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The Impatient Gardener

Containers, Garden, Plants

GREAT NEW PLANTS FOR 2016: ANNUALS EDITION

March 24, 2016

I am a sucker for new plants. I’m also a sucker for old, tried-and-true varieties, but there is something fun about checking out all the latest and greatest that will be hitting garden centers this year. I’m doing a little series on some of the new plants I’m most excited about this year and I’m kicking it off with annuals. 

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1. Bidens Campfire: I will admit that when Proven Winners sent me this plant last summer to trial, I was less excited about this one than any other. I didn’t love the colors, for one, and I wasn’t sure about the smaller flowers. It probably ended up being my favorite of the new things I grew last year. It bloomed its head off from June until early October and was a lovely little charmer. I’m completely sold on it.

2. Supertunia Latte: This petunia doesn’t do a lot for me on it’s own, but I think it will be one of those stunning plants that really makes a container design and make the other plants shine.

3. Verbena bonariensis Meteor Shower: Of all the new plants I’m looking forward to growing, this is my No. 1 must have. I also received this plant to trial last year and my love for it is borderline inappropriate. It’s much shorter than the usual Verbena bonariensis, so it is perhaps a little easier to use in containers. The information says it’s less prolific as far as reseeding goes, which isn’t really a good thing as far as I’m concerned because I want more, more, more. Jack Barnwell used this dotted throughout the borders at the Hotel Iroquois garden last summer and the effect was stunning.

4. Pansy Cool Wave Lemon Surprise: I find myself more and more attracted to pansies and this was seems like quite the charmer. It’s a nice, soft lemon yellow and every so often a blue-purple bloom pops up.

5. Sedum Lemon Coral: I’m not sure why this is listed as new this year, but I have grown it for two years and it’s a must-have for me. I’ve grown it both in containers and in the ground and it thrives in both places. You don’t need to do anything for this plant. Put it in, water it when you water other stuff and stand back.

6. Zinnia Uptown Frosted Strawberry: This zinnia, which are easy to grow by nature, looks more like a dahlia than a zinnia to me. I love the ombre colors.

What new annuals do you have your eye on this year?

annuals new plants
by Erin @ The Impatient Gardener 
6 Comments

About Erin @ The Impatient Gardener

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Comments

  1. Maggie says: March 24, 2016 at 4:34 pm

    I love these types of posts. I've been gardening for years but I often feel like such a pretender because I really know nothing. These posts give me new ideas and since I live in a similar zone as you… I love hearing about what has worked for you!

    Reply
    • Erin Schanen says: March 24, 2016 at 5:28 pm

      Glad you liked it, Maggie! I'll be doing similar ones for perennials and veggies too.

      Reply
  2. Ms. Wis./Each Little World says: March 24, 2016 at 11:12 pm

    That Petunia is wierdly beautiful. I can't get Verbena B. to reseed for me and I was told it is because I mulch my beds.

    Reply
    • Erin Schanen says: March 25, 2016 at 2:39 pm

      I first grew it two years ago and saw no signs of reseeding the following spring. I went out and bought an entire flat of it (I do love it) and by late June I noticed seedlings all over the place. I weeded out many of them, but the ones I left were very late to flower, so even if they do reseed, I'm not sure that's a viable option up here in the cold north.

      Reply
  3. Heather - New House New Home says: March 25, 2016 at 11:44 am

    I have to be honest and tell you that I really don't grow annuals other than in containers. So my eye is drawn to the verbena and petunia. I think those two together alone would make a great container. I also love these posts!

    Reply
  4. Patti Estep says: April 2, 2016 at 10:54 am

    It's always fun to see what's new. The Petunia is really cool. I would love to see it with another really dark flower or foliage with something bright like maybe a chartreuse color, sweet potato vine?

    Reply

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The Impatient Gardener

Do you love gardening? Me too! I'm Erin and I garden in Southeastern Wisconsin, zone 5. The Impatient Gardener is all about real-life gardening: the good parts, the bad bits and even the funny stuff. It's part information, part inspiration and a little bit commiseration. Thanks for visiting.

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Erin Schanen 🌿 The Impatient Gardener
Get your dahlia engines running. All the dahlia th Get your dahlia engines running. All the dahlia things are happening very soon. I actually started dividing my dahlias last weekend, about two weeks earlier than I usually do because the weather kept me cooped up inside. I’m glad I did it because I had some (not unexpected) losses that I’ll have to adjust some plans for. So stay tuned: we’ll be talking lots about dahlias soon. 😀
Want to give a gift to your future self? This fall Want to give a gift to your future self? This fall plant snowdrops and winter aconites and I guarantee you that it will bring you happiness the next spring. They are tiny blooms of joy.
A favorite groundcover and a favorite reseeder. Fi A favorite groundcover and a favorite reseeder. First off, you should know that I really love groundcovers. I would rather see a plant than bark mulch any time. Ajuga is a favorite because there are several forms (my favorites are ‘Black Scallop’, shown here, and ‘Chocolate Chip’) and because they can handle most conditions from sun to shade. Popping up next to it is Talinum paniculatum ‘Limon’ (Jewels of Opar). It reseeds around the garden and I just move it around where I want the chartreuse, succulent foliage. Tiny flowers in red and pink bobble on with stems, looking a bit like peppercorns. Then they drop their seed and come back the next year.
Make this the year that you grow a plant you know Make this the year that you grow a plant you know very little about. If you love your garden that’s all that matters. BUT I promise you’ll find even more joy it it when you broaden your horizons. I feel like I’m starting to see the same plants in gardens over and over again. By all means appreciate and love those plants, but also add something you have to learn about. There is great reward in getting to know new-to-you plants. 

Here are two good candidates you might consider: Athyrium niponicum (Japanese painted fern) ‘Crested Surf’ and Persicaria (or Bistorta, thanks to the taxonomists) amplexicaulis ‘Golden Arrow’.
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