“Flowers seem intended for the solace of ordinary humanity.”
– John Ruskin
Spring has finally started to show its face with confidence, and many of us are excited and ready to get busy in our gardens. We’ve been impatient for warmer air and new growth and now that the season is here, we’re thrilled to see what 2018 has to offer.
The top new annuals this year are worth the wait. With brighter colors and lots of style and attitude, these are some of the best annuals we have seen to date. The leaders of 2018’s trends range from pink to yellow, but this year’s trends are all ready to steal your heart – and steal the show in your containers and garden.
“Sky Pink” Petunia
Looking up at the fresh skies of spring, most of us expect to see various shades of dazzling blue. Intense hues of pink, however, are typically reserved for sunsets and rainbows. Staying true to its name, the “Sky Pink” Petunia is a performer that is ready to amaze. In 2017, many of us saw the exciting beginning to the beautiful “Sky” series, and were captured by the stylish mysticism of the “Night Sky Blue”. The line continues this year with the unbelievable “Sky Pink”, the most striking way to keep your garden style up to date.
These petunias are both vibrant and versatile. “Sky Pink” is a fair size, standing at 1’ tall and with a 2’ spread. They’ll be the perfect fit for a container or hanging basket so they have all the space they need to spill over the sides in a cascade of color. Keep in mind as you select your container and location that you petunias will need shelter from winds. You’ll have the best-looking petunias when they are planted with southern exposure and some wind protection.
Each of these flower’s spots are as unique as a snowflake, so we recommend that this annual be planted on its own to really show it off. With its bright color and unique markings, a container featuring only the “Sky Pink” will have more impact than trying to showcase them in a crowd of other plants. If you choose to plant these petunias with something else, choose plants that that accentuate their personality. A tall magenta grass could give these prima donnas all the space they need to dazzle.
“Sky Pink” is an aggressive growing annual and is very hungry as a result. Add a slow-release mix when you plant if the pellets are not already in the soil. Follow up with weekly fertilization with an all-purpose with a high middle number for stunning blooms all season.
“Can-Can Bumblebee” Calibrachoa:
Just as sensational as the famous dance, “Can-Can Bumblebees” are a thrilling showcase of color. They’re a mix of everything at once: they have a star, and eye, and tricolor. This aggressive, sunbathing beauty is the perfect choice as the centerpiece in a container or hanging basket. We suggest pairing this showstopper with complimenting colors or textures. Choose pinks and yellows or tall grasses to highlight the best of this flower. Purples will create a contrast that is sure to make your “Can-Can Bumblebees” the center of attention.
“Can-Can’s” are an aggressive grower that will blend well with other sun-loving annuals. Avoid pairing it with older annual varieties, since they may not be able to compete and could be overpowered. This Calibrachoa forms a shapely bell and will spill blooms out of your container, so it will need partnering plants that can keep up with them.
Unlike petunias, these flowers still perform well under harsh weather conditions. They will be a great pick for a windy spot, so long as they regularly get enough iron. Feed your “Can-Can Bumblebee” with a high last number all-purpose fertilizer and it will be easy to keep these flowers in tip-top shape this season.
Including these fashionable blooms in your garden is a great way to command attention all summer.
“Mistral Yellow” Begonia:
Begonias might have an unfair reputation as boring plants for stuffy gardeners. The new varieties of Begonia boliviensis make a compelling case that these tropical plants are on-trend and ready to amaze.
The “Mistral” series aims to impress with a couple of heavy hitters that put them on everyone’s radar this season. The blooms of these flowers play the strategic long-game in your gardens. Tiny individual blooms number in the hundreds and spill over your container’s sides to create an enticing bubble bath of dainty flowers.
This newest variety is a beautiful yellow that is as bright as sunshine. In contrast to their dark and variegated leaves, these flowers are vibrant enough to be planted alone.
“Mistral Yellow” may be small in stature, only standing a few inches high, but don’t let that fool you. These plants are aggressive growers and, given a shaded and sheltered spot, will spill out of your container in generous heaps. A container or hanging basket would be the ideal choice to promote this gorgeous cascading effect and keep the begonia’s roots warm. Placing your “Mistral Yellow” in a location with east or north exposure will give the best results.
A bit of air circulation is the key to success with this variety. Allow the soil to dry slightly between watering, and feed weekly or bi-weekly with an all-purpose mix for a healthy plant that is ready to impress.
