A group of Penn State Master Gardeners visited their favorite nurseries and talked to local owners and growers about plants they are particularly excited about this year. If you see a plant that interests you, ask about it at your local nursery. Most will be available locally, and some can be purchased as seeds.
Here are some of our new favorite annuals:
•'Purple Knight' Alternanthera (Alternanthera dentata) brings a splash of glossy plum-burgundy foliage to beds and containers. Spreading 24 inches wide and 18 inches tall, it is heat tolerant, will thrive in full to part sun and looks terrific on its own or with pink, silver and white flowers.
•'Rise Up' Begonia (Begonia x tuberhybrida) blooms non-stop in both sun and shade. The medium-sized, single or double flowers "rise up" above the foliage and face upright for maximum impact. Available in warm shades of coral, orange and pink, these begonias are perfect fillers for hanging baskets and planters, with a mounding habit and strong trailing branches. They are mildew resistant and prefer to dry out between waterings.
•'Waterfalls Encanto Orange' trailing begonia (Begonia boliviensis) is well-branched with narrow, toothed green leaves topped with cascading bright orange flowers. The Waterfalls series also includes red, salmon and white flowers on plants that grow 12-24 inches tall and wide and prefer well-drained soil in part shade. It flowers profusely over a long period and attracts bees, butterflies and hummingbirds to hanging baskets and elevated containers.
•'Electric Pink' Cordyline (Cordyline banksii) adds pizzazz with 2- to 4-foot-tall maroon leaves edged in brilliant pink. Its color shows best in full sun, but it will also perform well in light shade. It's a perfect "thriller" for a large container.
•'Fireworks' Gomphrena (Gomphrena globosa) is a cottage annual that stands tall but also works as a see-through plant, adding a fun dimension to containers or flower beds. With 1-inch hot pink puffs perched atop 3- to 4-foot stems, these plants are drought tolerant and prefer full sun.
•Garvinea series Gerbera daisies bloom from April through October and one plant can provide up to 100 flowers in a single season, reblooming quickly after cutting. It is 18 inches tall, does best in full to part sun and is resistant to pests and disease.
•'Calliope Large Salmon' geraniums (Pelargonium interspecific) are a cross between zonal and ivy varieties and are known for vibrant colors and semi-double flowers. These tough geraniums work best in beds or large planters and prefer full sun to part shade and rich, moist, well-drained soil.
•'Fireball' French marigold (Tagetes patula) has red flowers that turn a fiery bronze and then mellow to gold as they mature. 'Strawberry Blond' features unique shades ranging from yellow-pink to rose-plum. Both plants are a bushy, compact 8-12 inches tall and perfect for edging and containers in full sun.
