Seeing a glazed ceramic-looking container that also can be a hanging basket is quite unique, and that’s why the retail judges saw Ainong USA’s new planters as new opportunities to drive sales. These plastic containers have a wonderful finish to fool you into thinking they are ceramic, but they are lightweight and have hanger holes available for hanging. Ainong USA can provide details on all color options. AinongPlastics.com

The retail team was excited to see this series being used together to create a unique blend: a medium-sized, tidy series of five coleus colors with uniquely shaped leaves perfect for quarts and mixed containers. With excellent garden performance in sun or shade, the FlameThrower series from Ball FloraPlant adds texture in the garden and especially in mixes and patio pots. BallFloraplant.com

Retailers are always interested in helping the consumer have success with plants. Braun’s new Mother Nurture helps ensure success by delivering needed mycorrhizal fungi in an easy-to-use form using granulated zeolite, all in a convenient 1-pound package and 4-pound package for growers. Mother-Nurture.com

Many of the retail judges are also growers, and seeing a calibrachoa grown on a standard caught their eyes right away. Hishtil’s Eyal InBar explained that this is a new patented technique on growing certain annuals on a grafted standard. They not only have calibrachoas, but also some peppers, and more are on the way. Cohennur.co.il

Judges walked by this huge assortment of decorative thin-walled containers and immediately stopped. daVinci decorated containers offer U.S.-made in-mold labeled designer grow pots and drop-ins. Designs are inspired by a continual process of gathering feedback from both commercial garden centers and today’s home gardeners, allowing daVinci to provide both classic and trending designs at a reasonable investment. AirlitePlastics.com

Retail staff spends a lot of time watering, and twisted hoses add to the time needed. Dramm has solved the problem. The Brass Hose Swivel is a live swivel, meaning it swivels under pressure, allowing unencumbered movement between the hose and attachment. Dramm.com

You may have never thought about having a tomato positioned for a Valentines’ gift — until now. ‘Heartbreaker’ - Dora F1 is a small fruited cocktail type with a heart-shaped point and bright-red color. The dwarf, bushy plants work well for patio containers or the greenhouse, and are ideal for decoration in soups and salads or to decorate your dish as a professional chef. Available as seed from Gloeckner. FredGloeckner.com/seeds.html

Retailers were attracted to Master Nursery’s new 100% natural organic plant foods in a convenient size package, appealing to the growing demand for organically grown products. They offer a high-performance blend with new microbial and fungal species. Bumper Crop Organic Plant Foods are exclusive Master Nursery Garden Center products, available only to members. They are a direct tie-in to the Bumper Crop Soil Amendment program. MasterNursery.com

It’s the dawn of a new day for roses: ‘At Last’ combines all the romance of a fragrant, fully-petaled tea rose with the no-nonsense practicality of a disease-resistant landscape rose. No spraying is required to enjoy a non-stop display of large, sweetly perfumed sunset-orange blossoms from late spring through frost. ProvenWinners.com

Judges were taken aback by the Pugster series, a whole new look for butterfly bush. It’s a compact plant that reaches just 2 feet tall and wide, but has the large, full flowers normally seen on a much larger plant. The name Pugster comes from these plants’ resemblance to a pug — short and stocky. It comes in four colors: Blue, Periwinkle, Pink, and White. ProvenWinners.com

This is a new compact hydrangea that has the classic and much-loved ‘Annabelle’ features, but instead of plain white blooms, the flowers are a deep pink-mauve, and they’re held up on strong, sturdy stems. The show begins in early summer, and because ‘Invincibelle Mini Mauvette’ is a rebloomer, it continues clear through frost for an endless supply of flowers for the landscape or vase. Available in spring 2018. ProvenWinners.com

While ‘Dragon’s Breath’ is not new this year, retail judges said it is just becoming more recognized for a dramatic statement. One judge said he planted it in front of his garden center this spring, and it was the most talked-about plant. The unique, green-red foliage and blazing-red, long-lasting flowers of ‘Dragon’s Breath’ exhibit even more red foliage and flowers under adverse garden conditions like heat, humidity, and infrequent watering. It is great in containers, beds, and large landscapes for dramatic effects. SakataOrnamentals.com

The new Lavalamp Series of hydrangeas from Bloomin’ Easy caught judges’ eyes by offering unique colors and improved form, with each player having different assets. Candelabra offers candle-like flowers, with an incredible upright form; Flare turns the brightest red of any compact Hydrangea paniculata we’ve seen; and Moonrock features large funky blooms with a bold lime-green center. VanBelle.com

The judges were very impressed by all the attributes of this new hybrid sunflower from Syngenta. It blooms continuously all season long (more than 100 on one plant per season), pruning is not required, and it is fast growing to 3 to 4 feet tall and 2 to 3 wide in the garden. It works well in both containers and gardens. MySunfinity.com

These new series of coleus from Terra Nova Nurseries are unique in today’s market. The Tidbits series includes three colors (Tammy, Terry, and Timmy) all having small tight habits, small lobed leaves, and short flower spikes. They are self-branching and slow to flower. Fancy Feathers forms a mounding tuffet of narrow, feather-like leaves. It also includes three colors (Pink, Copper, and Black). All three looks are adorable in a 4-inch pot and drapes beautifully in a 10-inch hanging basket. It is self-branching. TerraNovaNurseries.com

The judges were drawn to this wonderful display of 2-foot 4-, and 6-inch assorted premium succulents presented in six unique artisan metal pots, including 2-inch zinc, 4-inch duo and trio pots with handles, and a triple 2-foot window-sill tray. All are presented on a mini rack with colorful point of sale material that illustrates the simplicity of growing succulents indoors or out. VanBloem.com