Select a winning crop of plants for your garden this year

Gardeners can hardly contain their excitement each spring, as they discover the new plants available for them to add to their containers, beds and borders. This year, plant breeders have not disappointed. The benches at your local garden center will be a treasure trove of flowers and foliage.

New annuals

Bounce impatiens will have shade gardeners jumping for joy. They have the look of bedding impatiens, but are resistant to the dreaded impatiens downy mildew.

They grow about 18 inches tall and wide and are suitable for planting in pots, window boxes, hanging baskets or directly in the garden. Bounce impatiens bloom from late spring until frost in a multitude of colors in part-sun to shade. And gardeners will love their ability to bounce right back if they start to wilt from lack of water without dropping any of their blooms or buds.

Coleus Sunfish is one of the newest members of the Under the Sea family and another winner. The distinctive, deeply dissected and serrated warm red leaves are tipped in gold.

It grows up to 20 inches tall and wide and will be an ideal choice for container gardens. Partner it with other larger-leaved coleus, dragon wing begonias and a fern in a lightly shaded spot. Sunfish would be just as happy in a sunny location combined with purple fountain grass, red geraniums and chartreuse sweet potato vine.

Canna Cannova belongs in the landscapes of gardeners who want a touch of the tropics in their gardens or containers. A compact but vigorous grower, the Cannova series blooms heavily in pink, red or yellow.

Their large leaves would be a nice contrast to the smaller-leaved companions. Their upright habit would be ideal for height in large container gardens. Canna Cannova would also be perfect for poolside plantings.

New vegetables

Kale has garnered increased interest during the past few years. This year, vegetable gardeners can enjoy a cross between kale and Brussels sprouts.

Kalettes are a new vegetable that looks Brussels sprouts, but have flowerlike clusters of small kale leaves instead of tight orbs along the stem. The benefits of this synergy include flavor that is described as both sweet and nutty and an increase in health benefits — the antioxidants of kale and the fiber of Brussels sprouts.

Kalettes grow like Brussels sprouts. They need a long growing season and get quite tall before producing florets.

Grow TomTato Ketchup ‘n' Fries just for fun. It is the result of a cherry tomato plant grafted onto a white potato plant. Hard to believe, but I can't wait to try growing tomatoes and potatoes on the same plant.

Territorial Seed Co. claims more than 500 tomatoes and up to five pounds of potatoes will be harvested from each plant, but even if it is not that productive, think of the conversations at neighborhood barbecues!

Tomato Mountain Merit is a new variety space-challenged gardeners should try this year. It is the first beefsteak-type tomato resistant to common tomato diseases, including early and late blight along with many others.

Mountain Merit is a determinate variety suitable for growing in containers. Plants stay compact — 4 to 5 feet tall — while producing large fruits great for slicing and canning.

New perennials

Athyrium Godzilla could be described as a Japanese painted fern on steroids. This is a beauty and a beast. It forms a massive mound — up to 3 feet tall and 6 feet wide — of gray-green weeping fronds accented with burgundy and silver.

Grow Godzilla in a shady site in well-drained soil enriched with lots of organic matter.

Chalone lyonii Tiny Tortuga is a pint-size version of Hot Lips turtlehead. Bright pink flowers are presented on reddish stems in mid to late summer. Its foliage emerges and stays burgundy in spring; in summer it turns glossy green.

Tiny Tortuga grows best in light shade, but will also perform in full sun if given enough moisture. Whether planted in shade or sun, it thrives in moist soil rich with organic matter.

Chrysanthemum Whoops-a-Daisy deserves a place in every garden. While there may be argument whether it should be named a Leucanthemum instead of a Chrysanthemum, there won't be any arguments about the merits of this Shasta daisy. Whoops-a-Daisy is a round mound covered by a blanket of white daisies in early to midsummer.

Plant this Shasta daisy in the front of a sunny border, where it mingles beautifully with almost any other annual or perennial.

New shrubs

Sambucas Black Tower is a unique elderberry with multi-season interest. New foliage growth begins light green, but quickly turns purple-black — a dramatic combination as the shrub grows to its mature height of 6 to 8 feet. Two-toned pink flowers glow against the dark foliage in summer. In the fall, clusters of black berries are bird magnets.

Black Tower Elderberry grows best in full sun to light shade. It prefers moist soil, but is quite adaptable. It is appropriate to use in a shrub border, as an accent plant or as screening for privacy.

Hydrangeas are all the rage and Hydrangea LA Dreamin' is another breakthrough in breeding. This hydrangea produces blooms in shades of blue, pink and lavender on the same plant without having to add anything to the soil. LA Dreamin' is reported to bloom more reliably on both old and new wood — time will tell.

Site LA Dreamin' where it will receive morning sun and protection from hot afternoon sun. Keep it well watered until it's established and Hydrangea LA Dreamin' will be dreamy in your perennial or shrub borders, containers or in a cutting garden.

• Diana Stoll is a horticulturist and the garden center manager at The Planter's Palette, 28W571 Roosevelt Road, Winfield. Call (630) 293-1040, ext. 2, or visit planterspalette.com.