2017 Costa Farms Trial Garden Top Plants

2017

Top Plants Costa Farms Trial Garden

Every year, we test more than 1,000 varieties of annuals and perennials in our Miami, Florida, Trial Garden. We look for the best new selections from plant breeders from around the world.

Most of the 500+ plants in the Season Premier Garden were grown in 6-inch pots prior to transplant and started from seed or unrooted cuttings. They were transplanted into the Trial Garden between December 13, 2016, and January 9, 2017.

The majority of the 500+ varieties in the Ultimate Plant Showdown Garden were also grown primarily in 6-inch pots and started as seed or unrooted cuttings. They were transplanted into the Trial Garden between June 26, 2017, and July 14, 2017.

A timed-release fertilizer was incorporated into the soil at planting time, and a fertilizer/fungicide drench was applied after planting.

To be considered a top performer, a variety needed to show an abundance of bloom (if applicable), excellent uniformity across the variety, clean foliage and good disease resistance, little to no

pest damage, and a pleasing habit that will look good for home gardeners.

The evaluation period for Season Premier was from January 25, 2017 to May 10, 2017 and from July 14, 2017 to August 31, 2017 for the Ultimate Plant Showdown Garden.

Because home gardeners have different goals in mind for their plants, we’ve divided this report into plants for six different objectives: • To create a comfortable outdoor space • To enjoy an easy-care outdoor space • To design an outdoor space that has a magical quality • To establish an outdoor space that attracts pollinators • To show off outdoor space to friends and neighbors • To craft a space that’s super cute and adorable

Plants for a Comfy Space

Comfy Plants

One of the big decor trends for 2017 was hygge—the Danish sense of being cozy. The concept is so popular, it made Pinterest’s Top 100 list and Pinterest saw a 285 percent growth in searches.

Lavandula Aromatico Blue Calibrachoa Superbells Coralina, Tropical Sunrise Delightfully impressive in our Season Premier garden, these two selections formed pillow-like mounds covered in bloom. Presented by Proven Winners.

This has it all: fabulous fragrance, drought resistance, and a look everyone loves. The scent is so relaxing that it’s perfect for a comfy space. Presented by Syngenta Flowers

Coleus Great Falls Sutherland Excelling in both sun and shade, this coleus offers a semi-trailing habit and green foliage accented with rich burgundy-purple centers. Presented by Dummen Orange

Heuchera Red Sea A textural mound of color, Red Sea heuchera has a soft look that works in just about any landscape style. It was a standout in our Season Premier garden. Presented by Pioneer Gardens

Sweet Potato Vine Sidekick Blackheart Creating a carpet of color in our Ultimate Plant Showdown garden, this variety is a first-rate choice for both containers and landscape beds and borders. Presented by Syngenta Flowers

Pentas Falling Star Red, Rose This duo of trailing pentas are perfect for adding a soft look to hanging baskets or as groundcovers. They shined brightly in our Season Premier garden.

Presented by Syngenta Flowers

Impatiens SunStanding Purple Producing so many flowers it looked like a purple cloud in our Season Premier garden, this selection is an ideal solution for gardeners looking for big, bold color.

Presented by Dummen Orange

Petunia Supertunia Vista Fuchsia An eye-catching mass of color in our Season Premier garden, this petunia thrives in landscapes, garden beds and borders, as well as containers. Presented by Proven Winners

Begonia Solenia Scarlet, Yellow This pair of pretty begonias offered ultracharming double flowers that everyone loved in our Season Premier garden.

Presented by Beekenkamp

Vinca Solar Avalanche Rose, Red Disease resistant and colorful, these two annual vinca varieties imbue outdoor spaces with a ton of outdoor color and create a soft, soothing look. Presented by HEM Genetics

Plants for an Easy-Care Space

Easy Plants

Who doesn’t want a beautiful, lowmaintenance space? Consumer research, from our own Costa Farms studies to the 2017 Houzz Landscape and Garden Trends Study show that being easy-care is the most desirable quality in a plant.

Angelonia Alonia Bicolor Violet Elegant and beautiful, this drought-tolerant, deer- and rabbit-resistant annual was a practically plant-it-and-forget it variety in our Season Premier garden. Presented by Danziger

Coleus Flame Thrower Salsa Verde, Chili Pepper Excellent in sun or shade, coleus is so easy all you have to do is water it. Best of all, it stays colorful all season—even in our Ultimate Plant Showdown garden. Presented by Ball FloraPlant

Cuphea FloriGlory Diana, Maria, Selena, Sofia Big on flower power, this quartet of Mexican heather varieties is big on performance and low on maintenance.

Presented by Westflowers

Heuchera Magma A standout in both our Season Premier and Ultimate Plant Showdown gardens, this carefree heuchera stays looking good all season long. Presented by Pioneer Gardens

Sweet Potato Vine Flora Mia Limon, Rosso Displaying fantastic foliage, these two varieties didn’t mind the heat of our Ultimate Plant Showdown garden—and required no special care to look fabulous.

Presented by Dummen Orange

Marigold Endurance Orange Marigolds offer a sense of nostalgia and a solid reputation for being easy care. Endurance Orange was no different in our Season Premier garden. Presented by Floranova

Lantana Bandana Red, Rose, Yellow Lantana is a tried-and-true summer favorite for gardeners everywhere because it’s so easy.

These three varieties did not disappoint in our Ultimate Plant Showdown garden. Presented by Syngenta Flowers

Pentas Northern Lights Lavender One of the best plants for beginners in our Ultimate Plant Showdown garden, this pentas blooms nonstop, doesn’t suffer from attack by pests or disease, and tolerates drought. Presented by Benary

Scaevola Scampi Blue A charming addition to our Ultimate Plant Showdown garden, this scaevola bloomed constantly without a lot of care. Presented by Greenfuse

Vinca Cora Cascade Violet, White Holding up to heat and drought, these two vinca varieties were shining stars all summer long in our Ultimate Plant Showdown garden. Presented by Syngenta Flowers

Magical Plants

Plants for a Magical Space Starbucks helped show us we need a little more magic in our lives with the popularity of their Unicorn Frappuccino. Happily, plants can bring that same sense of wonder and whimsy to our outdoor spaces.

Armeria Dreameria Mauve Bearing big blooms held on stout stems, this charming little perennial had a distinctly fascinating quality in our Season Premier garden. Presented by Darwin Plants

Gomphrena Ping Pong Purple Gomphrena’s long-lasting globe-like flowers always seem to capture attention. It was certainly a standout in our Ultimate Plant Showdown garden! Presented by Sakata

Lantana Luscious Royal Cosmo Bearing a delightful color combination on its ever-changing blooms, this variety was a favorite in the Ultimate Plant Showdown garden. Presented by Proven Winners

Catharanthus SoirĂŠe Pink Peppermint Giving annual vinca a new look, the masses of tiny flowers almost seemed to twinkle in our Season Premier garden. Presented by EuroAmerican

Petunia ColorRush Pink Showing off outstanding landscape performance, this petunia captivated us with its gorgeous color throughout the Season Premier garden. Presented by Ball FloraPlant

Salvia #22 Showing off stalks of blue-purple flowers loved by butterflies and hummingbirds, this salvia is an enchanting addition to any outdoor space. Presented by PlantHaven

Gerbera Garvinea Sweet Glow, Smile, Spice Standouts in both our Season Premier and Ultimate Plant Showdown gardens, these plants imbue charm and a sense of happiness to outdoor spaces.

Presented by Florist

Verbena Vivid Swirl White/Lavender A delight in our Season Premier garden, it showed off fun flowers and a great spreading shape. Presented by Greenfuse

NatureFriendly Plants

Plants for a Nature-Friendly Space We’ve seen growing interest in attracting bees, butterflies, and other pollinators to the garden. That sense of appealing to nature is growing with consumers thinking about providing habitat, too.

Canna Toucan Coral

Calendula Caleo Orange

A bold and dramatic plant that attracts hummingbirds, this variety excelled in our Season Premier garden. Presented by Proven Winners

Like most plants with daisy-shaped flowers, this calendula proved popular with pollinators in our Season Premier garden. Presented by Syngenta Flowers

Coreopsis Sun Swirl Sun Swirl’s steady supply of golden-yellow flowers delighted both us and pollinators in our Season Premier Garden. Presented by Dummen Orange

Gaillardia Barbican Yellow Red Ring It’s heat and drought tolerant, long flowering, and easy to grow. Plus, bees and butterflies loved it in our Season Premier garden. You’re sure to adore it, too. Presented by Syngenta Flowers

Lantana Landscape Bandana Gold, Pink This charming pair of easy-care lantanas stood out in our Ultimate Plant Showdown garden for their strong growth and profusion of blooms. Presented by Syngenta Flowers

Marigold Cheerleader Gold Though they have a reputation for deterring deer and rabbits, marigolds are great for attracting pollinators. This was a standout variety in our Season Premier garden.

Presented by Floranova

Salvia Bordeaux Compact Sky Blue This easy-care, no-fuss perennial salvia is the perfect plant to ring in spring—and feed early-season butterflies and hummingbirds.

It was a winner in our Season Premier garden. Presented by Syngenta Flowers

Verbena Empress Sun Red We don’t often think of verbena as being big attractors of pollinators, but the rich red clusters of this variety invite butterflies and hummingbirds alike. Presented by Dummen Orange

Salvia Bodacious Rhythm and Blues Hummingbirds head straight to this plant every day, though its nectarrich blooms attract bees and butterflies, too.

Plus, its rich color looks good with a wide range of other plants, making it easy to incorporate in containers or landscapes.

It was a standout in both our Season Premier and Ultimate Plant showdown gardens. Presented by PlantHaven

Plants to Show Off with

Feature Plants

Every plant has its place­—and some are front and center where they get all the attention. These varieties are highlights in garden beds, borders, and containers—and perfect for showing off on social media.

Carex Feather Falls

Alternanthera Purple Prince

Excellent in sun or shade, it’s versatile enough for any landscape. It features variegated leaves and was a standout in both our Season Premier and Ultimate Plant Showdown gardens.

Presented by Pacific Plug and Liner

A standout for its rich purple foliage, Purple Prince looks good on its own or harmonizing with other plants. It excelled in our Season Premier garden. Presented by PanAmerican Seed

Geranium Moxie Pink, Moxie Scarlet, Calliope M-Deep Rose, L-Salmon These four geraniums were shining stars in our Season Premier garden for their big, bold blooms. Presented by Syngenta Flowers

Colocasia Royal Hawaiian Black Coral, Hawaiian Punch, Maui Gold You couldn’t help but notice these three colocasia in our Ultimate Plant Showdown garden, with huge leaves, outrageous texture, and bold color. They’re ideal for sun or shade.

Presented by PlantHaven

Heuchera Forever Purple Offering delightfully purple leaves, this tidy little heuchera has a metallic look that attracts attention. It was a top pick from our Season Premier garden. Presented by Terra Nova Nurseries

Impatiens SunPatiens Compact Orchid, Exp. Compact Purple, Compact White Imp. We’re used to seeing SunPatiens show up in our top performer reports. These three offered high-impact color and excellent reliability in our Season Premier garden. Presented by Sakata

Sweet Potato Vine Solar Power Red A unique and eye-catching variety, this sweet potato vine did better than most in our Ultimate Plant Showdown garden, keeping its color throughout the heat and rain. Presented by Ball FloraPlant

Sweet Potato Vine Solar Tower Black, Lime Scrambling up trellises in our Ultimate Plant Showdown garden, this pair of sweet potato vines look great and performed like winners.

Presented by Ball FloraPlant

Lantana Lucky Red, Sunrise Rose Big on color, these two outstanding lantana varieties were highlights of our Ultimate Plant Showdown garden. They held up well to weather, bloomed nonstop, and stayed nice and tidy. Presented by Ball FloraPlant

Coleus Maharaja A stunning coleus that stood out in from the crowd in our Ultimate Plant Showdown garden, it boasts the big, bold color everyone loves. It’s stunning in mass plantings or combined with other summer annuals. Presented by Terra Nova Nurseries

SuperCute Plants

Plants for a Super-Cute Space Many gardeners and decorators, especially those in Generation Y and Z, want visually appealing spaces that have an endearing or adorable quality. These plants offer that look in spades.

Eucalyptus Silverdrop

Begonia Evi Carmen, Chloe, Claire

Who doesn’t love eucalyptus’ silvery foliage (and easy-care nature)? This plant adds tons of texture—and goes with everything. It was one of the best of the best in our Ultimate Plant Showdown garden. Presented by Benary

These three begonias practically define charm with their romantic, petal-packed double flowers. Happily, they were also easy to grow in our Season Premier garden.

Presented by Beekenkamp

Geranium Marcada Magenta Geraniums have a treasured look among home gardeners. Marcada Magenta was one of the best in our Season Premier garden.

Presented by Selecta

Gerbera Garvinea Lydia Its daisy-shaped flowers look adorable both on the plant and in the vase. Ideal for adding a smile to your day, Garvinea Lydia is also a cinch to grow. It thrived in our Ultimate Plant Showdown garden. Presented by Florist

Sweet Potato Vine Sweet Carolina Bewitched After Midnight This plant charms with rich purple foliage and textural leaves. Ideal for everywhere— sun or shade, landscapes or containers, it was one of the best in our Season Premier garden. Presented by Proven Winners

Petunia Opera Supreme Lavender, White Stunners in our Season Premier garden, these two petunias have more flowers than you can count in eye-pleasing shades. Presented by American Takii

Geranium Brocade Fire Night, Salmon Night This pair of lovely geraniums have gorgeous blooms and great-looking foliage all throughout our Season Premier garden.

Presented by Dummen Orange

Salvia Mystic Spires Imp. Showing off wands of lavender-blue flowers that dance and sway in the breeze, this charming plant definitely attracts attention.

It was a top performer in our Ultimate Plant Showdown garden. Presented by Ball FloraPlant

Verbena Lanai Neon Rose A vivacious variety, it practically sparkled in our Season Premier garden, while covering itself in a steady supply of rich, magenta-pink blooms. Presented by Syngenta Flowers

Vinca Vitesse XL Crimson, Dark Red, Icy Watermelon, Peppermint This collection of annual vincas offer bigtime performance and adorable blooms in a range of colors. We loved their incredible performance in our Ultimate Plant Showdown garden. Presented by Floranova