For a time, gardening with annual flowers was considered déclassé. Perennials and mixed borders were the height of fashion; annuals the stock-in-trade of municipal park plantings and old tires recycled into planters. It wasn’t until the recent surge in the popularity of container gardening that annual flowers had their fortunes reversed.
The number of new annuals introduced each year has increased exponentially, with variations on old favorites and quite a number of plants previously unknown to horticulture.
Ten years ago, who in the Front Range had ever heard of calibrachoa, angelonia, scaveola or plectranthus? Partly, it’s spillover from the current tropical craze. Such factors as an increase in plant exploration, a concerted attempt to improve existing flowers and “branding” of new introductions contribute to the current wealth of possibilities.
We all benefit from the greater selection and better disease- and weather-resistant plants. One good example is coleus. Until recently, it was a confirmed shade lover, but new cultivars tolerate sun or shade equally. They are the perfect choice for containers or patios, which, like mine, are sunny in spring but shaded by a grape or other vine later in the season.
Petunia lovers have never had so many options. There are huge flowers and tiny ones in an array of colors. Once, petunias were available only in magenta, but the “wave” series spans the entire color spectrum. Each is as tough as the original and as eager to quickly fill even the largest container.
So it is for all of our old favorites. Snapdragons, verbenas, sunflowers, portulacas, marigolds and zinnias come in a range of sizes, habits and colors, variables not long ago available only to fanciers of dahlias and begonias.
Many of the most promising new annuals are actually frost- tender perennials that won’t survive our cold winters but will bloom the same season when started from cuttings or seed. We use these as annuals, planting them outside only after all reasonable risk of frost is past. At the end of the season we can either bring them inside or toss them into the compost bin.
Another trend is using hardy perennials like heucheras, artemisias, lamiums and vincas in containers, especially those with attractive foliage. At the end of the season these can be planted in the garden to overwinter, then dug up again and replanted into a container the following spring. If it’s a protected area, the container is frost-proof and you can remember to water them occasionally, hardy perennials can be left in the container all winter.
New to me this season is a pretty little bacopa called “Gold ‘n Pearls” with lime and gold variegated leaves and 1/2-inch five-petaled white flowers. Bacopas have proved to be extremely heat tolerant, so I have high hopes for this one. It should make a nice companion for dark blue petunias and yellow marigolds.
I’ve also brought home an odd euphorbia called “Diamond Frost” with irregular teardrop- shaped petals and an airy, open habit. The tag says heat- and drought-tolerant, which always gets my attention. Euphorbias are not new to me, but this is like nothing I have seen before, and I’ll give anything a try.
Marcia Tatroe is a garden writer and lecturer. E-mail her at rltaurora@aol.com.
