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- 2023 Blue Chip Winners
1. Coleus Down Town
New from Dummen Orange is the Down Town series of compact coleus! Unlike their Main Street series trialed last year, their Down Town varieties are compact, upright, and more slender in habit and have a fine leaf texture. All varieties in the series have performed outstandingly in our dry heat this year. We love the Down Town varieties because they can easily complement the Flamethrower® Series of coleus, since they have a similar growth habit but are available in a completely different color palette. Varieties include ‘Vegas Neon,’ ‘Columbus,’ ‘Miami Magic,’ ‘NYC Lights,’ and ‘Greenville.’
2. Beacon® Impatiens ‘Lipstick’
A new color addition to our favorite line of impatiens! The Beacon® Impatiens were named a Louisiana Super Plant in 2021, noted for providing outstanding, long-lasting color for shady areas and superior disease resistance. ‘Lipstick’ is a 2024 introduction and it has not disappointed us. Its punchy, deep pink color brightens our shade garden, complementing the other colors in the series well. Its great for containers and any area where filler color is desired!
3. Cuphea Sweet Talk™ ‘Red’
A great, heat-loving cuphea from PanAmerican Seed that attracts many butterflies and bees. While available in several colors, ‘Red’ has performed the best in our container trials and features bright red flowers with dark purple centers. The habit is more compact, ideal for baskets, small spaces, and containers.
4. Verbena Lascar™ ‘Orange Lava’
A 2023 release from Ball Seed, this verbena features a mounding and trailing habit, making it perfect for containers and baskets. The early-blooming flowers are a bright, eye-catching reddish-orange. Very heat-tolerant and continues to bloom despite record high temperatures.
5. Crape Myrtle Center Stage® ‘Red’
A dramatic, showy crape myrtle from Proven Winners! Bright reddish-pink flowers stand out against the deep, almost black, glossy foliage. It has a naturally compact and slender form without the need for pruning, making it a very low maintenance variety.