Gardening With Gutner: New Annuals And Perennials For 2012
BOSTON (CBS) - One of the fun parts of owning a garden center is getting to preview the newest plant introductions and decide which ones we want to offer our customers for this growing season.
Annuals, perennials, roses, and in almost every category there are new varieties and species of plants each year, and 2012 is no exception!
Here are some of my favorites annuals and perennials for 2012:
ANNUALS
Calibrachoa Superbells Cherry Star
This calibrachoa features a rich cherry color flower petal that is dissected by a bright golden star that runs from the petal's edge to the center of the flower's throat. The distinct star pattern is very stable throughout the growing season.
Ornamental Corn Field Of Dreams
This new introduction produces variegated green and white foliage with touches of rose, 'Field of Dreams' adds color and structure to large combination pots and accents in the landscape. It produceS ears that are as attractive after the season as the plants were beautiful during the season.
Osteospermum 3D Purple
This is the first double African Daisy! A double row of short lilac-purple petals surround a 3D center of deep mauve to purple. Its blooms stay open day and night making this truly unique and eye-catching. Cut back in late summer to encourage reblooming and improve habit.
PERENNIALS
Heucherella Brass Lantern
Outstanding vigor combined with brassy gold and red spring color on maple shaped leaves. Spikes of white flowers on dark stems. Best color contrast with some shade.
Hosta Goodness Gracious
If you like Hosta 'Satisfaction', you will love this new sport with much showier, wider margins. It has all of the great qualities of its parent, including large, heart-shaped leaves and a wide spreading habit.
Iris Germanica Anaconda
This award winning, ruffled pink-purple bitone iris is overlaid with silvery streaks and blotches. Slightly fragrant and makes an excellent cut flower.
Lupinus Tutti Frutti
Tall, thick flower spikes come in a broad range of solid colors and bicolors including some color combinations never seen before. Especially lovely when grown in masses with similar varieties.
These are only a few of the hundreds of new plants for 2012.
Be sure to visit your local garden center to explore all of the exciting new offerings.
Have you heard of Plant Something MA?
This new website is being produced by the Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association and Massachusetts Flower Growers' Association.
The site offers great gardening tips, ideas and current events in gardening in our area!
Various professional gardeners will offer their skills and knowledge to help you learn about plants, how easy it is to add them to your home and why it is important to the environment and to your health to do so.
For more information feel free to contact me at Mark@PembertonFarms.com or follow me on Twitter @MarksGardening.
