Best New Annuals for 2008

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Shockwave Petunias are loaded with blossoms.

Big Flowers and Great Color for This Year

Shockwave Petunias – Part of the "Wave" family of petunias, this variety is also a spreading variety however because the flowers are a bit smaller in size, 1.5-2" in width, the plant appears more loaded with blossoms and color. They are excellent in hanging baskets and containers where they trail over the edges to create a lush, full look. They grow 7-10 inches tall and will spread 2-3 feet. Sunny locations are best and they need just a tad more fertilizer to keep their dense mass of flowers blooming.

Coleus Electric Lime – Coleus continue to be popular with gardeners. There are numerous leaf shapes, leaf colors and plant shapes to choose from with Coleus. Electric Lime is a new variety with bright yellow foliage that can be seen from far away. It adds brightness and can make your other plants seem brighter with it's chartreuse and yellow color. It can be grown in sun or shade and grows 18-24 inches tall. And Coleus make excellent house plants, so you can bring it in after summer and enjoy it during the winter months.

Talinum Limon – While we're talking about lime green and great foliage, this new variety also provides striking lime green color with tiny rose-pink flowers. Talinum can reach 32" tall and has a mounded habitat. It is taller than the previous mentioned coleus so keep it in mind for spots where you need height and bright color. It does well in containers or flowerbeds, takes sun and some shade and is a vigorous plant.

Pentas Northern Lights – All we can say about Pentas is how wonderful they hold up in Michigan's summer heat. This new variety also withstands the cooler beginning days and evenings of summer. Pentas provide color throughout the summer and do well in containers and flowerbeds. They reach 16" in height and prefer full sun.

Big Begonia – Outstanding new variety for garden performance and beauty. Spreads and grows three times larger than regular begonias plus it has much larger flowers. It does well in sun or shade. We suggest you give it a try by your mailbox but be prepared for neighbors to stop and ask, "What is that gorgeous flower?"

Rudbeckia Tiger Eye – This dwarf rudbeckia has better garden performance later in the season than other dwarf varieties. It is more disease tolerant, grows 12-16" tall, has 3" blooms sporting a golden yellow color on single to semi-double overlapping petals. Prefers full sun.