“Profusion Red’ zinnia (Photo from AAS)

Geranium ‘Calliope Medium Dark Red’ (photo from AAS)

All American Selection (AAS) has named six Ornamental winners for 2017. Some include some new color breakthough in the series that you already know as well as some newbies.

Dianthus ‘Supra Pink’ (Hem Genetics) is an easy-to-grow interspecific dianthus for three-seasons (spring, summer, fall) of garden color. Its mottled, frilly pink flowers stand up to summer’s heat and drought. This vigorous, compact growing cultivar grows barely a foot tall covered with fancy, clear pink flowers. Also try sister cultivar ‘Supra Purple’, a 2006 AAS Winner.

Geranium ‘Calliope Medium Dark Red’ (Syngenta Flowers) has a deep red velvety flower color and great branching habit. All the Calliope® series of geraniums have been top garden performers. This interspecific hybrid has zonal-type flowers and leaves. It displays a mounded, semi-spreading growth habit and strong stems to support the showy flower heads loaded with deep red blossoms. It looks great in containers, hanging baskets and in-ground landscape and handles heat and drought conditions better than most annual geraniums (Pelagonium).

Penstemon ‘Twizzle Purple’ (Van Hemert & Co) is a hardy perennial (Zones 5 to 8) that exhibits vibrant purple blooms, a new and unique color in penstemons. Plant has an upright plant habit and superb flower numbers. The 1-inch tubular flowers form on long slender stalks that stand up to nearly 3 feet in height and are favorites for pollinators from mid- to late summer. Utilize this North American native in combination planters or in landscapes.

Verbena EnduraScape ‘Pink Bicolor’ (Ball FloraPlant) is the first verbena that can tolerate drought and heat plus survive temperatures down to the low teens. This long-blooming pink bicolor verbena is spectacular in a sunny garden, edging a walk or border or grown in large containers and hanging baskets. Vigorous plants spread with abundant soft pink blossoms with darker pink centers. Pink Bicolor is the newest color in the EnduraScape® series.

Vinca ‘Mega Bloom’ is an exciting new series of disease resistant vincas that are withstand summer heat and humidity. Orchid Halo produces huge bright rich purple blossoms with a wide white eye. Plants maintain a nice, dense habit with flowers standing prominently above the dark green shiny foliage. Note: annual vincas (Catharanthus roseus) are frequently called “periwinkles”.

Zinnia ‘Profusion Red’ (Sakata Seed) represents a breakthrough true red zinnia and a favorite of pollinators. The Profusion® series are recognized for their compact form, disease resistance, plus early and continuous blooms all season long. Its vibrant true red color won’t fade in the intense summer sun and heat.