As the calendar flips to 2024, garden centers and nurseries are abuzz with the arrival of the latest annual and perennial introductions, sparking excitement among greenthumbs and gardening enthusiasts. A unique thrill comes with unveiling new plant varieties, a sentiment beautifully captured by an anonymous gardener: “It’s a special kind of joy that only a gardener could understand. I always get an extra spring when nurseries begin stocking the year’s new plant introductions.” This year, the gardening world is treated to a diverse array of plants that promise to bring novel beauty and functionality to gardens across the globe.
Among the highlights are the Superbissima Wine Red petunias from Cerny Seed, a testament to the evolution of garden favorites. With their rose-purple flowers boasting unusual frilly edges and sizes up to 6 inches wide, these plants are a far cry from the petunias of yesteryear. Similarly transformative are the new coleus varieties like Ball Seed’s Talavera series, which dazzle with sun and shade resilience and vivid color patterns. The Lipstick Pink impatiens from PanAmerican Seeds redefine the edge with their robust growth and continuous blooms, proving that even traditional shade lovers can become showstoppers.
Not to be outdone, the Ocean Sunset Orange Glow ice plant from Darwin Perennials introduces cheerful colors to the succulent family, while Monrovia’s “See You Tomorrow!” Daylily challenges the notion of what a daylily can be with its extended bloom time. On the edible front, Proven Winners’ Flavorette Honey-Apricot shrub rose combines aesthetic appeal with culinary delight, offering gardeners both beauty and taste.
The family of Knockout Roses expands with the introduction of Easy Bee-zy and Orange Glow, both of which promise to be magnets for pollinators while adding vibrant colors to the garden palette. These introductions signify the ongoing innovation in horticulture and underscore the gardening community’s appetite for plants that offer visual appeal and environmental benefits.
The 2024 gardening season embodies a fusion of aesthetic brilliance and horticultural innovation. As gardeners embrace these new introductions, they continue the timeless tradition of bringing beauty and diversity to their surroundings. In the words of a seasoned gardener, these plants are not just additions to our gardens; they renew our bond with nature, offering endless possibilities for growth, discovery, and joy.v
