February 16, 2010

Growing Green
with Extension Educator Robin Trott

2009 Minnesota Annual Flower Trials

Each year UMN research scientists grow, display and test hundreds of annual flowers, then report how those varieties performed for that season. At the WCROC in Morris, Annual Flower Trial winners had to perform well despite cooler than average conditions through much of the summer growing season, followed by warmer than average September conditions. 2009 trial cultivars were evaluated regarding disease, average flower size, plant uniformity and overall plant and flower ratings. The top 10 winners for our region are:

Petunia 'Ray Purple Vein': Full Sun

A vigorous, early spring bloomer, with large, lavender, dark purple veined flowers. An ideal choice for hanging baskets and window planters.

Lobelia 'Techno Heat Upright Blue': Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade

An edging lobelia that blooms spring to fall with masses of white, blue-tinted flowers. This heat tolerant lobelia grows to a height of 6”-10”, and is an excellent choice for borders, beds, rock gardens, hanging baskets, and containers.

Petunia 'Suncatcher Red': Full Sun

An early flowering, medium- large petunia with a trailing growth habit. With a mature height of 8”, these heat tolerant petunias are ideal for hanging baskets, beds, window boxes, and borders. Geranium 'Calliope Scarlet Fire': Full sun

A large, dark red geranium that grows to 10”-12”. Try it with “million bells” and “verbena” to make a beautiful hanging basket.

Petunia 'Supertunia Vista Bubblegum’: Full sun

A mounding, vigorous grower that rapidly fills any space with bright, bubblegum pink blossoms. These heat tolerant plants can grow up to 24 inches across and will last longer than other petunia. Diascia 'Flirtation Orange' Sun or partial sun

A relative of the snapdragon with charming orange flowers that bloom profusely all season. With a mounding habit and a mature height of 8”-12”, it can be used in hanging baskets, combination plantings, window boxes and landscapes.

Coleus 'Trusty Rusty' Sun or Shade

This vigorous plant has large copper leaves outlined in golden yellow. It grows to a mature height of 18”-24” and adds height, texture and contrast to combination plantings.

Begonia 'Braveheart Rose Bicolor': Full Sun, Part Shade, Shade

A wax begonia with a vigorous hedge-like habit, and great heat and humidity tolerance. “Braveheart” blooms early and all through summer with a profusion of rose and white flowers. It quickly fills garden beds and containers.

Viola 'Skippy XL Red-Gold' Full Sun

The first viola to earn the AAS Award (2006), its flowers are ruby red with a violet red shading below the golden yellow face containing whiskers. The mature height of 6” makes this plant ideal for beds, borders and containers.

Verbena 'Superbena Coral Red Improved'’: Full Sun

This 6”-12” upright, trailing plant has clusters of salmon/coral flowers that bloom all season. They need no deadheading, are heat and drought tolerant, mildew resistant and attract butterflies. Use in baskets, containers, windows boxes and for flowering ground cover.

For more information about the 2009 annual trials, visit the Yard and Garden News website at http://blog.lib.umn.edu/efans/ygnews/2010/01/top-performing-annuals-for-200.html.

Until Next Time, Happy Gardening!

“Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.”

~John Muir