Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: 2021 AAS winners
The 2021 AAS plants are being introduced and I’m going to share some beauties and a tasty fruit. Wow, wow, wow is how one judge describes a new zinnia Profusion red/yellow bicolor.
This gorgeous annual plant starts the season with a bold vibrant red center ring surrounded by golden-yellow outer petals. As the season progresses, the aging flowers morph into soft, beautiful shades of apricot, salmon, and dusty rose! Yowza! From late spring to fall, this compact 8 to 14 inch plant never stops blooming.
There’s a new leucanthemum.
This shasta daisy, “Sweet Daisy Birdy” is cold hardy to zone 3. The 5? reflexed daisy blooms feature small feathery petals around golden yellow button centers. Growing in full sun, it will reach 18 to 24 inches tall and needs little maintenance including deadheading. This perennial is extremely easy to grow with incredible flower power. New blooms will naturally stack on top of the old ones for a clean look Plant in full sun with average moisture in rich, organic garden soil.
And now for the pepper ‘Pot-a-Peno’.
Pot-a-peno is a fun new jalapeno pepper with a compact habit perfect for growing in containers and hanging baskets. Plentiful small, green jalapeño fruits have a traditional spicy zip without a lot of heat. Leave them for a couple of weeks to ripen red and you’ll get that beautiful color with a little sweet to the spice! This jalapeno is early to mature making it perfect for our cold climates.