New Plants for 2012

Plant choices for this year are colorful and versatile; leaving you with choices that will work in your backyard.

Shopping for new plants is like Christmas morning for gardeners—so many bright, beautiful selections right at your fingertips. The trick is deciding which ones are the best for your yard without getting lost in the excitement of pretty packaging. If you want loads of color in small spaces, you’re in for a treat this year. Here are some of the best picks for new plants for 2012.

Cherry Star Superbells

Proven Winners introduces yet another gorgeous calibrachoa, this one with bright-yellow stars inside beautiful cherry-colored flowers that resemble petunias. Like other calibrachoa varieties, this one doesn’t disappoint, with its hardy blossoms and long bloom time.

Why we love it: An excellent trailer or filler in your containers, Cherry Star also boasts outstanding color that pairs well with just about any plant .

Summer Jewel Pink salvia

(Salvia coccinea, annual)

A 2012 All-America Selections winner, this salvia is more compact than Summer Jewel Red, and blooms earlier. The plentiful pink flowers attract hummingbirds throughout the growing season. Growing to only 20 inches tall, this one’s a natural for smaller gardens.

Why we love it: It flowers up to two weeks earlier than other salvias, and hummingbirds can’t resist it.

Wheee! hosta

(Hosta, Zones 3 to 9)

A fun little hosta with an appropriate name, the Wheee! has ruffled foliage with cream-colored margins. In spring, you’ll see curly shoots. As the plant grows, the foliage continues to curl and twist.

Why we love it: This pretty, medium-size (18 to 24 inches) hosta is also slug-resistant.

Sonic Bloom weigela

(Weigela florida, Zones 4 to 8)

If you need a flowering shrub, this one has lots going for it. Sonic Boom produces vivid flowers in May and keeps blooming until frost. Weigela is popular with hummingbirds; this one beckons them with blooms in red, pearl and pink. Growing 4 to 5 feet tall and wide, it’s a perfect statement shrub in any landscape.

Why we love it: Hummingbirds will be frequent visitors to the countless blooms of this stunner.

Wasabi coleus

(Solenostemon scutellarioides, annual)

Always a winner in containers, coleus welcomes a spicy new addition to the family. Wasabi has serrated bright-chartreuse leaves that hold up in sun or shade without fading or spotting. Growing 18 to 28 inches tall and wide, it fits perfectly in containers.

Why we love it: Unique foliage and an easygoing nature make this an irresistible choice.

Primal Scream daylily

(Hemerocallis, Zones 3 to 9)

The spidery hot-tangerine petals on this eye-catching plant are as colorful as its name. Growing up to 34 inches tall with continuous 7½-inch blooms, this daylily will be a star in any perennial garden.

Why we love it: Spectacular flowers, high bud count and healthy foliage make this a daylily that any gardener can appreciate.

Burgundy Bunny miniature fountain grass

(Pennisetum alopecuroides, Zones 5 to 9)

Looking for a little grass to add pizzazz to your containers and accent your garden beds? This little charmer grows only 12 to 16 inches tall in clumps of green foliage that turn red in summer and last until the first frost. In late summer, cream flower plumes add a soft, airy touch.

Why we love it: Its adorable size and gorgeous summer and fall color make it a welcome addition to small gardens and containers.

Cool Wave pansies

(Viola x wittrockiana, Zones 5 to 9)

Exciting news for gardeners in Zones 5 and above—now there’s a trailing pansy that will overwinter and supply a sea of color in early spring and fall. From the same folks who brought us the Wave petunia, this beauty will quickly spread, filling hanging baskets and containers. It’s available in yellow, white, Frost and Violet Wing (pictured).

Why we love it: Even in tough climates, Cool Wave will thrive, filling planters generously.

Lo & Behold Ice Chip butterfly bush

(Buddleia, Zones 5 to 9)

This spreading dwarf addition to the Lo & Behold series has brilliant white flowers and silvery foliage. A continuous bloomer, it has a neat, low-spreading habit (growing only 2 feet tall) that makes it a perfect ground cover. It’s also available in lilac (Lilac Chip butterfly bush).

Why we love it: This butterfly bush entices butterflies and hummingbirds without taking up too much garden space.

Little Annie coneflower

(Echinacea purpurea, Zones 3 to 8)

Most gardeners are crazy for new coneflower varieties, and this one is especially winsome. At only 10 to 12 inches high, it’s ideal for containers and small gardens. Don’t be fooled, though. The leaves and petals are tiny, but each plant boasts a surprising number of flowers.

Why we love it: It’s a carefree bloomer that can easily move to the front of the garden bed.