Nov 6, 2012

What’s New?

“What’s new?” I’m sure that is a question you – and your customers – hear often. Everyone wants the newest items on the market, the ones that have vast improvements and the ones with characteristics never seen before.

That’s why the National Garden Bureau puts together a list of “What’s New” each year for its members, and the association has recently announced that its 2013 program is now ready online. The 2013 National Garden Bureau New Varieties listing is an excellent resource for growers and retailers who want to supply the answer to that perpetual question, “What’s New?”

These new varieties also will be highlighted in the National Garden Bureau e-newsletters over the next 12 months.

The images and descriptions of almost 100 new annuals and vegetables can be found here, but here is just a quick highlight of some of my favorites that I’ve seen up close and personal in trials and other events.

Angelonia Serenita (PanAmerican Seed)

Serenita angelonia can be used in borders or in containers for long-lasting color with very little maintenance. These varieties are great for beginning gardeners. They can handle hot and dry conditions, and they are also deer and rabbit resistant.

Calendula Costa (Floranova)

Costa is an ideal companion for pansy and viola in spring and fall. It is available in three bright colors: Yellow (shown), Light Yellow and Orange. It prefers cool sunny spots in the garden in beds or containers and will flower all season with minimal care.

Campanula Milan (American Takii)

Available in either Lilac (shown) or Blue, Milan varieties have large, bell-shaped flowers on compact plants. Ideal for pots, Milan will add a special unique touch to gardens producing flowers all summer.

Dianthus ‘Supra Salmon’ (Hem Genetics)

‘Supra Salmon’ is a new interspecific hybrid with a dwarf and strong branching plant habit. It boasts exceptionally good garden performance.

Geranium ‘Calliope Hot Pink’ (Syngenta Flowers)

A true heat lover, this variety is extremely well branched with a vigorous mounding habit that is ideal for baskets, large pots and landscape applications. It blooms in full sun or part shade locations.

Impatiens ‘SunPatiens Electric Orange’ (Sakata)

This new SunPatiens will perform great in the landscape or in containers. These dense plants are covered with blooms from spring through a few light frosts and can grow up to 36 inches in height and width in full to partial sun.

For a full list of NGB’s new varieties for 2013, please click here.

Do you plan on growing any of these new varieties? Which ones are your favorites? Please let me know. Shoot me an e-mail at jdolce@greatamericanpublish.com. I’d love to hear from you.

– Jasmina