New Bedding Plants for 2004

Gardeners always welcome something different, and those responsible for the development of new ornamental plants are more than happy to accommodate them by introducing dozens of new cultivars each year. Here are several of the many new and, in certain cases, unusual bedding plants that are likely to be found available this spring along with their descriptions.

Alyssum ‘Wonderland Citron’ Very fragrant pastel yellow flowers on uniform plants four inches tall with a 6-inch spread; both cold and rain tolerant. Full sun annual ideal for rock gardens, borders, containers and hanging baskets.

Basil ‘Oriental Breeze’ A basil developed for cut flower and container use. Very floriferous 12 to 18-inch tall, upright plants. Very fragrant 4 to 6-inch long flower heads are white with purple bracts. Full sun to part sun annual.

Begonia ‘Bayou Pink’ A larger and taller 14 to 16-inch upright begonia with vigorous habit that quickly fills in sunny garden beds. Non-stop color from spring to frost in containers and mass plantings. A bit of afternoon shade would be appreciated under Missouri conditions.

Begonia ‘Go-Go Appleblossom’ Tuberous begonia developed for long-lasting garden performance. Large double blooms on sturdy 10 to 12-inch plants will easily stand out among the shadows of a shady garden bed or container. ‘Go-Go’ series includes 7 bold, bright colors.

Calendula ‘Pink Surprise’ Frilly double orange/apricot 3-inch flowers are tinged with pink. A cottage garden flower, can be used as an herb or its flowers are edible. Tall plants 18 to 24-inches in height; useful in borders, beds, containers or as a cut flower.

Celosia ‘Fresh Look Red’ AAS Gold Medal winner for outstanding garden performance and length of blooming season. The distinctive long-lived 8 to 10-inch tall rosy-red flower plumes and bright green leaves make this a garden standout. Also available in yellow.

Hollyhock ‘Queeny Purple’ First dwarf hollyhock that flowers prolifically the first year from seed. Frilly-edged 3 to 4-inch "powder puff" blooms are abundant on compact branching plants. Mature height only 20 to 30 inches. AAS Gold Medal winner.

Lavender ‘Sancho Panza’ Dark purple 1-inch flower spikes appear in early spring and summer on dense, bushy plants with very aromatic grayish foliage. Plants reach 12 to 18 inches after a year’s growth. Ideal for warm, well-drained conditions.

Morning Glory ‘Split Personality’ Star-shaped magenta-pink 2-inch flowers are delicately split. Excellent vine for covering fences and trellises, growing as a ground cover, or placing in hanging baskets. Full sun 7-foot annual vine blooms summer until frost.

Nicotiana ‘Tinkerbell’ Unique nicotiana hybrid, 35 inches tall and stately with a mass of 3/4-inch rose colored flowers. Very unusual architectural form, it has very good disease and weather tolerance. Thrives in full sun, part sun or shade.

Petunia ‘Easy Wave Salmon’ Fast-blooming plants flower freely all season creating a solid 8 to 10-inch tall mass of salmon-pink 2 1/4-inch blooms. Spreads 2 ½ feet in a full sun container, basket or garden bed. ‘Easy Wave’ series is available in 5 colors.

Petunia ‘Limbo Violet’ AAS Gold Medal winner. Large dark violet 3-inch blooms on a compact plant 6 to 7 inches tall. Huge blooms recover quickly from severe weather. No deadheading needed for this maintenance-free plant. A standout in last year’s MU trials.

Portulaca ‘ Sunseeker Red’ Fully double, red petaled 2-inch flowers stay open longer into the evening. Grow this heat tolerant annual in your full sun container or garden bed. Series includes five other colors along with a mix.

Rudbeckia ‘Moreno’ Large 5 to 6-inch wide bicolored blooms are mahogany red with orange-to-gold tips. Compact, upright 12 to 15-inch tall plants. Full to part sun annual for mass plantings or containers.

Solanum ‘Five Minute Plant’ Unusual purple-black stems and greenish-purple leaves are covered with long, purple thorns. Small yellow flowers followed by green and white clustered berries contrast dramatically with the dark 4-foot tall plant.

Sunflower ‘Pacino Cola’ Perfect for pots, uniquely contrasting golden yellow petals and dark-eyed 4 to 5-inch blooms on small, smooth-leafed plants with final height of just 12 to 16 inches. Heat and drought tolerant, full sun to part shade annual.

Thunbergia ‘Spanish Eyes’ Vigorous annual vine with unique range of warm sunset-colored, dark-eyed flowers. Great as a ground cover, screen or hanging basket. In full sun the trailing vine reaches 5 to 10 feet.

Thyme ‘Orange Scented’ Unique among seed-grown cultivars because of its sweet, citrus fragrance. Grows to 12 inches in full sun and in well-drained soil. Excellent in containers or as a short garden hedge. Perennial hardy to zone 5.

Vinca ‘SunStorm Pink’ Super well-branched and covered with 1 3/4-inch dark pink flowers. Very heat tolerant full sun annual reaching 8 inches in height and spread. Perfect for containers or mass plantings. Series offers 9 different colors.

Zinnai ‘Swizzle Scarlet & Yellow Bicolor’ Large, double flowers and loads of them! A multitude of stunning bicolored blooms are held closely to full, bushy, upright 10 to 12-inch plants. A sure winner in a sunny garden or container. Also available in two other colors.

(Credit: National Garden Bureau)

David Trinklein, Associate Professor, Horticulturalist, UMC (573) 882-9631