What’s New In 2018?

One of the my favorite things every year is finding out what new varieties of plants will be showing up at my favorite nurseries. Of course, I have those favorites that I return to again and again, but being the first in the neighborhood to display a new annual or perennial always brings me a bit of joy. I've already discovered a few new plants this year that will certainly find a spot in my garden. One of my favorite new plants is a hydrangea from the Seaside Serenade Collection. This one is called Cape Hatteras, and it's a winner! It produces long-lasting ruby red blooms in the mophead style. What's even more exciting is that your soil pH will not influence the color of the blooms. Because it only grows up to 3 1/2 foot tall and 3 foot wide, it's a perfect plant for patio containers. Producing masses of flowers on very sturdy stems, it's a great cut flower. This one loves partial shade to filtered sun, so hopefully you'll be able to fine a spot in your garden. Other varieties from the Seaside Serenade Collection include Cape Lookout, Outer Banks, Cape May, and Martha's Vineyard. Another new favorite comes from the FloralBerry St. John's Wort Collection. My favorite from the group is FloralBerry Pinot. This variety is a very dense, rust resistant variety with lush green foliage and an abundance of small yellow flowers highlighted by large, fluffy stamens. It's naturally rounded growing habit makes it a lovely specimen for container gardens or a low growing shrub border since it maxes out at 3 foot tall and just as wide. Other varieties in this collection include Rosé, Chardonnay, Sangria and Champagne. One bright new annual that's a little different is Blazing Fire Bidens. People don't always think of Bidens when choosing annuals to brighten their landscape, but they should. Bidens looks very similar to a miniature, single-petaled marigold. Blazing Fire is super showy and bright. This heavy blooming plant is a compact variety with gold petals with red-orange tips. This one is super happy in a sunny spot. Coleus has always been a favorite because of the large variety of colors and leaf shapes in coleus plants. An exciting new variety this year is Trailing Plum Coleus. It has plum and pink bicolor leaves and possesses a sprawling, compact growing habit. If your prefer more dramatic colors, then look at Flame Thrower Chili and Flame Thrower Chipotle. These two varieties have narrow pointed foliage that give a flame throwing appearance. Chili is red with green edges, and Chipotle is red and hot chartruese. And the bonus is that they grow well in both shade and sun. With all the new plants out there this season, it's going to be an exciting growing season. Go visit your favorite nursery and see if you can find a new favorite.

One of my favorite new plants is a hydrangea from the Seaside Serenade Collection. This one is called Cape Hatteras, and it’s a winner! It produces long-lasting ruby red blooms in the mophead style. What’s even more exciting is that your soil pH will not influence the color of the blooms. Because it only grows up to 3 1/2 foot tall and 3 foot wide, it’s a perfect plant for patio containers. Producing masses of flowers on very sturdy stems, it’s a great cut flower. This one loves partial shade to filtered sun, so hopefully you’ll be able to fine a spot in your garden. Other varieties from the Seaside Serenade Collection include Cape Lookout, Outer Banks, Cape May, and Martha’s Vineyard.

Another new favorite comes from the FloralBerry St. John’s Wort Collection. My favorite from the group is FloralBerry Pinot. This variety is a very dense, rust resistant variety with lush green foliage and an abundance of small yellow flowers highlighted by large, fluffy stamens. It’s naturally rounded growing habit makes it a lovely specimen for container gardens or a low growing shrub border since it maxes out at 3 foot tall and just as wide. Other varieties in this collection include Rosé, Chardonnay, Sangria and Champagne.

One bright new annual that’s a little different is Blazing Fire Bidens. People don’t always think of Bidens when choosing annuals to brighten their landscape, but they should. Bidens looks very similar to a miniature, single-petaled marigold. Blazing Fire is super showy and bright. This heavy blooming plant is a compact variety with gold petals with red-orange tips. This one is super happy in a sunny spot.

Coleus has always been a favorite because of the large variety of colors and leaf shapes in coleus plants. An exciting new variety this year is Trailing Plum Coleus. It has plum and pink bicolor leaves and possesses a sprawling, compact growing habit. If your prefer more dramatic colors, then look at Flame Thrower Chili and Flame Thrower Chipotle. These two varieties have narrow pointed foliage that give a flame throwing appearance. Chili is red with green edges, and Chipotle is red and hot chartruese. And the bonus is that they grow well in both shade and sun.

With all the new plants out there this season, it’s going to be an exciting growing season. Go visit your favorite nursery and see if you can find a new favorite.