The recent influx of new and interesting annuals makes the old marigolds and petunias seem a bit tired these days. Most of these new annuals and tender perennials are happy in either beds or containers, and dreaming up great combinations is a large part of the fun of growing them.

Beginning with ‘A’, Ageratum ‘Artist Blue’ is a new take on an antique plant. Vibrant blue flowers bloom through the heat of summer. Thanks to its vigorously branching growth habit, ‘Artist Blue’ is able to renew itself all season by over-growing old blooms. Give this plant a try at the front of your garden.

A charming scrambler for beds or containers is the long-blooming, well branched Anagallis ‘Sunrise’, with small, vibrant orange flowers. The small size of the flowers amongst the interestingly textured foliage keeps the strong orange bright but not overwhelming. Growing about 12” tall, this plant would also look good tumbling over a retaining wall, or in a rock garden giving color through the summer.

Anagallis might be paired with another ‘A’, Argyranthemum ‘Vanilla Butterfly’, a marguerite daisy. ‘Vanilla Butterfly’ has cream-colored flowers (a good partner with orange) with yellow centers, grows to 18” tall, and blooms right through the heat of summer.

Bacopa ‘Cabana Lavender’ and B. ‘Cabana White’ are newer, larger flowered cultivars, growing 12” tall and enjoying sun (with regular watering) to part shade. ‘Cabana White’ is more vigorously trailing, while ‘Cabana Lavender’ branches more densely, making them versatile choices for containers, baskets, or beds.

Browallia ‘Silver Bells’ with silvery white, bell-shaped flowers would look like points of light in a shady area with a background of lush green ferns or hosta.

Today’s Coleus varieties are larger, sun-loving and come in a kaleidoscope of brilliant colors and unusual leaf structure. Just as in the Victorian days, they are still amongst the easiest plants to grow. This season we are offering ten varieties including the new hybrid ‘Black Prince’ which boasts purple-black leaves on a sturdy two-foot tall plant.

Here’s one for the junior gardeners: Cuphea ‘Tiny Mice’ has flowers that look like little, bright red mouse heads peeking up out of the foliage. It is an upright, bushy plant to 12” that likes full sun. Just keep the cat away.

A new listing is a trailing Dianthus, D. ‘Tiroler Gebirgshaengenelke’ (say that three times fast!) seen in window boxes in the Swiss Alps. The flowers are brilliant red and very fragrant – perfect by open windows or in containers on the patio.

Our endless search for plants with interesting foliage led us to some new Euphorbia cultivars. One is an annual, two are perennials. All will be available this spring in four-inch pots. Euphorbia ‘Kalipso’ (annual) is a small-leaved, extremely bushy, boxwood-like variety. Golden chartreuse flowers appear above soft, moss-green foliage. The rounded habit resembles a clipped boxwood ball. Euphorbia ‘Despina’ (perennial) is a dwarf variety featuring non-drooping blue-green leaves. Shocking sulphur yellow blooms appear in early spring. Euphorbia ‘Efanthia Improved’ (perennial) also produces brilliant chartreuse flower spikes in spring. The smooth green foliage takes on a burgundy tint as the weather cools.

There is a vigorous geranium (Pelargonium) with green and white variegated leaves and “fluorescent” red flowers called ‘Wilhelm Langguth’ that is highly recommended by those who have grown it.

We have expanded our Guara selection to include three new hybrids. ‘Karalee Petite Pink’ has spurred, bright pink flowers that hover like tiny butterflies above dark green to burgundy foliage. This heat lover starts very compact in the pot but gains height when
planted in the garden. ‘Karalee White’ is similar to its pink sister but with white blooms. It is slightly larger and more vigorous a grower. ‘Perky Pink’ is a great Guara introduction from Australia with reddish leaves, a compact habit and airy look. Spires of pink flowers cover the plant all summer. Any of the Guara would be a great filler for bare spots in a perennial garden. They may come back after a mild winter and they should self-seed.

For a stop-and-look-again planting, especially in a container to showcase it, try the “fiber-optic grass”, Isolepis cernua. It’s a foot-high “mop-like mound of fine, hairy foliage” with an inflorescence at the end of the blade “that gives the look of those plastic fibers that transmit light”. Stranger than fiction.

Lotus ‘Amazon Sunset’ is derived from two species native to Tenerife but now rarely found in the wild. It has fascinating “parrot’s beak” flowers on long trailing stems of delicate, feathery foliage that provide a valuable silver accent in combination plantings.

A real stunner all by itself is Oxalis ‘Zinfandel’ with deep purple-black foliage that trails and bright yellow flowers that bloom all summer long. It is listed for part to full sun.

True blue flowers are rare so the newly listed Salvia patens ‘Oceana Blue’ is a real find. The flowers are large, on upright spikes, and would work well mixed into the perennial border or for cut flowers.

Arriving at ‘Z’, the final entry is the same color as the first. There is something very appealing about large, singlepetalled flowers, and Zinnia ‘Profusion Fire’ is like a good graphic with its rich orange color and clean, strong form.