New Flower Varieties For 2006
Photographs Courtesy
The National Garden Bureau
Gardeners love new varieties. They add excitement to your garden while "growing" your gardening experience. It's fun to have something new.
Look for these new flowers as seed packets or bedding plants in garden centers and retail stores, as well as, in mail order seed catalogs and online at e-commerce seed sales websites.
These varieties are listed alphabetically by class. The company submitting each variety is provided. If the company distribution type is Wholesale, that company does not sell directly to the home garderner but their variety will be available in retail settings.
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Lobulaira maritima
Masses of small flowers on vigorous 6-inch upright plants that will keep up with other annuals in mixed containers. Full/partial sun container, basket, or garden. Fragrant. Purple, lemon, lavender, or mix.
Distribution Type: Wholesale
Company: K. Sahin, Zaden B.V.
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Angelonia F1
'Serena
Purple'
Angelonia angustifolia
Distribution Type: Wholesale
Company: PanAmerican Seed
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Begonia tuberosa
Large 3-inch flowers cover the full, sturdy, 8- to 10-inch compact upright plant. Beautiful deep green foliage. This annual is a knockout in a shaded mass planting, garden, container, or hanging basket.
Distribution Type: Wholesale
Company: Goldsmith Seeds
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Calceolaria
'Slipper
Flower'
Calceolaria mexicana
Masses of bright lemony-yellow tiny half-inch pouch-like flowers
bloom quickly from seed and stay in bloom through hot weather. Light
green foliaged annual 10-12 inches tall grown in full/partial sun.
Distribution Type: Retail
Company: Select Seeds
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Carex
'ColorGrass
Prairie Fire'
Carex testacea
Attractive ornamental perennial grass (zone 5-6) starts out with narrow green leaves. As it matures the leaf tips turn a bronze color giving it a bicolor contrast. 18-24 inches tall spreading 15-18 inches in full sun.
Distribution Type: Wholesale
Company: Kieft Seeds Holland
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Celosia
'Icecream
Formula Mix'
Celosia plumosa
Early flowering long lasting 8-inch tall flower plumes on compact basal branching annual reaching 12-15 inches in full sun. Heat tolerant series of 6 vibrant colors perfect for pot, patio, and garden.
Distribution Type: Wholesale
Company: Kieft Seeds Holland
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Coreopsis 'Santa Fe'
Coreopsis grandiflora
A multitude of semi-double 1- to 2-inch yellow flowers for early summer color in the full/part sun garden, container, or mass planting. Fully branched, upright perennial (zones 4-9) 16 inches tall blooms June-September.
Distribution Type: Wholesale
Company: S&G Flowers
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Cosmos 'Double
Click
Mix'
Cosmos bipinnatus
Unusual double blooms in a range of colors. Tall 4-foot annual with large, fully-double and semi-double blooms. Shades of carmine, pink, and white make this a great cut flower and a wonderful sunny garden addition.
Distribution Type: Retail
Company: Johnny's Selected Seeds
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Arctotis venusta
Certified organic seed. Silver foliage highlights the white daisy flower with blue center. The 3-inch blooms begin in late June and continue through frosts. Sun loving annual 1.5- to 2-feet tall attractive in gardens and containers.
Distribution Type: Retail
Company: Underwood Gardens
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Dianthus barbatus interspecific
World's first F1 double dianthus. Pink 1- to 1.25-inch blooms. Well-branched, upright strong-stemmed plants grow 16-20 inches tall. Excellent performing heat tolerant annual for a full sun garden or cut flower.
Distribution Type: Wholesale
Company: Ball Seed Co.
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Dianthus interspecific
The lacy 1.5-inch single flowers have highly fringed petal edges. Vigorous 12-inch tall plants have an upright bouquet plant habit. Prolific early bloomer grown in full sun. Exceptional heat tolerant garden performance.
Distribution Type: Wholesale
Company: Hem Genetics
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Diascia intergerimma
First F1 hybrid diascia from seed. This diascia will be covered with one-inch coral blooms on 8- to 10-inch tall cascading plants. Best performance for this annual when grown under cool conditions in a sunny garden.
Distribution Type: Wholesale
Company: PanAmerican Seed
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Pelargonium x hortorum
Large, single, deep scarlet red flowers form a showy head. The 10-inch plants have chocolate foliage with extremely dark leaf pattern that brilliantly offsets the flowers on this sun loving annual.
Distribution Type: Wholesale
Company: K. Sahin, Zaden B.V.
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Pelargonium x hortorum
"Red Ice" is a unique color. The lower three petals of the 4- to 5-inch blooms are red, the top two petals are white, and the reverse of the petals is intense red. This annual reaches 10-12 inches tall in full/part sun.
Distribution Type: Wholesale
Company: Floranova Ltd.
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Gerbera jamesonii
Vibrant 3- to 4-inch blooms have unique spider flower form and unique color. Fast flowering sunny annual is 7-12 inches tall. 'Festival' has most flowers per plant in widest color selection.
Distribution Type: Wholesale
Company: Sakata Seed America, Inc.
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Hibiscus moscheutos
Enormous 6- to 8-inch blossoms feature a dark eye and pink picotee pattern. The tall 24- to 36-inch upright plant adds a tropical look to a full sun garden or container. In zones 5-9 heat loving 'Luna' is perennial.
Distribution Type: Wholesale
Company: Ball Seed Co.
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Impatiens wallerana
'Encore' impatiens were bred to grow! These robust upright 14-inch annual plants produce extra large flowers in a shaded garden. 'Encore' series features large 2.5-inch blooms in 11 color choices.
Distribution Type: Wholesale
Company: Bodger Seeds, Ltd.
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Impatiens wallerana
Bright, 1.25-inch multi-petaled blooms deliver big color impact all season in shaded mixed containers, gardens and mass plantings. Excellent branching and very uniform plants reach 10-12 inches. Annual.
Distribution Type: Wholesale
Company: Ball Seed Co.
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Lisianthus F1
"Rendezvous
Blue'
Lisianthus russellianus
First dwarf type F1 double lisianthus in the world. Large 3-inch flowers. The flowering habit and garden height of 11-12 inches is very uniform for this annual when grown in a part-sun garden or container.
Distribution Type: Wholesale
Company: Henry F. Michell Co.
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Nicotiana x Sandarae
Delicately scented, single, 2-inch star-shaped deep purple flowers. Abundantly blooming annual plants reaching 20 inches tall in full sun will readily adapt to a semi-shade garden planting.
Distribution Type: Wholesale
Company: Floranova Ltd.
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nierembergia hippomanica
An abundance of 1-inch lavender blue flowers covers this low spreading 6- to 10-inch annual all summer. Thriving in hot, dry conditions, it is ideal for hanging basket or mass planting.
Distribution Type: Wholesale
Company: American Takii, Inc |
Pennisetum glaucum
Unique multi-colored foliage emerges chartreuse, maturing to shades of red and bronze, eventually darkening to purple. Dark purple spiked seed heads top the 3- to 4-foot tall sun annual.
Distribution Type: Wholesale
Company: PanAmerican Seed
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Ornamental
Pepper
'Black Pearl'
Capsicum annuum
Unique ornamental pepper with pure black leaves when grown in the sun. Small, black, shiny, pearl-shaped, fiery hot tasting peppers are born upright on a vigorous annual plant reaching 18-inches tall.
Distribution Type: Wholesale
Company: PanAmerican Seed
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Viola x wittrockiana
Striking neon colored 3- to 3.5-inch blossoms born on plants 4-5 inches tall. Heat, cold, frost, wind and rain tolerant annual. Excellent branching and uniformity. Full/part sun garden, mass planting or container.
Distribution Type: Wholesale
Company: S&G Flowers
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Viola x wittrockiana
The 2- to 2.2-inch blooms on 5- to 7-inch plants are great for mass plantings. More non-stop color per square foot. Robust root systems increase over-wintering of this sun loving annual. The series features 13 colors and a mix.
Distribution Type: Wholesale
Company: Goldsmith Seeds
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Viola x wittrockiana
A pansy/viola cross, 'Nature' is a true multiflora mini-pansy with 1.5-inch flowers that cover 6-to 8-inch tall compact plants. In full sun provides a mass of color all season. This outstanding annual is tolerant to heat and cold.
Distribution Type: Wholesale
Company: American Takii, Inc.
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Petunia x hybrida
Improved for more uniform color with an abundance of 3-inch flowers. This annual is 10-inches tall and spreads 30-inches. Sensational in a sunny hanging basket, container, garden, mass planting, or even as a groundcover.
Distribution Type: Wholesale
Company: Bodger Seeds, Ltd.
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Petunia
F1 'Easy Wave Rosy Dawn'
Petunia x hybrid
The 2-inch bloom's slightly ruffled edge provides nice texture and the white throat is a beautiful contrast to rosy petal color. The 8-to 10-inch tall annual spreading 2- to 3-feet is carefree in a sunny garden, basket, or container.
Distribution Type: Wholesale
Company: PanAmerican Seed
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Petunia x hybrid
Symphony's after-rain recovery is one of its greatest attributes. Great masses of striking 2- to 2.5-inch white edged deep wine red blooms adorn compact plants 10-12 inches tall on this attractive sunny annual.
Distribution Type: Wholesale
Company: American Takii, Inc.
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Platycodon
F1 'Astra Semi-Double White'
platycodon grandiflorum
Superior flowering with large fully double 2.5- to 3.25-inch double white flowers. Compact 4- to 6-inch plants supply continuous bloom. Perennial (zone 5). An eye-catcher in sunny container or garden.
Distribution Type: Wholesale
Company: Sakata Seed America, Inc.
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Papaver somniferum
Outstanding 3- to 4-inch bluish-purple papery blooms with black centers gladden sunny early summer gardens. Seedpods can be used in dried arrangements or as a source of poppy seeds. Rare annual 1.5- to 2-feet tall.
Distribution Type: Retail
Company: Underwood Gardens
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Eschscholtzia californica
Exclusive custom mix of long blooming silky poppies in glowing sunset colors of red, rose, vanilla, flame, and tangerine bicolors. Carefree 2-inch blossoms shine from feathery, gray-green foliage 24 inches tall. Full sun annual.
Distribution Type: Retail
Company: Renee's Garden
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portulaca grandflora
An abundance of white 2-inch blooms on compact plants 6 inches tall. This full sun annual blooms fast and stays open longer into twilight in container, hanging basket, or garden. Also in yellow, cream, orange and pink.
Distribution Type: Wholesale
Company: Bodger Seeds, Ltd.
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Primula acaulis
Delightfully scented stunning yellow 1-inch rosebud flowers offer great beauty and elegance to a shady container or garden. A compact, 6-inch tall upright cold and frost tolerant biennial 200-250 days from sowing to bloom.
Distribution Type: Wholesale
Company: Floranova Ltd.
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Primula acaulis
Premium rose-shaped primula that looks like a bouquet of apricot-yellow mini roses. Lightly fragrant 1-inch blooms on plants 4- to 5-inch tall. Full to part sun annual. Blooms 165 days from sowing seed.
Distribution Type: Wholesale
Company: Sakata Seed America, Inc.
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Chenopodium quinoa
Nutty, delicious grains have as much protein as milk - and striking hot pink, burgundy, red, orange, yellow, white, and green flowers! Upright 2-foot tall annual perfect for sunny flower or vegetable garden.
Distribution Type: Retail
Company: Botanical Interests, Inc.
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Salvia farinacea
Intense deep colored violet 6- to 7-inch flower spikes on bushy 16- to 24-inch plants that spread 16-19 inches. This beautiful, drought tolerant, full sun annual blooms consistently all season long with minimal care.
Distribution Type: Wholesale
Company: Benary
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Salvia farinacea
Large, bright red flowered salvia has numerous 8- to 10- inch spikes on tall bushy plants growing 24-36 inches tall. Durable full sun annual with superior garden performance is a red beacon in the garden.
Distribution Type: Wholesale
Company: Kieft Seeds Holland
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Fragaria x ananassa
Pretty pink 1-inch flowers, tasty red fruit, and 3-foot trailing runners. This early, everbearing, day neutral can be sown year round in full/part sun. Perennial (Zones 5+.) Attractive deep green foliage 4- to 6-inches tall.
Distribution Type: Wholesale
Company: S&G Flowers
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Helianthus annuus
A magnificent mix of huge semi-double flowers bursting with color—mahogany, red, orange, and golden yellow. Plants 5-6 feet tall have large, ruffled 5-inch pollenless blossoms. Sunny annual.
Distribution Type: Retail
Company: Lake Valley Seed Co. Inc.
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Catharanthus roseus
Huge 2.5-inch flowers with extraordinary disease tolerance. Basal branched full lush plants 12-14 inches tall. This sun loving annual has unrivaled cold tolerance! Incredible garden performance.
Distribution Type: Wholesale
Company: Henry F. Michell Co.
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Catharanthus roseus
Combines superior germination, vigor, disease tolerance, and garden performance in optimal and sub-optimal conditions. Vigorous upright full sun annual 18-20 inches tall has very large 2- to 3-inch blooms.
Distribution Type: Wholesale
Company: Floranova Ltd.
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Viola cornuta
Improved flower size, flower colors, and freedom of bloom. Ruby red upper petals with violet shading below the yellow whiskered face on large 1.5-inch blooms. Strong 6-inch tall annual is heat and cold tolerant.
Distribution Type: Wholesale
Company: Kieft Seeds Holland
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Viola x williamsiana
Stunning blend of small bi-color faced viola with two-toned faces in a range of colors from whites through purples — all mixed into a pleasant blend. This 4-inch tall sun-loving annual may over winter.
Distribution Type: Wholesale
Company: K. Sahin, Zaden B.V.
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Zinnia elegans
Novel bicolor pattern with uniformly intense color. Each 3- to 4-inch semi-double bloom has a scarlet/rose center with yellow petal edges. In sunny gardens this flashy annual reaches 24-29 inches. Ideal home garden cut flower.
Distribution Type: Wholesale
Company: Goldsmith Seeds
The South Carolina Nursery and Landscape Association has many experts who can assist you. A list of these individuals who reside nearest to you can be found in the membership section on this web site. You may also view past articles here. For an extensive list of consumer related gardening topics visit the: Clemson Extension Service Home and Garden Information Center.