HAMMOND, La. – Since the debut of a landscape horticulture research and extension program at the LSU AgCenter Hammond Research Station eight years ago, we have continued to expand the gardens supporting research. One of the largest efforts each year is evaluating new annual warm-season bedding plants and perennial flowers in the sun garden and shade garden.
Most gardeners realize many new plants are introduced to the marketplace each year. Some perform well in our southern Louisiana heat and humidity, and some do not. Efforts at the Hammond trial gardens help nursery growers, commercial landscapers, retail garden center owners and employees, Master Gardeners and home gardeners by providing information on the best-performing of these new plants. Some evaluated plants may eventually become Louisiana Super Plants.
The top 10 new bedding plant varieties for 2015 that were proven best in Hammond landscape trials in 2014 are Arrabonna Red celosia, Bounce series impatiens, RioGrande series purslane, Mayan series ruellia (Mexican petunia), Sombrero Adobe Orange echinacea (coneflower), Lime Sizzler hamelia (firebush), Cannova series canna, Titan Romance vinca, Embers Wish salvia and Marquee Blonde Bombshell coleus.
To read the rest of the story, please go to: LSU AgCenter
