New Annuals For 2018
By Chris Edmunds
We’ve put together helpful tips to keep this year's high-performing annuals blooming all summer.
Looking for something in particular?
Search our article library:
Need some advice on how to start a beautiful garden? Sign up for our email newsletter, and receive free gardening articles, resources, and container designs to your inbox.
This year’s top three annuals will not disappoint. From double flowers, vibrant oranges, and golden yellows, these plants will keep your yard full of color. We’ve put together helpful tips to keep your high-performing annuals blooming all summer.
Portulaca “Colorblast Double Magenta”:
One of our favorite annuals is the Portulaca (also called Purslane) “Colorblast Double Magenta”. They are part of the “Colorblast” series, now offering exciting double flowers! You’ll be sure to enjoy the bright intense rose flowers, glowing with shades of orange and purple in your yard.
These drought and heat tolerant plants are best suited in the hottest part of your yard. Even during cloudy days, their flowers stay open (they are so fully double, they can’t close!). You'll keep them going strong by giving them a dose of KVG Good Stuff fertilizer every couple weeks.
These low-maintenance annuals are well suited for your area’s climate and perfect for your container or rock gardens. You can find them at any of our garden centers this season.
Calibrachoa “Kona Honeycomb”:
Another one of our favorite annuals is the Calibrachoa “Kona Honeycomb”. It stood out in our trials for the abundance of bright yellow flowers with orange veins covering these mounded plants.
Calibrachoa (also known as Million Bells) are best known for their vibrant colors and long-lasting qualities. You’ll enjoy healthy calibrachoas by planting them in a small (8-10”) container or mixed in as a “filler” in larger containers. Calibrachoas are pH-sensitive and need a well-draining soil. They’ll perform best with good, quality potting soil such as our Kaw Valley “Good Stuff” potting soil. You’ll want to keep your annuals well fed with a weekly dose of KVG Good Stuff fertilizer. Another good tip to keep in mind is watering them after the top of the soil is completely dry. Because they have fine roots, they can suffer from over-watering.
Calibrachoas have a higher wind tolerance than many other annuals. So, if you are looking to fill a windy corner in your yard, a container of these will fill that spot nicely! All of our plants are trial-tested before making it to our garden centers. You can be sure that the calibrachoas at your nearest Kaw Valley store are well-suited for your area. If you’ve had problem with budworm on petunias, you will also need to look for them on calibrachoas. Watch for the start of holes in the blooms or buds, and treat with Cap’n Jack’s Deadbug brew. It’s safe enough for organic gardens and is one of the only treatments that works. You may have to treat through the summer if you see symptoms again. Apply as soon as you notice them or they can destroy all your blooms within a matter of a couple days.
Lantana “Luscious Royale Cosmo”:
Lantanas are one of the top performing annuals for our area. Not only are they heat-tolerant, but they are a magnet for attracting butterflies and hummingbirds. With Lantanas, you’ll get to enjoy beautiful, vibrant colors and the creatures that come with them!
The new Lantana “Luscious Royale Cosmo” from Proven Winners™ has dark rose and gold flower clusters which contrast well with their dark green foliage. Place them in a large container and in a sunny spot on your patio, and these will make you feel like you are in a Greek villa overlooking the Mediterranean. The habit of this variety is large, upright and mounded, so it can be used by itself or as a large “filler” (you will want to add a very tall “thriller” such as Sun Coleus in a combination planter).
You’ll enjoy these low-maintenance plants all summer long. As long as they are planted in a lot of sunlight, you can neglect them more than most annuals. A few doses of KVG Good stuff fertilizer wouldn’t hurt a few times over the summer, otherwise, just water when the soil gets dry. No deadheading or pruning necessary!!
Stop by one of our garden centers, like our plant nursery in Lee's Summit, to pick up your own sun-loving Lantana.
Start Planting!
Any of our favorite top annuals will go well in your container garden. You'll enjoy their blooming flowers all summer, after planting them in the proper soil mix and in a sunny spot. Whether you want them to be the center of attention or a filler, you won’t be disappointed by these stunning annuals! Click here to see all our favorites!
Need some advice on how to start a beautiful garden? Sign up for our email newsletter, and receive free gardening articles, resources, and container designs to your inbox.