Here are a few of the featured plants of the year for 2017.
Proven Winners launched its own plant of the year program this year and I’m thrilled with what they picked as their landscape plant of the year: Deutzia ‘Yuki Cherry Blossom.’ I had never grown (or possibly even heard of) Deutzia until Proven Winners several compact varieties a couple years ago and sent a few plants as part of their garden writers trial program. I’ve found them to be well-mannered, highly textural little surprises perfect for all sorts of different areas. Although I like this pink variety, I like ‘Creme Fraiche,’ which has variegated leaves, even more.
Proven Winners photo |
The National Garden Bureau assigns broader categories to their annual picks, offering four in a variety of categories. So they’ve declared 2017 as the year of the pansy, daffodil, rose and brassica. That may seem far ranging, but I can get behind all those picks.
Pansies make me feel guilty. I think they are a lovely, cheery plant and yet I rarely use them. Spring is short here and even those pansies can handle cold weather, potting some up in a container is wonderful, but that container will only be around for a few weeks because all of a sudden it’s time for summer containers. I’m going to try to remedy that this year.
National Garden Bureau photo |
What can I say about daffodils? You know I love them, the deer don’t eat them and nothing could be easier to grow. The Bulb of the Year title is well deserved.
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According to the National Garden Bureau, it’s the year of the rose. I sure hope so because I’m about doubling the amount of roses in my garden this year. Seriously though, if you think of roses as high-maintenance divas, it’s high time to rid yourself of that misconception. Yes, those roses still exist but I recommend you skip them and aim for easy-care roses that grow pretty much like any other shrub. And the good news is that fragrance is being bred back into these easy-to-care for roses.
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The Impatient Gardener photo |
Renee’s Garden photo. I’ve grown this variety in the past, but this year I may try this. The flowers are edible as well. |
Perennial Plant Association photo |
Proven Winners also picked an annual to feature this year and it’s one of their gold standards: Supertunia Vista Bubblegum. OK, it’s confession time: I have never grown this plant. I’ve grown oodles of annuals from Proven Winners but never this one. There is something about that specific color of pink that I just don’t love. But I’m clearly in the minority as I see people grabbing it by the flat-full at garden centers and P. Allen Smith has raved about it for years. I found this photo of it in a landscape, though, and I think my mind may be changing. It really is pretty stunning (of course the rest of that garden isn’t so bad either).
Proven Winners photo |
Sweetie Pie paper. All-American selections photo. |
- Seychelles pole bean
- Asian Garden Celosia
- Dianthus Supra Pink F1
- Antares F1 Fennel
- Calliope Medium Dark Red geranium
- Candle Fire okra
- Patio Pride pea
- Penstemon barbatus Twizzle Purple
- Aji Rico pepper
- Chili Pie pepper
- Mad Hatter pepper
- Sweetie Pie pepper
- Evening Sensation petunia
- Sugaretti squash
- Winter Honeybaby squash
- Chef’s Choice Yellow tomato
- Midnight Snack tomato
- Patio Choice Yellow tomato
- EnduraScape Pink Bicolor verbena
- Mega Bloom Orchid Halo vinca
- Mega Bloom Pink Halo vinca
- Gold in Gold watermelon
- Mini Love watermelon
- Profusion Red zinnia
I think Zowie Zinnia should be among the best.
You're right Lisa! Zowie Zinnia Yellow Flame was a 2006 AAS Winner. http://all-americaselections.org/product/zinnia-zowie-yellow-flame/