10 New Must-Grow Perennials for 2013

 It seems we all want the latest gadgets, latest styles, latest new cocktail mix, but sometimes having the "latest" may not be the best for us in the long run, ever heard of buyers remorse? When it come to plants though  I definitely can say you will not regret buying these new 2013 varieties. I have listed my favorite 10 below.


'Freak!' Leucanthemum

 The fluffy 2- to 2-1/2-inch-wide flowers feature layers of white petals. The long-blooming flowers smother the compact, well-branched plants. Plant in partial shade in really hot climates. 'Freak!' is ideal in garden beds -- especially cottage gardens -- but also excels in containers. Flowers bloom from June through frost. To encourage reblooming, remove faded blooms. Makes a great cut flower.
Growing Conditions: Full sun or part shade and well-drained soil
Size: To 13 inches tall and 21 inches wide
Zones: 4-8
Grow It With: Phlox

Coreopsis 'Mercury Rising'

 

 

 A brilliant red coreopsis (most varieties are yellow), 'Mercury Rising' is a hot little number for beds and borders. A member of the Big Bang Series, this hardy perennial blooms from early summer through early fall -- sometimes even to frost. The wine-red flowers feature a golden button center. If you're planting a butterfly garden, 'Mercury Rising' is a must. Small flowers and airy foliage make this a beautiful addition to any flowerbed.
Name: Coreopsis 'Mercury Rising'
Growing Conditions: Full sun
Size: To 18 inches tall and 24 inches wide
Zones: 5-9
Grow It With: Perennial geranium      

                                         



Anemone' Pretty Lady Julia'
 
Add plucky pink color to your fall flower garden! Compact and flower-covered, 'Pretty Lady Julia' is the newest member of the Pretty Lady series of Japanese anemones. Unlike other Japanese anemones, this perennial is a prolific bloomer. It is packed with double, 2-inch-wide, medium-pink flowers, each dotted with a lemon-yellow center. 'Pretty Lady Julia' is a long-lived garden perennial, so you'll enjoy her beauty for many years. This compact anemone is also ideal for containers.
Growing Conditions: Full sun or part shade and moist soil
Size: To 18 inches tall and 24 inches wide
Zones: 5-9
Grow It With: Mums

Dianthus EverLast series

 

 Double-flowered, nicely mounding EverLast dianthus earned its name because of its continuous flowering ability all season. Starting early, this hardy dianthus blooms with vigor and can even take a little cold weather. It continues to rebloom even after temperatures start to drop in later summer. The EverLast series features double dianthus in several colors: White, Burgundy Blush, Lavender, Lilac, and Orchid.
Growing Conditions: Full sun
Size: To 12 inches tall and 14 inches wide
Zones: 5-9
Grow It With: Lambs'-ears

 

 Monarda 'Pardon My Purple'

Bring on the butterflies! Monarda, also called bee balm, features frilly, nectar-rich flowers that entice pollinators such as butterflies and bees. 'Pardon My Purple' features fuchsia-purple flowers that bloom in midsummer. This petite perennial -- it grows 10-12 inches tall -- is ideal for placing in the front of a flower border; it creates a vibrant edging. Try it in containers, too -- especially for the up-close butterfly-viewing potential.
Name: Monarda didyma 'Pardon My Purple'
Growing Conditions: Full sun
Size: To 12 inches tall
Zones: 4-9
Grow It With: Butterfly bush



 
 Hibiscus 'Electric Wizard'

Swirling hibiscus blooms add a magical, tropical feel to patios and decks. This new hardy hibiscus produces spellbinding 9- to 10-inch-wide flowers. Oblong buds unfurl into clear pink flowers that bear a dark red throat with red streaks. The foliage is equally showy: purple, maple-leaf-shape leaves. A good landscape addition, 'Electric Wizard' grows just 3 feet tall. Its small stature and big blooms also make it a stunning container planting. 'Electric Wizard' is drought-tolerant.
Growing Conditions: Full sun
Size: To 3 feet tall
Zones: 4-9
Grow It With: Roses



Campanula 'Ringsabell Mulberry Rose'


Ring in 2013 with this brand-new bellflower! Large, pendent rose-pink flowers are borne on slender stems. 'Ringsabell Mulberry Rose' starts to flower in late spring. The eye-catching color is a bonus to any garden -- especially cottage gardens. The flowers look like little fairy caps and stand above the green foliage. This campanula doesn't spread like others of its type. Use in beds and borders, of course. And tuck this little beauty into containers, too!
Growing Conditions: Full sun to partial shade
Size: To 6 inches tall and 15 inches wide
Zones: 5-9
Grow It With: Blue bellflower


Hibiscus 'Midnight Marvel'

This showy hibiscus has huge deep-red flowers, but its dark purple maple-shape leaves are what makes it a standout in the garden. 'Midnight Marvel' produces 8- to 9-inch flowers from midsummer until frost. Hibiscus, also called rose mallow, is a native to the Southeast United States and excels in a number of conditions, from swamps to marshes to meadows. It will bloom its heart out in hot weather, too. 'Midnight Marvel' makes a stunning border.

Growing Conditions: Full sun or partial shade
Size: To 4 feet tall and 4-1/2 feet wide
Zones: 4-9
Grow It With: Turtlehead


'Azure Rush' Geranium

You might not have considered using perennial geraniums in containers, but this new compact geranium will make you try it: 'Azure Rush' is a great choice for patio planters and window boxes. The single clear-blue flowers bloom from May until frost. In extremely hot areas, place 'Azure Rush' geranium in partial shade. a good choice for edging plants in the front of a bed or border. 
Growing Conditions: Full sun or part shade and well-drained soil
Size: To 18 inches tall and 24 inches wide
Zones: 5-8
Grow It With: Coreopsis


Echinacea 'Julia'

Compact and citrusy! 'Julia' is a bright orange coneflower that's a member of the Butterfly Kisses series of dwarf varieties. Bees and butterflies love this flower -- and it also makes a stunning addition for bouquets. Heat- and drought-tolerant coneflower is a must-have for the gardener interested in a low-maintenance landscape. Coneflower is an American native..
Growing Conditions: Full sun
Size: To 18 inches tall and 24 inches wide
Zones: 5-9
Grow It With: Coreopsis