in containers or massed in flower beds for a huge impact. From seed.
AAS maintains a list of previous winners and a list of suppliers of recent winners on their website. However, because these four new varieties are, well, new, it may be difficult to find a supplier this year. But if you do, you’ll be the first in the neighbourhood (or even the city) to try these exceptional plants this year.
