Each spring heralds the start of a fresh growing season. Garden testers, receiving a wide array of new sample plants from breeders and growers, dive into evaluating these potential garden stars. These plants are nestled into beds, borders, containers, and designated testing strips known as Maternity Wards. The focus remains consistent: evaluating performance throughout the season.

This process aids in delivering insights to you when these plants become available at local garden centers. The evaluation rests on crucial aspects such as thriving ability, blooming consistency, and resistance to diseases or infestations. These factors determine if a plant is worth your investment.

Top Plant Selections for the Season

The plants trialed last year are hitting retail nurseries this spring. Here are the standouts:

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

Perfect for zones 5-9, these biennials with bell-shaped blooms are known to attract hummingbirds and pollinators. Despite a harsh winter in zone 7, they are thriving and flowering abundantly. Caution: Digitalis is toxic and should be kept out of reach of children and pets.

Agastache Mexicana Summerlong Series

Also known as hummingbird mint, available in coral, lilac, peach, magenta, and lemon shades. Suitable for zones 7-10, it flourished without problems, blooming well in its first year. It performs effectively in sunny spots.

Calibrachoa Superbells ‘Magic Double Grapefruit’

These “million bells” feature striking lemon-yellow buds with soft pink hues. Adapted for sun and part sun, they are drought-tolerant and rebloom through frost, creating stunning displays in hanging baskets.

Anemone Harlequin ‘Cameo’

This perennial, fit for zones 4-9, showcases daisy-like pink flowers with bright yellow centers from early summer to frost. It thrives in full sun to part shade, reaching heights of 14” (26” with flower stems).

Echinacea French Tips

Recognizable for its white-tipped pink petals reminiscent of a French manicure. Gaining heights of 20-24 inches, it attracts pollinators and blooms consistently. These deer-resistant plants thrive in zones 4-9.

Lobelia Laguna Royal Blue Pearl

Covered in deep blue flowers with white centers, these plants fill sunny containers throughout summer. Suitable as edging plants, they grow 8-12 inches tall and spread 10-12 inches, showing more heat tolerance than other Lobelias.

Supertunia Mini Vista Pink Cloud

These petunias feature ruffled petals and bloom continuously through frost. With heights of 6-12 inches, they trail beautifully in pots, providing eye-catching details with their fading white centers against pink petals.

Begonia Hula White

Previously dismissed, this begonia variety caught attention due to its spreading habit, allowing cheery yellow-centered white flowers to obscure thick stems. Thriving in sun or shade, they reach 6-10 inches tall and 20-27 inches wide.

Light Pink Beacon and Blue Pearl Impatiens

Known for resistance to downy mildew, these impatiens produce vibrant flowers from spring to fall. Suitable for full to part shade, they reach 14-18 inches tall and spread abundantly in containers or beds.

Spreading Petunia Shock Wave Rose Vein

These bicolored blooms maintain a mounded shape, featuring boldly colored blossoms without clashing with nearby plants. Grown in full sun, they reach 7-10 inches tall and spread 20-30 inches wide.

Jessica Damiano provides regular gardening insights and publishes the award-winning Weekly Dirt Newsletter, offering weekly gardening tips and advice.

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