New plants grab attention

'Pretty Much Picasso' petunia with Snow Princess sweet alyssum. (C) Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp

A recent trip to the country’s largest horticulture show in Columbus, Ohio, a mecca called OFA, was a peek at some of the new plant introductions. Here are some of the best:‘Pretty Much Picasso’ petunia (Petunia) is a Proven Winners introduction that was a showstopper. This hybrid has violet-purple flowers, edged in lime-green, a lovely contrast that makes this annual quite striking. It gets up to 12 inches tall with an 18-inch spread, and does well in full sun in pots or in the ground.

Snow Princess sweet alyssum. Photo courtesy Proven Winners

Another attention grabber was Snow Princess or ‘Inlbusnopr,’ a sweet alyssum from Proven Winners. I’ve been growing this all summer and am wowed by its vigor and size. Usually, sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritima) is on the wimpy side, almost melting in hot weather, then reviving in cooler temps. Summer does not faze Snow Princess, which develops into a nicely rounded form about six inches tall and eight inches wide, loaded with tiny white, fragrant flowers. Grow this plant in full sun or part shade in the ground or in containers. Snow Princess does not like wet feet.

'Fireworks' gomphrena. (C) Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp

Burpee displayed ‘Fireworks,’ a dynamite globe amaranth (Gomphrena), which has hot pink flowers tipped with bursts of yellow gold. A fast grower, ‘Fireworks’ get up to four feet tall and two feet wide. It does best in full sun and well-drained soil in the garden. ‘Fireworks’ is a terrific, long-lasting cut flower.

Mediterranean series trailing vinca. Photo courtesy Jung Seed

Sometimes called Madagascar periwinkle, (Catharanthus roseus), vinca is a tough annual that thrives in full sun or part shade, but has a very upright habit. A series of trailing vinca called Mediterranean breaks that mold. It gets about six inches tall and has a spread of about 20 inches, making this plant adaptable to hanging baskets. It comes in nine colors or mixes. Seeds are available at several mail-order catalogs.