Top 3 New Annuals for 2019
By Chris Edmunds
At Kaw Valley, we’re always bringing in new varieties that perform better than older ones.
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.
The best things about annuals is that you get far more color than with perennials. There are always new plant varieties being cultivated, and our gardens evolve and change with them. At Kaw Valley, we’re always bringing in new varieties that perform better than older ones. Here are our top three new annuals for 2019 and how to keep them blooming all summer long.
Calibrachoa, ‘Superbells Holy Smokes!’
Calibrachoa - also known as “million bells” for their numerous small, petunia-like flowers - are already a must-have in every garden. While they’ve been cultivated to display a wide range of vivid colors, the new hybrid, ‘Superbells Holy Smokes!’, is one of our favorites! These blooms display outstanding color with their dark purple and white patterns, accentuated by a bright yellow center. They provide striking contrast to any container, blooming all season long.
Calibrachoas are ideal plants for pots, as their vigorous growth habit leaves your containers brimming with blooms. They’re perfect for baskets and containers, but they don’t like to be planted in the ground due to the soil pH issues here in Kansas and the surrounding midwest states. A good quality soil, such as our Kaw Valley Good Stuff potting soil, is necessary for good performance. Place them in areas with lots of direct sunlight, from full sun to part sun. While they’re tolerant of heat, make sure their soil doesn’t dry out too much. Water them when the top of the soil has dried but be careful not to water-log their thin roots.
Since calibrachoas are such fast growers, they need to be fed regularly - and they’ll let you know when they’re hungry! If your plant starts losing pigment and turning yellow, it definitely needs a dose of our KVG Good Stuff water soluble fertilizer. Calibrachoas are considered “self-cleaning” plants - their spent flower heads fall all on their own, so you don’t need to spend any time deadheading them.
Petunia, Supertunia Vista Paradise
Another one of our favorites for 2019 is this gorgeous petunia, ‘Supertunia Vista Paradise’. It presents ultra-bright shades of pink and coral! In addition to the jaw-dropping color, it’s one of our top-performing petunias. Their bright blooms attract beautiful butterflies and hummingbirds all season long. She’s a sister to ‘Supertunia Vista Bubblegum’ but isn’t quite as vigorous.
Mixed planters or hanging baskets are perfect for ‘Supertunia Vista Paradise’. Their trailing branches flow over containers, while still maintaining volume. The horizontal growth habit of these annuals also makes them great groundcovers or fillers for flower beds.
It should come as no surprise that petunias need lots of sunshine in order to bloom as brightly as they do. While they can tolerate part sun, full sun will encourage the finest flowers. Water when the top of the soil is dry. Plant them in our high-quality potting mix with adequate drainage for the best results. Like most annuals, and especially petunias, ‘Supertunias’ will bloom better with regular fertilization. These petunias are particularly easy to care for since they require no deadheading or trimming.
Gomphrena, Truffula Pink
One of the best-performing annuals in the Midwest, Gomphrena ‘Truffula Pink’ is sure to be a customer favorite this year. The globe-like flower heads of Gomphrena already add a unique aesthetic to any garden, but the hot pink, orange-tipped flowers of ‘Truffula Pink’ bring that to a whole new level.
A tough, versatile plant, Gomphrena is the solution to all of your garden’s problem areas. They bloom all season long, even in our hot, drought-prone summer. Growing in an upright fashion with stems up to 3 feet tall, this gomphrena fits beautifully in both your landscape and your large containers. Their flowers are long-lasting, even after being cut, meaning you can enjoy them in vases.
The undeniable durability of this annual makes plant care very easy. Plant them in full sun and allow these large plants sufficient space to grow. Though it’s true that they’re drought-tolerant, they grow best with regular watering. Cutting the flowers will encourage more blooming, but deadheading isn’t necessary. Even aging flowers contribute nicely to a fall garden, so you can leave them be.
These three stunning annuals are perfect additions to your garden this year. Not only do they bring gorgeous blooms with vibrant colors, but you can rely on those blooms to stick around all summer long. Find these top-performing annuals and many more at any of our locations, like our fabulous garden center in Abilene!
Images courtesy of Proven Winners
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.