2016 Annuals Retail Intros Are Longer Blooming And Tougher Than Ever
From angelonias to verbenas and all the annuals in between, see which plants are the top garden retail picks for 2016.
-
-
1 of 15
Asclepias ‘Monarch Promise’ (Hort Couture)
A truly unique and unusual new tender form of asclepias with bright white variegated foliage topped by showy orange and yellow blossoms all summer and into fall. In cooler temps the leaves will blush pink. Asclepias currasavica varieties are an important food source for Monarch Butterflies. Offered in the Hort Couture program.
-
2 of 15
Bidens BeeDance Series (Suntory Flowers)
New from Suntory in 2015, the Bidens Beedance series will be in full release in 2016. Featuring bicolor flowers on both varieties, these are low growing, rapidly spreading, and heavy blooming through the summer. ‘Painted Red’ blooms are a range of red to bronze over a yellow center, and ‘Red Stripe’ (shown here) features bright yellow flowers with a distinct red stripe down the center of the petals. The leaves are small, feathery and dark green making a perfect background for the colorful blooms.
-
3 of 15
Bracteantha Cottage Series (Westhoff)
Unlike the old-fashioned strawflowers, the Cottage series combines the most disease resistant genetics available with all season durability; these plants mean success for the gardener. In fact, trial after trial this summer, these bracteantha were recognized as the best performing varieties in the genus. The colors are matched perfectly in production and can easily be mixed in larger containers for 4-in-1 color combinations for spring through autumn sales. Plants reach 12 to 14 inches in height and should be grown in full sun. The Cottage series flowers under both cool conditions as well as in the heat, making it an all season seller.
-
4 of 15
Catharanthus Soiree Ka-wa-i-i Series (Suntory Flowers)
Although annual vinca has the botanical name of Catharanthus, this new series is being marketed as something distinctly different than vinca. The Soirees are smaller flowered than traditional vincas, with more rounded and bushy habit, and an ease of growing that is surprising and delightful. They are heat and drought tolerant and will be covered with blooms from April into October. The Ka-wai-i varieties are single flowered with rich, deep-green foliage, and come in coral, lavender and pink. The ‘Crown’ varieties are larger flowered and more vigorous, and offered in Pink and Rose. ‘Double White’ stands alone as the only double, offering an unusual and interesting flower pattern on a somewhat larger flower. Introduced by Suntory.
-
5 of 15
Celosia Kelos Fire collection (Beekenkamp)
After the test results over the last few years and limited availability in 2015, the Kelos Fire series is very promising. This Kelos Fire series can not only be produced in natural day but has also a great shelflife in the supply chain. Therefore the end consumer enjoys the full benefits of the Kelos both indoor and outdoor.
-
6 of 15
Cosmos Apollo Mixed (Floranova)
Apollo is a large-flowered Cosmos available in Carmine, White, and Pink. The flowers are massive with overlapping petals and strong colors. The plant habit is compact and well branched, forming a broad canopy of color throughout the summer.
-
7 of 15
Dahlia Dahlightful Series (Proven Winners)
The Dahlightful series of dahlias represent a genera new to the Proven Winners line. There are three colors to choose from: 'Dahlightful Georgia Peach,' 'Dahlightful Lively Lavender' and 'Dahlightful Sultry Scarlet' (shown here). With each of the three colors available, semi-double blooms top chocolate or dark green foliage, on a plant that has been bred to be fairly tolerant of powdery mildew, and with minimal tuber formation — which will allow for early through late season performance. These robust plants will reach 20 to 30 inches in height and will spread to 20 to 24 inches in height. Spectacular in large containers or in the landscape. Best in full to partial sun.
-
8 of 15
Dianthus Diana Lavendina Mix (Hem Genetics)
This variety is a mixture of the most popular and unique colors in the Dianthus chinensis F1 hybrid series Diana. Comprised of solid and picoteed color combination of white, purple, lilac, and lavender, it provides an aesthetically pleasing and cooling planting. These purple shades are found in no other Dianthus chinensis series.
Diana Dianthus grow to a height of 8 to 10 inches, with a spread of 10 to 12 inches, and will cover themselves in 1.5-inch flowers with a nice spicy fragrance. They are great for ground plantings as well as for container use in mixed plantings. Dianthus are frost tolerant, and are good for early spring or late season extended color, but will flower all season long.
-
9 of 15
Fuchsia Bella Series (Beekenkamp)
Fuchsias are one of the longest flowering garden plants. The Bella Fuchsia varieties have a compact growth and begin blooming very early in the season. Enjoy the beautiful Fuchsia flower from spring until autumn. With dainty colurs in the series. Shown here: 'Bella Mariska Hendriks.'
-
10 of 15
Gerbera 'Majorette Tropical Sunset' (Sakata)
Majorette is perfect for quarts and larger containers with multiple plants and is available in seven striking colors making it an eye-catching addition to the garden, landscape or retail shelf. It's also offered as Slick Coat for streamlined sowing and singulation.
-
11 of 15
Gomphrena PingPong Purple Mix (Sakata)
Ping Pong delivers an explosion of color in containers and mass plantings. It also adds height and dimension, making it terrific as a garden cut flower. Ping Pong is available in Lavender, Purple, and White, which also create a lovely combination. Some other benefits of Ping Pong include easy production, drought tolerance, and few maintenance requirements.
-
12 of 15
Rex Begonia 'Paso Doble' (D.S. Cole Growers)
Rex Begonia ‘Paso Doble’ has great contrast between the colors on each leaf. You can see strong shades of green, rose, and white. The pattern is similar to a very old variety called ‘Merry Christmas’, but with great improvements. The leaves develop into a swirled shape similar to the very popular ‘Escargot’, yet the colors are so bright and bold. Lastly, the growth of the plant is friendly for the grower.
-
13 of 15
Verbena bonariensis ‘Meteor Shower’ (Proven Winners)
‘Meteor Shower’ is a hardy, compact version of Verbena bonariensis that works as an excellent thriller in upright combinations, and provides colorful height in the landscape, especially when planted in groups. 'Meteor Shower' will be an easy way for gardeners to add color now to the thriller in their containers. This burst of light purple will be at a height of 30 to 36 inches, and is very heat and drought tolerant. 'Meteor Shower' is more vigorous than other compact verbena bonariensis, and has an extremely low seed set which will greatly reduce reseeding in the garden. Best in full sun.
-
14 of 15
Tagetes patula (French Marigold) Chica Series (Hem Genetics)
Chica is a new series of French Marigold that grows to a height of 10 to 12 inches in the garden. They are wonderful garden performers taking heat and dry conditions like troopers, and are extremely resistant to attack by insects and diseases, yet very attractive to pollinators! The Chica series has especially large double crested flowers for this type of Marigold. They will flower continuously from spring through the first frost in the fall. French Marigolds perform best when planted in the ground, but can be used in containers as well. After planting initially, water well for the first few weeks to establish a good root system, and that will insure the best drought resistance later. All marigolds are very sensitive to frost, so wait to plant until all danger is past.
-
15 of 15
Zinnia Solmar Series (Floranova)
Zinnia Solmar is the newest elegans breeding available in four bold colors: Red (which is a new color to the market), Rose, Scarlet, and Yellow. Solmar boasts a fantastic branching habit with good uniformity through the colors and fully double flowers. Solmar has performed exceptionally well in a variety of trial locations around the country.
View all
Asclepias ‘Monarch Promise’ (Hort Couture)
Bidens BeeDance Series (Suntory Flowers)
Bracteantha Cottage Series (Westhoff)
Catharanthus Soiree Ka-wa-i-i Series (Suntory Flowers)
Celosia Kelos Fire collection (Beekenkamp)
Cosmos Apollo Mixed (Floranova)
Dahlia Dahlightful Series (Proven Winners)
Dianthus Diana Lavendina Mix (Hem Genetics)
Fuchsia Bella Series (Beekenkamp)
Gerbera 'Majorette Tropical Sunset' (Sakata)
Gomphrena PingPong Purple Mix (Sakata)
Rex Begonia 'Paso Doble' (D.S. Cole Growers)
Verbena bonariensis ‘Meteor Shower’ (Proven Winners)
Tagetes patula (French Marigold) Chica Series (Hem Genetics)
Zinnia Solmar Series (Floranova)
Subscribe to eNewsletter
Carol Miller is editor of Today's Garden Center. You can eMail her at [email protected]. See all author stories here.