Queeny Lime Orange zinnia. Photo courtesy All-AmericaSelections.org
Some new annuals we might want to try include a zinnia, marigold and gypsophila.
These and a few others are 2018 All-America Selections, plants that have been trialed and evaluated in gardens throughout the country. Judges look for uniformity and flower production, including any improvement over similar plants already on the market. That can be a color, size or other attributes.
First on my list is Queeny Lime Orange zinnia. It just sounds delicious. The flowers range coral-orange to light peach petals with a kiss of lime coloration. Seeds are available at several online retailers, including Burpee, Johnny’s Selected, Jung and others.
Zinnias are very easy to grow from seed, starting them indoors in mid-April or direct sowing in the garden outdoors in late May. Of course, butterflies love zinnias and you’ll like this one, too. Cut a few stems for indoor arrangements. The flowers last about three weeks in a vase with no preservatives. Just change the water every few days.
Marigolds are experiencing a bit of resurgence right now. Adding to mix is Super Hero Spry, a French marigold (Tagetes patula), provides more color and size uniformity. It has maroon lower petals and gold centers tipped in red. It’s a tiny one, only about 10 to 12 inches tall, making it perfect for use in containers. Another benefit: no deadheading required. Easy to grow from seeds, kids might like the Super Hero name. Stokes and Jung has seeds.
Super Hero Spry marigold. Photo courtesy All-AmericaSelections.org
This year, South Pacific Orange canna joins its sister, South Pacific Scarlet, introduced as a 2013 AAS winner. Each of these pollinator pleasers is fairly easy to grow from seed, but it needs to be started indoors by late February or early March. Seed is available from Jung, Burpee and others. Plants may be available at garden centers in late spring or early summer.
South Pacific Orange canna. Photo courtesy All-AmericaSelections.org
Gypsy White Improved gypsophila (G. muralis) is a compact baby’s breath-type annual. Seed is available from Stokes, Park and others. Seedlings are ready to transplant about six weeks from sowing. Plant in a pot as flowering filler or in the ground as an edger. This plant does not like to go dry.
Gypsy White Improved gypsophila. Photo courtesy All-AmericaSelections.org
FloriGlory Diana Mexican heather (Cuphea) is vegetatively propagated rather than grown from seed plant. This is a more expensive propagation process, but yields plants cloned from the parent. This one promises five times the flower power as others on the market. Gardeners already know drought-tolerant Mexican heather can take the heat when planted in a pot or in the ground.
FloriGlory Diana Mexican heather. Photo courtesy All-AmericaSelections.org
