Gardening | New plants that should do well in the new year in the coastal Carolinas

Gardeners may not be doing much outdoor work right now, but in our minds many of us are already growing our 2016 gardens.

With easily hundreds of new plant varieties already touted in publications and available online for advance orders it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the possibilities. When one sorts through the new plants, however, the number becomes less daunting. We can eliminate many annuals, perennials, fruits and vegetables as possibilities for our gardens because they are not suitable for our climate zone or growing conditions.

If you are looking for a new flower or leaf color, there are plenty to choose from. More intense new colors replace similar old colors in the retail lineup. New dwarf and compact varieties that have been bred for use in containers and small gardens are available. You will find a broader range of tall and spikey perennials—they are a trend in garden design.

However, improved plants are what breeders strive for—strong plants that perform well in a variety of conditions. New varieties are bred for qualities you can’t necessarily see in a picture—fast rooting, low maintenance, well branched structure, repeat blooms, disease resistance, heat and cold tolerance. Outstanding performance is the attribute that makes a plant a keeper for the long term.

From among the 2016 new plant offerings here are a few notable plants that should do well in coastal Carolina gardens:

Rose Mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos) Summerific Series ‘Berry Awesome’ from Proven Winners is nicknamed “dinner plate hibiscus” because its flowers span 7 – 8 inches in diameter. Dark green leaves are the backdrop for its showy lavender-pink flowers that sport a red eye. They bloom over the entire shrub, not just at the top. This is a tough plant that blooms mid to late summer through early fall.

Note: Rose Mallow, Hibiscus moscheutos, is a different species from the Confederate Rose, Hibiscus mutabilis. Confederate roses open white or pink in the morning and become dark red by evening. Both native species are hardy in Zone 8.

Cercis canadensis (eastern redbud) ‘Pink Pom Poms’ is a hybrid developed by North Carolina State and Hidden Hollow Nursery in TN. This hybridization of the double flowered ‘Flame’ eastern redbud and a popular cultivar of Texas redbud ‘Oklahoma’ has thick glossy green heart-shaped leaves and blooms with dark pink- purple double pom pom-like flowers. It is sterile; consequently, it produces no unattractive seed pods or troublesome volunteers. The tree grows 18 – 20 feet tall in sun or partial shade. It attracts bees, birds, butterflies and hummingbirds.

Eggplant ‘Meatball’ hybrid has been bred to have a density and texture suitable for use as meat substitute, according to George Ball, Chairman and CEO of Burpee. Expect its meaty consistency and beefy favor to make it a meat alternative. There is no bitter aftertaste from seeds, no excess water and its flesh does not quickly oxidize and turn brown. Buy ‘Meatball’ as seeds or transplants. Grow these eggplants like any other variety.

There is a trend toward compact fruits and vegetable plants for windowsills, balconies, patios and small gardens. Here are three 2016 AAS (All American Selection) award winning edibles worth noting:

‘Strawberry Delizz’ F1 strawberries are easy to grow from seed or transplants. They produce sweet and flavorful fruit throughout the growing season, even in summer heat. Plants should produce for four weeks indoors in full sun and season long when grown outdoors. Strawberries are perennial but these are marketed as annuals.

‘Candyland Red’ is a currant tomato—smaller than cherry size. Plants have a tidy habit that makes them easy to manage. They produce sweet fruit throughout the growing season, perfect for popping into your mouth just off the vine or collecting and sprinkling on a salad.

Mizuna ‘Red Kingdom’ Japanese mustard greens are a mild tasting slightly spicy green that has beautiful red-purple color. Mizuna is known for its cold tolerance but ‘Red Kingdom’ is said to stand up to mid-season heat—try it to know for sure.

It’s fun to try a couple of new plants each year. You may find them ho-hum or you may find a keeper.

This story was originally published January 9, 2016 at 11:50 PM with the headline "Gardening | New plants that should do well in the new year in the coastal Carolinas."