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‘Piccolima’ cabbage. ‘Scarrossa’ napa cabbage.

Winners. Proven of courtesy Photo

‘Fire Away Hot and Heavy’ pepper.

‘Burgundy’ broccoli. Art Combe’s Ancient watermelon seeds.

By shauna dobbie

Vegetables

‘Piccolima’ cabbage (Brassica oleracea). Small cabbages! These adorable little guys max out at half a pound. They are sweet and tender, ideal for fresh eating. Plant height 12 inches, best in sun. Days to harvest: 40 to 60, depending on the size you want. Rijk Zwaan USA.

‘Burgundy’ broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica). Purple broccoli amongst green leaves from beginning to end. It’s a sprouting broccoli, which means smaller heads of flowers on longer stems. This is a tender and sweet type that keeps its crunch for a crudite platter. Full sun, height 24 inches, spread 36 inches. 60 days from transplant to harvest. Bejo Seeds. and veins. It takes longer to head than green varieties and the heads are less dense, but oh, the colour! Bolts less than other purples. Will take partial sun. Height 12 inches, spread 12 inches. Days to harvest: 65. Osborne Quality Seeds.

‘Fire Away Hot and Heavy’ pepper (Capiscum annuum). A pretty little pepper that offers a bit of heat, just a little more than a jalapeno. Ripens to a deep red. Plants grow to 24 inches and require full sun. Peppers are ready to harvest 65 to 72 days after they appear. Proven Winners.

Art Combe’s Ancient watermelon seeds (Citrullus lanatus). Growing up to 20 pounds in the right area! This oblong watermelon dates back to the 1920s when plant historian Art Combe found the seeds in an ancient vessel in a cave. These are the descendents of those seeds. Sweet and red. 95 to 100 days to maturity. Heritage Harvest Seed.

‘Dark Galaxy’ tomato. Pretzel bean.

Succotash bean. ‘Everleaf Emerald Towers’ basil.

Succotash bean (Phaseolus vulgaris). These dark purple seeds were the original succotash beans used by the Narragansett aboriginal people of Rhode Island. Heritage Harvest Seeds recommends you try them in soups. 105-110 days to maturity. Heritage Harvest Seed.

‘Dark Galaxy’ tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). ‘Dark Galaxy’). A gorgeous, masculine-looking tomato. It goes from all purple to the beautiful stripey rust colour as it ripens. 70 days from transplant to maturity. Heritage Harvest Seed.

Pretzel bean (Vigna unguiculata subsp.). This is a type of cow pea that grows in a charming curled pod on a twinning vine. You can eat them young and fresh or keep them until they’ve dried and cook them like black-eyed peas. 70 days to maturity. Heritage Harvest Seed.

Herb

is perfect, because you don’t want your basil to flower! Plant height is 24 inches, spread is 8 inches. Sun-lover. PanAmerican Seeds.

Annuals

‘Plum Dandy’ alternathera (Alternathera hybrid). Alternathera is a classic foliage plant for pots. This one is a yummy plum shade that grows 10 to 16 inches high, 12 to 20 inches spread. Likes part sun to sun. Proven Winners.

‘Harmony Double’ anemone (Anemone coronario). Fully double red flowers that go white where they attach to a black centre. Wow. The corms are difficult to store, so plant new ones the next year. You can mulch well and try protecting them in Zone 6. Sun-loving spring plant. Plant them 5 inches apart and watch them grow to about 10 inches high. Sakata Seed America.

‘Everleaf Emerald Towers’ basil (Ocimum basilicum). This basil has a fantastic Genovese flavour and is good for eating fresh in a caprese salad. Or you can chop it for pesto or adding to recipes. It is columnar and here’s the clincher: it flowers 10 to 12 weeks later than standard basil, which

‘Funky White’ begonia (Begonia x hybrid). White begonia with the longer petal found in the Funky series. The singles are particularly enchanting for the veining on them that makes them look almost orchid-like. Doubles have a charming ragged look. Grows to 18 inches high and wide, preferring shade but tolerating sun. Proven Winners.

Winners. Proven of courtesy Photo merica. eed a akata s s of courtesy Photo

Winners. Proven of courtesy Photo Winners. Proven of courtesy Photo

‘Goldilocks Rocks’ bidens. ‘Campfire Flame’ bidens.

Winners. Proven of courtesy Photo

‘Heart to Heart’ caladiums. ‘Aloha Nani Calibash’ calibrachoa.

‘Goldilocks Rocks’ bidens (Bidens ferulifolia). This plant is as tough as it is pretty. Yellow daisies up to 3 inches across bloom continually throughout the season. 8 to 14 inches tall, 10 to 20 inches across. Likes full sun. Proven Winners.

‘Campfire Flame’ bidens (Bidens hybrid). A filler for the container with deep orange flowers through the heat of summer and paler orange in the spring and fall. Reblooms continually and no deadheading is necessary. 8 to 14 inches high and 10 to 16 inches spread. Part sun to sun. Proven Winners.

‘Heart to Heart’ caladiums (Caladium hortulanum).

A whole series of new caladiums in a variety of colours. Plant them outside in part shade for the summer or keep them inside in a sunny window. They grow to fourteen inches high and across. Proven Winners.

‘Aloha Nani Calibash’ calibrachoa (Calibrachoa hybrid). Deep-orange splashed with yellow-orange flowers on a semi-upright calibrachoa. Compact form. Low maintenance. Full sun. Height of 12 inches, spread of 12 inches. Dummen Orange.

‘Blackcurrant Punch’ calibrachoa (Calibrachoa hybrid). A deep black eye around a yellow central throat is eye-catching in these fuchsia flowers. This trailing annual takes the filler role in a container and needs no deadheading. Up to 24 inches long with a spread of 12 inches. Sun to part sun. Proven Winners.

‘Double Blue’ calibrachoa (Calibrachoa hybrid). The colour on these double calibrachoa is just sensational. Running to a very blue shade of purple, it is joined by ‘Double Amber’ and ‘Double Orange’ in this year’s lineup. Up to 24 inches long with a spread of 12 inches. Sun to part sun. Proven Winners.

‘Champion II’ Canterbury bells (Campanula annuum). Deep bell-shaped flowers bloom prolifically on each stem. Comes in deep blue, lilac, pink and rose. A sun-lover, 36 inches in height and 10 inches across. Sakata Seed America.

‘Maui Sunrise’ elephant’s ear (Colocasia esculenta). All elephant’s ears bring the tropics to your garden and this one does it with wide white veining. So beautiful. Almost 4 feet tall by 2 feet across. Happy in sun or shade. Proven Winners.

‘Silver Falls’ dichondra (Dichondra argentea). An allsilvery green version of this spilling foliage plant, beloved for its toughness in a container. Spills to 48 inches, spreads 18 to 36 inches. Part to full sun. Proven Winners.

Winners. Proven of courtesy Photo Winners. Proven of courtesy Photo merica. a eed s kata of s courtesy Photo Winners. Proven of courtesy Photo

Winners. Proven of courtesy Photo

‘Diamond Snow’ euphorbia. ‘Mariska’ fuchsia.

‘Diamond Snow’ euphorbia (Euphorbia hybrid). The latest in the ‘Diamond’ series of euphorbia. This one is truly new, with double bracts, the little white “flowers” that cover these plants, instead of singles. Trails to 18 inches, spread to 18 inches, likes part to full sun. As a bonus, this plant will survive indoors in a very sunny window! Proven Winners.

‘Mariska’ fuchsia (Fuchsia hybrid). Big pink and purple blooms are an improvement on ‘Lambada’ (a similar cultivar), with blooms facing more upward and outward. Likes partial sun to shade. About 12 inches high and wide. Beekenkamp Plants.

‘Tricolor’ sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas). Pointy green leaves with a creamy margin edged in pink. In a sweet potato vine! Wow. Trails as long as 72 inches with a spread of up to 36 inches. Likes part sun to sun. Proven Winners.

‘Patti’s Pink’ star flower (Isotoma axillaris). Such pretty pink flowers! Five-petaled stars on thread-like foliage dance daintily above whatever you mix them with. Proven Winners considers it a filler in a container, but it could really stand on its own. No deadheading and continuous bloom. Height and spread to 14 inches. Needs sun. Proven Winners.

Winners. Proven of courtesy Photos

‘Tricolor’ sweet potato vine. ‘Patti’s Pink’ star flower.

‘King Tut’ sweet pea (Lathyrus azureus). Sky-blue sweet pea flowers on vines! Heritage recommends letting them sprawl as a groundcover.

‘Northern Lights’ spurred snapdragon (Linaria maroccana). This relative of toadflax, the pretty yellow weed that is poisonous to livestock, comes in pink, yellow, red and purple. It has long nectar spurs, beloved by butterflies and hummingbirds and grow in sun to part shade. 18 to 28 inches.

‘Sunstar Lavender’ Egyptian star flower (Pentas lanceolata). Egyptian starflowers are from Africa, where they’re perennial. Those of us below Zone 9 or 10 will just have to make do with using them as annuals. Big clusters of five-petaled flowers. In addition to the lavender, Proven Winners is coming out with versions in pink, red and rose this year. Part to full sun, height up to 22 inches with spread up to 24 inches. Proven Winners.

‘Campion Sibella’ catchfly (Silene pendula). Actually a biennial, you’d be better to buy this one from a nursery and treat it as an annual. This is a new shape for Silene pendula; it works beautifully in a planter. Works in sun or shade, height to 12 inches, spread to 12 inches. Van Hermert & Co.

Winners. Proven of courtesy Photo

‘SunSeekers Salmon’ echinacea. Alba variegated Chinese orchid. ‘Black Tie Affair’ hellebore.

Perennials

‘SunSeekers Salmon’ echinacea (Echinacea). Flowers emerge, semi-doubled, in salmon-pink with a few soft yellow petals in the centre, then mature to pale pink with a big, dark crimson cone. Fragrant and attractive to pollinators. Drought tolerant. Full to partial sun. Height 18 inches, spread to 24 inches. Zone 3. Breck’s.

Alba variegated Chinese orchid (Bletilla striata). Is it a daffodil? Or an iris? No, it’s a gorgeous bletilla, almost pure white, with a hint of purple, and a kind of striated beard. Oh, and the kicker? Variegated strappy leaves! One to 2 feet tall. Likes partial shade. Hardy to Zone 5. Veseys.

‘Black Tie Affair’ hellebore (Helleborus). White petals edged in eggplant black surround yellow stamens. Likes sun or a bit of shade. Grows to 2 feet. Hardy to Zone 4. Veseys.

‘Boogie Woogie’ stonecrop (Sedum hybrid). This yellow flowering sedum has variegated foliage. Green leaves with a yellow margin. Likes full sun and grows to 8 inches high and 18 inches spread. Listed as hardy to Zone 4. Proven Winners.

Shrubs

‘Sunjoy Sequins’ barberry (Berberis thubergii). This barberry changes colour throughout the season, starting out white, pink and minty green and turning emerald in the summer. Proven Winners.

‘Golden Shadows’ pagoda dogwood (Cornus alternifolia). Yellow leaves with a spot of green at the centre on this pagoda dogwood takes it from a typical (but nicely shaped) tree to a standout in the garden. Part to full sun. Height and spread of 12 feet. Proven Winners says it is hardy to Zone 4 but we’re betting it’ll be fine to Zone 3. Proven Winners.

Winners. Proven of courtesy Photo Winners. Proven of courtesy Photos

‘Winecraft Gold’ smokebush. ‘Flare’ hydrangea. ‘Ringo’ rose.

‘Winecraft Gold’ smokebush (Cotinus coggygria). A beautiful chartreuse tone for this tree. The flowers are a greeny-white. Grows 6 feet high and wide in part to full sun. Proven Winners gives it a hardiness rating of USDA 5, but we think it might survive in Canadian Zone 4 or even lower. Proven Winners. d

‘Kolmavesu’ or ‘Flare’ hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata). These spikes start out white and transition to deep pink or even red at the end of summer. So beautiful! And so hardy; the shrub can handle temperatures down to -40 degrees. If you are a hydrangea collector, this is one to add to your stockpile. 2 to 3 feet wide and tall. Prefers part sun. Hardy to Zone 3, maybe Zone 2. Van Belle Nursery.

‘Ringo’ rose (Rosa). A two-toned rose is not so common as to be unremarkable, but this one stuns on so many levels. It’s a single rose that is yellow with a seriously red centre; as the bloom ages, the yellow softens to creamy white and the red to pink. Plus it’s a repeat bloomer and it’s diseaseresistant. Wow. Hardy to at least Zone 5. Grows to 3 or 4 feet high and wide. Likes full sun. Proven Winners.

‘Emily Brontë’ rose (Rosa). Fully double that opens up to a nearly flat flower. The centre is apricot and the rest is a delicate pink. Blooms well from early summer until frost and has a strong tea fragrance with old rose, lemon and grapefruit. Needs 4 or 5 hours of sun per day. 4 feet tall by 3 feet wide. Rated to Zone 6 without winter protection. David Austin Roses.

‘The Mill on the Floss’ rose (Rosa). A full-bodied English rose with big pink blooms edged in red and a sweet, fruity fragrance. Likes part to full sun. 4 1/2 feet tall by 4 feet wide. Likes part to full sun. Zone 6 without winter protection. David Austin Roses.

‘Tottering-by-Gently’ rose (Rosa). David Austin’s first yellow single rose! It’s a beauty, with 5-petaled blooms that soften to a creamy tint over time. The flowers have a light musky scent with notes of orange peel. The shrub grows to 4 by 4 feet. Grows in partial or full sun. Zone 6 without winter protection. David Austin Roses. d

oses. r ustin avid a d of courtesy Photo

oses. r ustin avid a d of courtesy Photo