When it comes time to order new plants for the next growing season, I am the proverbial kid in the candy store. I want to try out everything that's new. Unfortunately most of the recently developed cultivars are grown from cuttings and they are sold in flats of at least 50 starts. So I am forced to experiment with a large number of plants. I always hope my customers share my curiosity. 
Night Sky Petunia is one of the more unusual new plants I have to offer this year. I’m not crazy about this speckled look, but I don’t care for black petunias either and customers seem to love them.
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XANTHOS COSMOS
Photo Courtesy Fleuroselect
Xanthos means yellow in Greek and that’s what this new cosmos bipinnatus is all about. Xanthos Cosmos is dwarf, early flowering and uniform. The soft yellow should be great for bouquets. Cosmos really need deadheading to keep the new flowers coming.
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BIDENS BEE DANCE RED STRIPE
Bidens is kind of a sprawly plant which is ideal for mixed containers, but not so great as a stand-alone plant. Until recently Bidens has been limited to solid yellow. Bidens beedance red stripe is a new take on this cultivar. Its star-shaped orange/red blossoms with yellow centers will spill down the edges of window boxes, large pots, and planters. Bidens is long blooming and drought resistant,
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VERBENA ESTRELLA VOO DOO STAR
photo courtesy Westhoff
The Estrella series of Verbena come from Germany. The blooms are close to foliage unlike many other verbenas that tend to be leggy. Estrella Voo Doo Star is good for baskets and is drought resistant.
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CRAZYTUNIA STARLIGHT BLUE
Photo courtesy Westhoff
Photo courtesy Westhoff
Crazytunia Cheesecake with it's red and white star appearance did well in my greenhouse last year, so I will give this Starlight Blue a try this season. I will soon share MORE "new" annuals to be offered at Amanda's Greenhouse.
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