CLICK on the Proven Winner's logo to receive your Gardener's Idea Book. It is free to anyone who fills out the quick survey. I know, another online survey.....I just filled out one for myself and one for my mother today. It only took me a minute to do both of them! I was pleasantly surprised at how very little time it took to get a cool new garden book.  Currently In Stock as of May14, 2011 We will be offering selections from Proven Winners this year. If you have a special order for any of the plants that they offer, please let us know and we can secure them for you. If you have questions give us a call at 517-639-0234. Or you can email us at guest@perennialconnection.org. Don't miss out on the opportunity to grow these fabulous plants!

10" Combination Hanging Basket

	"Behind Blue Eyes" combination #102 contains: Supertunia 'Royal Velvet', Supertunia 'Mini Blue Vein', Alyssum 'Snow Princess   $20.00
	"Bahama Beach" combination #118   contains: Supertunia 'Bordeaux', Superbells 'Lemon Shiffon', Lobelia 'Laguna Sky Blue'   $20.00
	"Fireworks" combination #106 contains: Supertunia 'Royal Velvet, Verbena 'Lanai Red', Lobelia 'Laguna White'   $20.00
	"Lemonberry Punch" combination #113 contains: Superbells 'Blackberry Punch, Nemesia 'Sunsatia Lemon'   $20.00
	"Lavender Glow" combination #117   contains:  Phlox 'Intensia Lavender Glow', Lobelia 'Lucia Lavender Blush'   $20.00
	"Indigo Shadows"  combination #116   contains: Supertunia 'Pretty Much Picsasso', Supertunia 'Sangria Charm', Superbena 'Dark Blue'   $20.00
	"Daredevil Claret" combination #136   contains: Geranium 'Daredevil Claret', Superbells 'Saffron', Bacopa 'Giant Snowflake'   $24.00
	"Daredevil Rosita" combination #138   contains: Geranium 'Daredevil Rosita', Lobelia 'Laguna Sky Blue', Euphorbia 'Diamond Frost'   $24.00
	"Daredevil Salmon" combination #140   contains: Geranium 'Daredevil Salmon', Verbena 'Lanai Royal Puple With Eye', Bacopa 'Snowstorm Giant Snowflake'   $24.00

Annual Color Variety 4.25" Pots   $4.00ea

Alyssum 'Snow Princess' Growing Tips No dead-heading necessary for continuous bloom. Snow Princess is cold tolerant and heat tolerant, she bloomed through the summer at the Dallas Arboretum and the University of Georgia trial garden. She is very vigorous so pair her with other vigorous plants such as Supertunia, Superbena, and Sweet Caroline or Illusion Ipomoea. Snow Princess is a "heavy drinker" and will prefer evenly moist soil. It will be quick to show drought stress, but should bounce back quickly once re-hydrated. In a hanging basket you should be prepared to water often, maybe more than once a day during warm weather. Plants are easier to keep moist when planted in large planters. Due to her water needs Snow Princess is ideal for use in larger planters. In containers an application of continuous release fertilizer at planting is best. To help maximize performance use applications of a well-balanced water-soluble fertilizer (according to package directions) starting in mid-summer. Snow Princess will also perform well in the landscape where she will function as an annual, full sun, groundcover. While plants shouldn’t need to be trimmed back, if she is taking over your walkway or is looking less than her best a trim can be administered at anytime. Use a sharp pair of scissors or pruning shears as needed. A yearly application of fertilizer or compost on garden beds and regular fertilization of plants in pots will help ensure the best possible performance. Exposure Part Sun to Sun Height 4-6" Spacing 8-10" Hardy Temp 32°F Zone(s) 9-11 Uses Great in containers and landscapes	Sunsatia Cocoanut Nemesia Growing Tips Self-cleaning, no deadheading necessary. Sunsatia do not like to have wet feet so be sure to plant them in places with good drainage. For most people planting them in containers will be easier than planting in the ground. However, if you do have excellent drainage in your ground beds, for instance if you use raised beds, they will also flourish in the ground. Plants may be trimmed back with a sharp pair of scissors or pruning shears at anytime, although this is not usually necessary. Plants may flush out of flower if night temperatures begin to stay in the upper 70’s or above. If this happens a light trim to shape them would be good. The trim will increase branching and will result in more flowers once the temperatures fall and the plants begin flowering again. A yearly application of fertilizer or compost on garden beds and regular fertilization of plants in pots will help ensure the best possible performance. Exposure Part Sun to Sun Height 6-10" Spacing 8-12" Hardy Temp 30°F Zone(s) 10-11 Uses Plant alone or in combination in all container types. Features Profuse flowers cascade from pots and baskets all season; excellent for early spring; low maintenance.	Diamond Frost Euphorbia Growing Tips Diamond Frost might look delicate and frilly, but nothing could be further from the truth. Diamond Frost is actually pretty much tough as nails. She has performed well from North to South and coast to coast. While she does best in sun or part sun conditions, she does surprisingly well in shady conditions also. As you might suspect she is great in mixed containers and containers by herself, but don’t discount her excellent performance when planted in the landscape. She needs little to no supplemental water and is extremely heat tolerant. She doesn’t need to be deadheaded and shouldn’t need much in the way of fertilizer either – she’s a very self-sufficient gal. While you shouldn’t need to trim her back, you can trim her back at anytime and she will just keep doing her thing. Diamond Frost is one of my all-time favorite plants. Diamond Frost is moderately salt tolerant - it can withstand the amount of salt encountered when planted 30 feet or more from the source of the salt. Self-cleaning, no deadheading necessary. Some shedding of flowers and leaves may occur indoors depending on light levels and watering. Plants in the spurge family often will bleed a milky, white sap if cut or wounded. This sap is a form of latex. Most people will have little or no reaction due to sap exposure from the euphorbia that Proven Winners sells. However, people with sensitive skin or latex allergies should be cautious when handling euphorbia. Poinsettias are in this same family. If you have ever experienced a skin irritation due to contact with poinsettias you should be cautious with all euphorbia. An application of fertilizer or compost on garden beds and regular fertilization of plants in pots will help ensure the best possible performance. Exposure Part Sun to Sun Height 12-18" Spacing 10-12" Hardy Temp 40°F Zone(s) 10 Uses Plant alone or in combinations in all container types and landscapes Features Heat- and drought-tolerant plants; clouds of airy white flowers all season; low maintenance	Bacopa Giant Snowflake (Sutera) Growing Tips Self-cleaning, no deadheading necessary. Unlike most plants, Sutera will not wilt when drought stressed. Before the plant shows signs of wilting it will drop both the flowers and the buds on the plant. It takes about 2 weeks for the plant to come back into bloom after it has been drought stressed. To maintain constant bloom you will either need to monitor the plant closely and water before the soil gets too dry or you could plant Sutera with a plant that does wilt. Some good plants to consider are verbena, coleus, petunias etc. These companion plants will serve as indicator plants to let you know that the Sutera is dry and should help you avoid having the plant dropping blooms and buds due to drought stress. An application of fertilizer or compost on garden beds and regular fertilization of plants in pots will help ensure the best possible performance. Exposure Part Sun to Sun Height 4-8" Spacing 8-10" Hardy Temp 30°F Zone(s) 10 Uses Use in hanging baskets, combination's and window boxes Features White flowers appear all season; strongly trailing plants; low maintenance; perfect filler plant in combination's
Dichondra Silver Falls Plant Details Exposure Part Sun to Sun Height 1-6" Spacing 18-24" Hardy Temp 30°F Zone(s) 9-11 Uses Ideal for hanging baskets, containers or ground cover Features Vigorous, fan-shaped silver foliage on silver stems; very heat and drought tolerant	Superbells Cherry Red Growing Tips When planting Calibrachoa I often give the plants a slight trim, using a sharp pair of scissors or pruning shears. While not a necessary step, it will increase branching and may help your plants look even fuller. Calibrachoa are usually easiest to grow in containers because if the roots are kept too wet can lead to root rot diseases. In containers, allow the top of the soil to dry before watering again. If your plant is wilting even though the soil is still damp you likely have a root rot problem. Calibrachoa can be fantastic in-ground plants, but only if they are planted in well drained soil. Raised beds would be a good choice for planting Calibrachoa in the landscape. In the ground they shouldn’t need much additional water unless conditions are very dry. Proper watering is key to growing good Calibrachoa. The plants are low-maintenance with no deadheading needed. They will do best if fertilized in a regular basis. Calibrachoa can be sensitive to both high and low pH. If your plants have been growing for a while and then begin to look a bit tired and not so good there are several things to try. If the foliage is yellow there are two possible causes. If you haven’t been fertilizing regularly they could simply be hungry and in need of fertilizer. Feed them using a well-balanced (look for something with an n-p-k ration near 20-10-20) water soluble fertilizer. If you have been fertilizing regularly with a well-balanced fertilizer and the foliage is still turning yellow it is probably because the pH range in your soil has gotten a bit high or low. The most common impact of this is that Iron can no longer be taken up by the plant, even if it is available in the soil. The common form of Iron used in fertilizer is sensitive to pH changes. If you think pH is your problem you can either try to lower (or raise) the pH or you can simply apply Chelated Iron, which is available at a wider pH range and should help your plants turn green again. You may also be able to find Iron in a foliar spray (which means you spray it on the foliage rather than applying it to the soil) which can also help your plant turn nice and green again. Stop by your favorite garden center and they should be able to help you choose a product to use. As the season goes on the plants can sometimes just start to look open and not as good. This can happen even if they are being watered and fertilized correctly. Fortunately this is very simple to fix. Grab a sharp pair of scissors or pruning shears and give the plants an all over trim. This will cause them to branch out more and should stimulate new growth and flowering, especially if you fertilize right after trimming them back. Just like your hair looks a lot better after a trim, your plants often will too. You will sacrifice flowers for a few days, but the plants should come back flowering more than ever shortly. I will usually give my Superbells a trim back in late July or early August. Should your plants have a few unruly stems that are longer than everything else or sticking our oddly, you can trim these stems back at anytime. Calibrachoa are very forgiving when it comes to trimming. An application of fertilizer or compost on garden beds and regular fertilization of plants in pots will help ensure the best possible performance. Exposure Sun Height 6-10" Spacing 8-10" Hardy Temp 30°F Zone(s) 9-11 Uses Calibrachoa do not like to have constantly damp soil. They will do well in the ground only with good drainage. For most gardeners containers are the best use for Calibrachoa.	Lanai Red Verbena Exposure Sun Height 4-6" Spacing 12-18" Hardy Temp 25°F Zone(s) 10-11 Uses Great in landscapes and containers.	Sunsatia Cranberry Nemesia Growing Tips Self-cleaning, no deadheading necessary. Sunsatia do not like to have wet feet so be sure to plant them in places with good drainage. For most people planting them in containers will be easier than planting in the ground. However, if you do have excellent drainage in your ground beds, for instance if you use raised beds, they will also flourish in the ground. Plants may be trimmed back with a sharp pair of scissors or pruning shears at anytime, although this is not usually necessary. Plants may flush out of flower if night temperatures begin to stay in the upper 70’s or above. If this happens a light trim to shape them would be good. The trim will increase branching and will result in more flowers once the temperatures fall and the plants begin flowering again. A yearly application of fertilizer or compost on garden beds and regular fertilization of plants in pots will help ensure the best possible performance. Exposure Part Sun to Sun Height 6-10" Spacing 8-12" Hardy Temp 30°F Zone(s) 10-11 Uses Plant alone or in combination's in all container types. Features Profuse flowers cascade from pots and baskets all season; excellent for early spring; low maintenance
Dragonwing Red Begonia (Angelwing) Growing Tips Overwintering Begonias, some basics. When bringing plants indoors from an outdoor garden area there are some basic do's and don'ts to consider. The first priority is to make sure your plants are free of insects or disease before bringing them in for the winter. Indoor conditions are very stressful to most plants and when plants are stressed they are more susceptible to insects and diseases. So before you bring plants in for the winter you may want to give them a good looking over, it will save you problems later in the winter when you may not want to use chemicals indoors. Indoor conditions are generally lower light than outdoors, so plant will have to adjust to lower light levels, sometimes they can do this easily and sometimes they must drop their outdoor leaves and grow new leaves that are better adapted to interior conditions. Plan for some leaf drop until plants become established again. All Begonias need bright filtered light when brought indoors and can sometimes be grown in full sun but be careful not to burn plants by exposing them to bright sun if they were grown in the shade previously. T he inside of your house is also very dry due to your heating system which removes water from the air as it heats the air in your house. You can make life a lot easier for your plants if you provide a source of humidity for your plants. Many people mist their indoor plants and while this helps it only lasts for a short period. A better long term solution is the use of a pebble tray under your plants where water can be added as it evaporates to keep the humidity higher around your indoor flowers. A pebble tray is simply a container that holds water filled with pebbles so that your plants sit on the pebbles and not in the water itself, water evaporates around the plant a creates a small “greenhouse” effect. Cane type & bedding begonias These two groups look very different but are both easy to keep over the winter. The Cane types include Angel Wing Begonias and also the Dragon wing types. These need very bright light to look their best, but not scorching sun. Keep lightly moist and lightly fertilized through the winter months. They never no go dormant, so do not allow to become very dry. Exposure Part Sun to Sun Height 14-18" Spacing 15-18" Hardy Temp 30°F Zone(s) 9-11 Uses Use in patio containers, hanging baskets and beds Features Vigorous and heat tolerant with abundant flowers all summer; great plant to fill open shady spaces	Caliente Red Geranium (Pelargonium) Plant Details Exposure Sun Height 12-18" Spacing 12-14" Hardy Temp 35°F Zone(s) 9-11 Uses Great in landscapes and containers	Coleus Colorblaze Dipt In Wine Growing Tips Many people feel that coleus look best before they flower. We have worked hard to choose coleus that bloom late in the season or not at all. To keep foliage in top shape, pinch off the blooms as they appear if you wish. Rules of Thumb for Overwintering Plants Indoors: 1. Choose only healthy plants 2. Bring Plants indoors before frost damages foliage 3. Treat for disease and insects before bringing plants indoors 4. Place in bright areas and add humidity using pebble trays or spray bottles 5. Be careful not to over water 6 When active growth starts in spring fertilize and prune as needed 7. Introduce your plants slowly to outdoor conditions in spring An application of fertilizer or compost on garden beds and regular fertilization of plants in pots will help ensure the best possible performance. Exposure Sun or Shade Height 20-36" Spacing 12-14" Hardy Temp 35°F Zone(s) 10-11 Uses Use in beds, borders and containers Features Smooth, shiny, rounded leaves are crimson with a lime-green edge	Daredevil Claret Geranium (Pelargonium) Growing Tips Deadheading is necessary for continued blooming. A yearly application of fertilizer or compost on garden beds and regular fertilization of plants in pots will help ensure the best possible performance. There are couple ways to keep your geraniums through the winter, let's see what works best for you. 1. If you have a sun room or other VERY sunny window you can cut your geraniums back and bring them indoors to keep them through the winter. The window should have the brightest light, otherwise the plants will slowly decline from a lack of sun. 2. Another old trick is let you geraniums get very dry and then un-pot them and wash all the soil off the roots and allow them to dry down again, so they will be wilted but very dry. You can then dust the roots with a sulfur powder (acts to prevent fungus) and store them in brown paper bags in a cellar or other dry location. They will go dormant and in most cases survive just off the water in the plant when you store them. In either case, next spring when you plant them and move them outside, you'll need to move them into the shade first so they can get readjusted to full sun, otherwise they may burn if you put them in full sun right away. If either of these methods seems like too much work then just let them go down for the winter and buy new ones next year. New plants will usually start off with more vigor and get blooming faster than plants saved from the past year. Exposure Sun Height 18-24" Spacing 10-14" Hardy Temp 28°F Zone(s) 9-11 Uses Great in landscapes and containers Features This vigorous Dark Red flowered geranium is an excellent landscape performer. An excellent large geranium sure to give bright color all summer long, very heat tolerant.
Colorblaze 'Sedona' Coleus Growing Tips Many people feel that coleus look best before they flower. We have worked hard to choose coleus that bloom late in the season or not at all. To keep foliage in top shape, pinch off the blooms as they appear if you wish. Rules of Thumb for Overwintering Plants Indoors: 1. Choose only healthy plants 2. Bring Plants indoors before frost damages foliage 3. Treat for disease and insects before bringing plants indoors 4. Place in bright areas and add humidity using pebble trays or spray bottles 5. Be careful not to over water 6 When active growth starts in spring fertilize and prune as needed 7. Introduce your plants slowly to outdoor conditions in spring An application of fertilizer or compost on garden beds and regular fertilization of plants in pots will help ensure the best possible performance. Exposure Part Shade to Shade Height 18-24" Spacing 12-18" Hardy Temp 35°F Zone(s) 10-11 Uses Use in beds, containers and combinations Features Lobed, rounded leaves with a unique rusty orange color; named after the Sedona Mountains	Luscious Citrus Blend Lantana How do you feel about large families? Our motto is “Frost alone can halt our prodigious production of petal-packed posies.” Where Lantana's really go to town is during hot weather. The hotter it gets, the more flowers we pop out. Especially the Luscious variety. Even my colors are hot. These brilliant Tabasco red, flaming orange, and fire ball yellow flowers will turn that boring bed or container into a trip to Cancun during Spring Break. Heat and drought tolerant, of course, but also fragrant, annual except in zones 9 – 11, 24 - 36 inches tall. Want to hang out with the birds, bees and butterflies? Plant me, and you may end up turning that spare bedroom into an aviary slash hive slash butterfly house. "A Real Simple magazine – Top 10 goof-proof Plant" Growing Tips If you are looking for a tough plant it’s hard to beat lantana. Lantana are heat tolerant, use little to no supplemental water in the landscape, will tolerate less than ideal soils and usually don’t need to be deadheaded. If you are looking for a plant that will thrive on neglect, lantana is the champ. Lantana come in many shapes, sizes and habits. Check size and habit information for the specific variety you are choosing to make sure it fits your needs. Lantana can be trimmed back at anytime to shape or to promote increased branching. Lantana seed set varies considerably. If you see a lot of berries developing you may want to deadhead the plants to help with continuous blooming. If there is low berry set, deadheading shouldn't be necessary for continuous bloom. Some varieties are self-cleaning. An application of fertilizer or compost on garden beds and regular fertilization of plants in pots will help ensure the best possible performance. Exposure Sun Height 0-0" Spacing 20-30" Hardy Temp 25°F Uses Great in landscapes and containers	Superbells Dreamsicle Calibrachoa Woo-hoo! There is nothing more super than Superbells. If there was a word that meant extra, extra super it still wouldn’t be as super as we are. Calibrachoas are a new type of plants that sort of look like little Petunias, which makes sense seeing as we’re related. Only Superbells aren’t sticky, perk right back up after it rains, and stay compact and bushy even when we’re stressed. Superbells are Proven Winners’ newest Calibrachoas. We’re the ones covered with hundreds of flowers from early spring all the way through those first light frosts. Just 6 - 10 inches tall, our long, long, trailing branches cascade over the sides of hanging baskets and other containers, and spread over flower beds. Hummingbirds are cuckoo about us. Vigor, heat tolerance and resistance to disease are traits we all share. So is being an annual except in zones 9 - 11. You don’t have to deadhead old flowers or pinch back stems. Water only when the top of the soil feels dry. Too much water makes our roots rot (Ick). Full sun. Fertilize once a month. How extra double super easy is that? "A Real Simple magazine – Top 10 goof-proof Plant"	Zahara Fire Zinnia Growing Tips Deadheading will encourage continuous blooming. Exposure Sun Height 0-0" Spacing 8-10" Hardy Temp 40°F Uses Great in beds, along walkways, and on patios.
Twist and Twirl Coleus Growing Tips Many people feel that coleus look best before they flower. To keep foliage in top shape, pinch off the blooms as they appear if you wish. Rules of Thumb for Overwintering Plants Indoors: 1. Choose only healthy plants 2. Bring Plants indoors before frost damages foliage 3. Treat for disease and insects before bringing plants indoors 4. Place in bright areas and add humidity using pebble trays or spray bottles 5. Be careful not to over water 6 When active growth starts in spring fertilize and prune as needed 7. Introduce your plants slowly to outdoor conditions in spring Twist and Twirl is a wonderful Coleus that develops bright colors as the summer progresses. It is best in full sun, where the colors will include bright yellows, reds and maroons as well as the background of greens. In the shade or filtered sun, you will have a preponderance of greens, some yellows, and a dapple of red (obviously sun is better than shade.) I would limit the amount of fertilizer given to it, especially if it is not in a bright spot, because the nitrogen in the fertilizer blend will only make the greens richer. This coleus was developed in Florida and can really tolerate hot days and bright light. Exposure Part Sun to Sun Height 24-30" Spacing 12-14" Hardy Temp 35°F Zone(s) 10 Uses Use in mixed containers, landscape borders or beds Features Wild twists and twirls of red, yellow, green and purple splash the foliage of this sun-loving coleus	Supertunia 'Citrus' Growing Tips Self-cleaning, no deadheading necessary. This isn't necessarily true of all petunias. Late July and August is when plants should be at their best, but there is only one problem: The plants have run out of energy and the gardeners realize it too late to help the plants recover. This is especially true in raised containers and hanging baskets. Here is the best way to keep your Petunias in the Super category. 1. When you buy them in the spring, buy a slow release fertilizer to top dress the basket or container. If you plant your own basket, incorporate some of the slow release fertilizer in the soil as you plant. Follow the package directions. 2. In May fertilize with a water-soluble fertilizer once every two weeks. Mix up the fertilizer and water the plants just like you would if you were using clear water. It normally takes a good half of gallon of water To really water a 10" wide basket or raised container. 3. In June as the weather starts to get warm to hot, fertilize weekly, again with a good soaking. If the weather turns really hot as it sometimes does in Late June you may need to fertilize every third watering. By now the Supertunia is really growing and starting to tumble down from the basket or fill out across the flowerbed. 4. July is when the cutting back occurs. Around the 4th of July, (after your big party) get some of the slow release fertilizer that you bought in spring and re-apply across the top of the planter. At the same time, trim back some of the longer branches just enough to bring the plant back in line with the bottom of the pot or basket. Don't remove too much at the maximum cut back 20% of the branches or 1 in five shoots. You can also just give it a general light trim. Your plant will be out of flower for a few days, but will come back stronger than ever. By now with July's heat you should be watering at least every other day and begin to fertilize every other watering. I know it sounds like a lot, but if you want a plant to grow like an elephant and be the most it can be, you got to feed it like an elephant! 5. August is, hot, humid, & sometimes with monsoons. Keep up the water and fertilizing, and again, if the plant starts to look straggly remove a few more branches but never more than 20% or give it a general trim as before. 6. It is September and the plants should still look good, start to back off the watering and the feed, but shape the basket with the last pruning of the season. I know it sounds like a lot of work, but it really is a labor of love. I fertilize my baskets and my garden every time I water, and I water daily from mid July through August. I recently invested in the WaterWise irrigation system and let me tell you it really works. You will find that your Supertunias, along with all the rest of your plants will keep looking fantastic through September and perhaps with the luck of a gardener and a late frost maybe even into October. Exposure Sun Height 6-10" Spacing 8-12" Hardy Temp 30°F Zone(s) 10-11 Uses Use in hanging baskets, window boxes, landscaping and combination planters.	Bandana 'Lemon Zest' Lantana Growing Tips If you are looking for a tough plant it’s hard to beat lantana. Lantana are heat tolerant, use little to no supplemental water in the landscape, will tolerate less than ideal soils and usually don’t need to be deadheaded. If you are looking for a plant that will thrive on neglect, lantana is the champ. Lantana come in many shapes, sizes and habits. Check size and habit information for the specific variety you are choosing to make sure it fits your needs. Lantana can be trimmed back at anytime to shape or to promote increased branching. In many parts of the US and Canada lantana function as an annual. In reality they are a tender perennial, in warm winter climates they become flowering shrubs. If you live in an area where Lantana is perennial they are essentially trouble free, they can be pruned at any time of year and usually benefit with a harder shape-up pruning in early spring after last frost date. Midsummer fertilization can help overcome any slow down in growth during the dog days of summer and help bring even more flowers. According to the Humane Society of America Lantana leaves can be toxic to pets. This means that the plants are generally identified as having the capability for producing a toxic reaction. Lantana seed set varies considerably. If you see a lot of berries developing you may want to deadhead the plants to help with continuous blooming. If there is low berry set, deadheading shouldn't be necessary for continuous bloom. Some varieties are self-cleaning. An application of fertilizer or compost on garden beds and regular fertilization of plants in pots will help ensure the best possible performance. Exposure Sun Height 4-6" Spacing 20-30" Hardy Temp 25°F Uses Great in landscapes and containers.	Superbells Saffron Calibrachoa Exposure Sun Height 7-10" Spacing 8-10" Hardy Temp 30°F Zone(s) 9-11 Uses Calibrachoa do not like to have constantly damp soil. They will do well in the ground only with good drainage. For most gardeners containers are the best use for Calibrachoa. Features Abundant, small petunia-like flowers all season on cascading growth; low maintenance.
GoldDust Mecardonia Growing Tips Self-cleaning, no deadheading necessary. Exposure Sun Height 2-5" Spacing 12-16" Hardy Temp 25°F Zone(s) 9-11 Uses Great in landscapes and containers. Features Small green leaves are covered with yellow nemesia-like flowers from May through October, excellent heat tolerance	Sunbini Sanvitalia Growing Tips Deadheading not necessary for continuous bloom. Plants will "bury their dead" (new flowers will quickly cover old flowers) so no deadheading necessary. An application of fertilizer or compost on garden beds and regular fertilization of plants in pots will help ensure the best possible performance. Exposure Sun Height 6-10" Spacing 12-14" Hardy Temp 30°F Zone(s) 10 Uses Use in hanging baskets, combinations, window boxes and landscapes Features Petite, bright yellow flowers on extremely heat-tolerant plants; low maintenance	Sunsatia Lemon Nemesia Growing Tips Self-cleaning, no deadheading necessary. Sunsatia do not like to have wet feet so be sure to plant them in places with good drainage. For most people planting them in containers will be easier than planting in the ground. However, if you do have excellent drainage in your ground beds, for instance if you use raised beds, they will also flourish in the ground. Plants may be trimmed back with a sharp pair of scissors or pruning shears at anytime, although this is not usually necessary. Plants may flush out of flower if night temperatures begin to stay in the upper 70’s or above. If this happens a light trim to shape them would be good. The trim will increase branching and will result in more flowers once the temperatures fall and the plants begin flowering again. A yearly application of fertilizer or compost on garden beds and regular fertilization of plants in pots will help ensure the best possible performance. Exposure Part Sun to Sun Height 6-10" Spacing 8-12" Hardy Temp 30°F Zone(s) 10-11 Uses Plant alone or in combinations in all container types. Features Breeding is what makes this German breakthrough like nothing else on the market. The colors range from glowing bright hues to the softest pastels. Sunsatia™ holds its own in both cool and hot temperatures, and is outstanding in hanging baskets, combos, and window boxes.	Lemon Licorice Do a little, get a lot. Licorice plants are exceptionally easy to grow. They don¹t need much in the way of fertilizers. Avoid over-watering. Restrained grower with velvety-soft foliage. Pale chartreuse. Exposure Part Sun to Sun Height 8-12" Spacing 18-20" Hardy Temp 25°F Zone(s) 9-10 Uses Use in hanging baskets, beds, borders and window boxes Features Bright green velvety foliage
Sweet Caroline Light Green Ipomoea Growing Tips Ipomoeas are great additions to combination planters, but they can sometimes overwhelm less vigorous plants. If you are like me you can let your combination plants duke it out Darwinian style, however, if you prefer to keep a more balanced look to your combination planters, you can cut back or remove stems at any time. Ipomoeas also make great annual groundcovers in the landscape. In fall before first frost, dig, dry and store tubers in a dry medium (vermiculite or peat) in a cool dry corner of the basement. When tubers sprout in spring, cut them into sections (at least one eye per section) and plant the sections outdoors after last frost date. Tubers can also be sunk ½ way into a large-mouthed glass jar of water in early spring to generate sprouts that can be removed and planted. Container plants and or rooted cuttings taken in late summer may be overwintered indoors in bright sunny locations. Potatoes formed by ornamental sweet potato vines are edible but are not as flavorful as those selected as a food crop. An application of fertilizer or compost on garden beds and regular fertilization of plants in pots will help ensure the best possible performance. Exposure Part Sun to Sun Height 6-8" Spacing 10-12" Hardy Temp 35°F Zone(s) 10-12 Uses Mixed containers, window boxes and hanging baskets Features Great foliage component plant in combinations; excellent heat tolerance and vigor	Whirlwind Purple Scaevola Growing Tips Self-cleaning, deadheading not necessary. An application of fertilizer or compost on garden beds and regular fertilization of plants in pots will help ensure the best possible performance. Exposure Sun Height 8-12" Spacing 10-14" Hardy Temp 30°F Zone(s) 10 Uses Plant alone or in combinations in all container types and landscapes Features Heat and drought tolerant plants; blooms all season; low maintenance	Sweet Caroline Bronze Exposure Part Sun to Sun Height 6-8" Spacing 10-12" Hardy Temp 35°F Zone(s) 10-12 Uses Mixed containers, window boxes and hanging baskets Features Great foliage component plant in combinations; excellent heat tolerance and vigor	Sweet Caroline 'Sweetheart Purple' Exposure Part Sun to Sun Height 6-8" Spacing 10-12" Hardy Temp 35°F Zone(s) 10-12 Uses Mixed containers, window boxes and hanging baskets Features Great foliage component plant in combinations; excellent heat tolerance and vigor
Illusion Midnight Lace Ipomoea Exposure Part Sun to Sun Height 6-10" Spacing 10-12" Hardy Temp 35°F Zone(s) 10-11 Uses Great in combinations, window boxes, hanging baskets and landscapes. Features A great foliage component plant in combinations, excellent heat tolerance and good vigor. Great also as an annual ground cover.	Supertunia 'Royal Velvet' Growing Tips Self-cleaning no deadheading necessary, this is not necessarily true of all Petunias. Late July and August is when plants should be at their best, but there is only one problem: The plants have run out of energy and the gardeners realize it too late to help the plants recover. This is especially true in raised containers and hanging baskets. Here is the best way to keep your Petunias in the Super category. 1. When you buy them in the spring, buy a slow release fertilizer to top dress the basket or container. If you plant your own basket, incorporate some of the slow release fertilizer in the soil as you plant. Follow the package directions. 2. In May fertilize with a water-soluble fertilizer once every two weeks. Mix up the fertilizer and water the plants just like you would if you were using clear water. It normally takes a good half of gallon of water To really water a 10" wide basket or raised container. 3. In June as the weather starts to get warm to hot, fertilize weekly, again with a good soaking. If the weather turns really hot as it sometimes does in Late June you may need to fertilize every third watering. By now the Supertunia is really growing and starting to tumble down from the basket or fill out across the flowerbed. 4. July is when the cutting back occurs. Around the 4th of July, (after your big party) get some of the slow release fertilizer that you bought in spring and re-apply across the top of the planter. At the same time, trim back some of the longer branches just enough to bring the plant back in line with the bottom of the pot or basket. Don't remove too much at the maximum cut back 20% of the branches or 1 in five shoots. You can also just give it a general light trim. Your plant will be out of flower for a few days, but will come back stronger than ever. By now with July's heat you should be watering at least every other day and begin to fertilize every other watering. I know it sounds like a lot, but if you want a plant to grow like an elephant and be the most it can be, you got to feed it like an elephant! 5. August is, hot, humid, & sometimes with monsoons. Keep up the water and fertilizing, and again, if the plant starts to look straggly remove a few more branches but never more than 20% or give it a general trim as before. 6. It is September and the plants should still look good, start to back off the watering and the feed, but shape the basket with the last pruning of the season. I know it sounds like a lot of work, but it really is a labor of love. I fertilize my baskets and my garden every time I water, and I water daily from mid July through August. I recently invested in the WaterWise irrigation system and let me tell you it really works. You will find that your Supertunias, along with all the rest of your plants will keep looking fantastic through September and perhaps with the luck of a gardener and a late frost maybe even into October. Exposure Sun Height 6-10" Spacing 8-12" Hardy Temp 30°F Zone(s) 10 Uses Use in hanging baskets, window boxes, landscaping and combination planters Features Vigorous; flowers all season; fertilize often; low maintenance	Lanai Upright Purple Mosaic Verbena Exposure Sun Height 12-16" Spacing 8-12" Hardy Temp 25°F Zone(s) 10-11 Uses Great in landscapes and containers	Lanai Blue Verbena Exposure Sun Height 4-6" Spacing 12-18" Hardy Temp 30°F Zone(s) 10-11 Uses Great in both landscapes and containers.
Colorblaze 'Dark Star' Coleus Growing Tips Many people feel that coleus look best before they flower. We have worked hard to choose coleus that bloom late in the season or not at all. To keep foliage in top shape, pinch off the blooms as they appear if you wish. Rules of Thumb for Overwintering Plants Indoors: 1. Choose only healthy plants 2. Bring Plants indoors before frost damages foliage 3. Treat for disease and insects before bringing plants indoors 4. Place in bright areas and add humidity using pebble trays or spray bottles 5. Be careful not to over water 6 When active growth starts in spring fertilize and prune as needed 7. Introduce your plants slowly to outdoor conditions in spring An application of fertilizer or compost on garden beds and regular fertilization of plants in pots will help ensure the best possible performance. Exposure Sun or Shade Height 12-24" Spacing 12-16" Hardy Temp 35°F Zone(s) 10-11 Uses Use in beds, borders and containers Features Stunning, dark purple foliage all summer.	Senorita Rosalita Cleome Growing Tips Unlike other cleome Senorita Rosalita will not self seed, doesn’t get bare knees, she isn’t sticky and the doesn’t have thorns. Her flowers are smaller than classic cleome, but she flowers all over the plant not just at the top. Since she doesn’t self seed you don’t have to worry about cleome seedlings trying to take over your garden. She is great for adding height to garden beds and had dark green foliage. Deadheading isn’t necessary. Exposure Sun Height 24-48" Spacing 20-24" Hardy Temp 32°F Zone(s) 8-11 Uses Use in landscape beds for height or in large planters Features This heat and drought tolerant plant adds dramatic height to landscape beds; sterile flowers, and thornless, non-sticky, odorless foliage adds to the appeal for this great garden performer. Cleomes (spider flowers) have been around for a long time. But there was talk. Thorns. Sticky leaves and stems. There were even Cleomes, some whispered, that smelled like s-k-u-n-k. Unless they were deadheaded, the varieties with seed pods looked sad. For others if the temperature rose above 100 degrees there were no more flowers and the bottom leaves, they shriveled and fell off. Now I, Senorita Rosalita have restored Cleome’s reputation. The magnificent dark leaves on my 3-5 feet tall upright branches are topped by clusters of bright, lavender pink flowers. And they bloom with abandon from late spring through fall. I scoff at heat, and renounce all thorns and sticky substances. Deadheading is no more. All I ask is that you plant me in full sun in a place where water drains freely through the soil. Grow me, and should you ever smell a certain aroma, at least you will know it is not I that am the source.	Supertunia 'Vista Bubblegum' What’s the difference between a Supertunia Vista Bubblegum and any other Supertunia? You can see my bubbles from a l-o-o-o-n-g way off. Vista, a distant view or prospect. Bubbles, bubblegum. Never mind. A Supertunia Vista is a Petunia. As in we’re way vigorous and have a mounding/cascading habit. So in a garden bed, border, or landscape feature we grow 16 – 24 inches tall, and spread w-a-a-y out. As much as 2 feet. You want to fill an area with wall-to-wall medium pink flowers all season? I’m your plant. Hanging baskets, window boxes, patio containers, same story. You know what else is totally wicked? I’m disease resistant, self-cleaning, and have sturdy stems so I always look good. I’m an annual except in zones 10 – 11. Full sun, water and a good fertilizer will keep me in the pink until frost.	Superbells Cherry Blossom Calibrachoa Exposure Sun Height 7-10" Spacing 8-10" Hardy Temp 30°F Zone(s) 9-11 Uses Calibrachoa do not like to have constantly damp soil. They will do well in the ground only with good drainage. For most gardeners containers are the best use for Calibrachoa. Features Abundant, small petunia-like flowers all season on cascading growth; low maintenance.
Supertunia 'Vista Silverberry' Exposure Sun Height 16-24" Spacing 18-24" Hardy Temp 30°F Zone(s) 10-11 Uses Use in large combinations, containers and landscapes. Features Vigorous, mounding plants are perfect landscape fillers, blooms all season, low maintenance.	Daredevil Rosita Geranium Growing Tips Deadheading is necessary for continued blooming. A yearly application of fertilizer or compost on garden beds and regular fertilization of plants in pots will help ensure the best possible performance. There are couple ways to keep your geraniums through the winter, let's see what works best for you. 1. If you have a sun room or other VERY sunny window you can cut your geraniums back and bring them indoors to keep them through the winter. The window should have the brightest light, otherwise the plants will slowly decline from a lack of sun. 2. Another old trick is let you geraniums get very dry and then un-pot them and wash all the soil off the roots and allow them to dry down again, so they will be wilted but very dry. You can then dust the roots with a sulfur powder (acts to prevent fungus) and store them in brown paper bags in a cellar or other dry location. They will go dormant and in most cases survive just off the water in the plant when you store them. In either case, next spring when you plant them and move them outside, you'll need to move them into the shade first so they can get readjusted to full sun, otherwise they may burn if you put them in full sun right away. If either of these methods seems like too much work then just let them go down for the winter and buy new ones next year. New plants will usually start off with more vigor and get blooming faster than plants saved from the past year. Exposure Sun Height 18-24" Spacing 10-14" Hardy Temp 28°F Zone(s) 9-11 Uses Great in landscapes and containers Features This vigorous geranium sports Dark Rose flowers highlighted by a white eye is an excellent landscape performer. An excellent large geranium sure to give bright color all summer long, very heat tolerant.	Supertunia 'Raspberry Blast' Depending on your location Supertunias offer color from winter through summer. Most petunias quickly give out in the heat but the Supertunia line is bred for heat tolerance. In the deep south, it is always best to plant petunias in winter and not wait for spring, this gives them time to get established and grow huge for a big spring display. If you wait until spring to plant Petunias, in general, don't have enough time to really get going before the heat and rains of summer take their toll. Supertunia Raspberry Blast - This new, breakthrough color in Petunias with pink blooms edged in deep cerise violet will make you say 'Wow'. Its trailing habit and low maintenance makes it a winner for both baskets and beds. Supertunias love the cool nights and provide color through the summer, except in the deep south where humidity and high night temperatures take their toll on petunias. Supertunia Raspberry Blast is one of Dr. Rick Schoellhorn's top 10 favorites for Florida.	Supertunia Sangria Charm Exposure Sun Height 8-12" Spacing 10-14" Hardy Temp 30°F Zone(s) 10-11 Uses Great in both landscapes and containers.
Tukana Raspberry Verbena Growing Tips Self-cleaning, no deadheading necessary. While always great in containers they are also fantastic in landscape beds. They can tolerate dry soils and lower fertility. Normally either an application of slow release fertilizer or amending with compost is enough to keep them happy and blooming in landscape beds. They shouldn’t need to be trimmed back but can be given a “haircut” – a trim back – using a sharp pair of scissors or pruning shears at any time. While naturally well branched, trimming them back will encourage additional branching, fuller plants, and ultimately more flowers. I usually give them a very slight trim as I am transplanting to boost branching. A yearly application of fertilizer or compost on garden beds and regular fertilization of plants in pots will help ensure the best possible performance. Exposure Sun Height 4-8" Spacing 8-12" Hardy Temp 15°F Zone(s) 8-11 Uses Use in hanging baskets, window boxes, landscaping and combination planters Features Large raspberry flowers throughout the season; excellent in combination	Dragonwing Pink Begonia (Angelwing) Exposure Part Sun to Sun Height 14-18" Spacing 15-18" Hardy Temp 30°F Zone(s) 9-11 Uses Use in patio containers, hanging baskets and beds Features Vigorous and heat tolerant with abundant flowers all summer; great plant to fill open shady spaces	Daredevil Salmon Geranium Exposure Sun Height 18-24" Spacing 10-14" Hardy Temp 28°F Zone(s) 9-11 Uses Great in landscapes or containers Features This vigorous Salmon flowered geranium is an excellent landscape performer. An excellent large geranium sure to give bright color all summer long, very heat tolerant.