Spring Plant Trials: Top Picks of the Season

As spring arrives, gardeners like me receive sample plants from breeders and growers. These plants, not yet available to the public, are tested and reviewed for performance. This helps inform choices for the next planting season.

Plant Testing Overview

Plants are placed in various environments such as beds, borders, containers, and a dedicated testing strip called the Maternity Ward. Their progress is monitored for an entire season to evaluate performance.

While personal preferences in color, shape, or texture exist, plants are judged on merits. Important factors include growth, bloom reliability, resistance to diseases, and infestation.

Featured Plants

Digitalis Arctic Fox ‘Lemon Cream’ and ‘Rose’ Foxgloves

Suitable for zones 5-9, these biennials have bell-shaped flowers on spikes. They attract pollinators and survived a harsh winter in zone 7, blooming profusely. Note: Digitalis is poisonous and should be kept away from children and pets.

Agastache mexicana Summerlong Series

Known as hummingbird mint, this plant suits zones 7-10. It comes in several colors and bloomed well in its first year. It grows in sunny areas, reaching 16-22 inches tall and wide.

Calibrachoa Superbells ‘Magic Double Grapefruit’

This plant shows a pink-and-yellow flower effect. Suitable for sun and partial sun, it’s drought-tolerant and reblooms through frost. It trails over the edges of baskets.

Anemone Harlequin ‘Cameo’

Hardy in zones 4-9, it produces pink flowers with yellow centers from summer through frost. It grows to 14 inches tall, with flower stems reaching 26 inches, and spreads 18 inches wide.

Echinacea French Tips

Hardy in zones 4-9, these coneflowers have white-tipped pink petals. They bloom from summer through fall, attract pollinators, and are deer-resistant, reaching 20-24 inches tall and 24 inches wide.

Lobelia Laguna Royal Blue Pearl

This plant has deep blue flowers and works well in containers or as edging. It is treated as an annual, grows 8-12 inches tall, and spreads 10-12 inches wide. It’s more heat-tolerant than previous Lobelias.

Supertunia Mini Vista Pink Cloud

These petunias bloom continuously and are great for containers. They feature ruffled petals with a fading white center against pink. Expect growth of 6-12 inches tall and up to 24 inches trailing in pots.

Begonia Hula White

This begonia has white flowers with yellow centers that hide its stems. It grows well in sun or shade, reaching 6-10 inches tall and 20-27 inches wide.

Light Pink Beacon and Blue Pearl Impatiens

Resistant to downy mildew, these varieties thrive in shade and spread abundantly. They bloom from spring to fall, perfect for beds or containers, growing 14-18 inches tall and 12-14 inches wide.

Spreading Petunia Shock Wave Rose Vein

These petunias have two-toned blossoms with a star pattern. They grow in full sun, reaching 7-10 inches tall and 20-30 inches wide.

Jessica Damiano writes gardening columns for The Associated Press. Her Weekly Dirt Newsletter offers gardening tips and advice. Sign up for more insights.

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