Hot New Plants for 2016 from Costa Farms

Hot New Plants for 2016 from Costa Farms


Every year we're excited to bring you new plants that have passed the tests of our research and development team. Here's a selection for 2016. By Justin Hancock
Houseplant: Colorful Aglaonema 'Pink Dalmatian'

Houseplant: Colorful Aglaonema 'Pink Dalmatian'

Gorgeous and easy-to-grow, Pink Dalmatian is a Colorful Aglaonema that shows off rich, dark green leaves artfully decorated with soft pink speckles. No two leaves are the same, making Pink Dalmatian a living sculpture. Its no-fuss nature means you can grow it in just about any home or office because it thrives in high, medium, and even low light. And like most of our Colorful Aglaonemas, it doesn't mind if you forget to water it. 
  > Light: Low, medium, or bright light indoors
 > Water: Add moisture when the top inch or two of the potting mix dries out
  > Size: Can grow 18 inches tall and wide
Houseplant: Colorful Aglaonema ‘White Calcite’

Houseplant: Colorful Aglaonema ‘White Calcite’

One of the newest additions to our collection, this practically no-fail houseplant offers dark green leaves liberally splashed with creamy white. Like other Colorful and Red Aglaonema varieties, I love White Calcite because it grows practically anywhere in your home and tolerates inconsistent watering. 
  > Light: Low, medium, or bright light indoors
  > Water: When the top inch or so of the potting mix is dry; tolerates drought well
  > Size: Can grow 18 inches tall and wide with time
Want to learn more? Get our Colorful Aglaonema Idea Book!
Houseplant: Colorful Aglaonema 'Red Emerald'

Houseplant: Colorful Aglaonema 'Red Emerald'

The third of our new and exciting collection of Colorful Aglaonemas, Red Emerald shows off large, dark green leaves variegated with striking red veins outlined in chartreuse. It's a stunner that's far easier to grow than it looks. Like other Colorful Aglaonemas, Red Emerald isn't the least bit temperamental, and is ideal for beginners.
  > Light: Low, medium, or bright light indoors
  > Water: Add moisture when the top inch of the potting mix dries to the touch
  > Size: Can grow 24 inches tall and wide
Houseplant: Anthurium ‘Jungle Queen’

Houseplant: Anthurium ‘Jungle Queen’

Jungle Queen is one of my favorite new varieties. No two plants of this variety are the same; look for green, variegated, and purple-leaf types. As a houseplant, it’s remarkably tolerant to a wide range of conditions, including low light and infrequent watering. The older it is, the more dramatic Jungle Queen becomes! 
  > Light: Low, medium, or bright light in the house
  > Water: Water when the top inch of the potting mix is dry; avoid overwatering
  > Size: Can grow 48 inches tall (or more) with time 
Annual: Calendula ‘Winter Creepers Blonde & Brisk'

Annual: Calendula ‘Winter Creepers Blonde & Brisk'

I used to grow calendula as a kid and loved it for its springtime color. The Winter Creepers series puts on a new twist with varieties that hold up better to cool weather can bloom all winter long in mild areas, as well as spring! Blonde and Brisk is one of Research and Development team’s favorites because of its easy-growing nature, charming color, and steady-supply of inch-wide flowers. 
  > Light: Full sun outdoors
  > Water: Water when the top inch of soil dries to the touch
  > Size: Grows about 12 inches tall and wide
Annual: Calibrachoa ‘Chameleon Plum Cobbler’

Annual: Calibrachoa ‘Chameleon Plum Cobbler’

Just when you thought you’d seen it all in Calibrachoa the Chameleon varieties pop up! Chameleon Plum Cobbler shows off a nonstop supply of lovely lavender-purple flowers that have a wonderful texture and warm yellow-tan throat. It looks stunning by itself and pairs beautifully with other flowers.  
  > Light: Full sun or part shade outdoors
  > Water: Water when the top inch of potting mix dries 
  > Size: Grows about 12 inches tall (or trails over the side of the pot) and 14 inches wide
Annual: Calceolaria ‘Calynopsis Dark Red’

Annual: Calceolaria ‘Calynopsis Dark Red’

Part of our Early Blossoms collection of early-spring bloomers, Calynopsis Dark Red calceoaria shows off wonderfully deep, purple-red flowers reminiscent of orchids on long stems above the foliage. It’s perfect for adding a dramatic touch to your deck, patio, or front porch in early spring with pansies and other cool-weather favorites. 
  > Light: Full sun or part shade outdoors
  > Water: Water when the top inch of soil dries to the touch
  > Size: Grows about 12 inches tall and wide


Annual: Geranium ‘Calliope Hot Pink’

Annual: Geranium ‘Calliope Hot Pink’

Old-fashioned annual geraniums have come a long way in the last few years, thanks to the hard work of innovative plant breeders. Calliope Hot Pink is one of the more striking newer varieties. It’s an updated class of annual geranium called interspecific, meaning it’s bred from a number of different varieties that help boost its garden performance. Enjoy its hot pink flowers all summer long.
  > Light: Full sun outdoors
  > Water: Water when the top inch of soil dries to the touch
  > Size: Grows about 12 inches tall and wide 
Annual: Gerbera ‘Garvinea Sweet Smile’

Annual: Gerbera ‘Garvinea Sweet Smile’

We’ve grown a lot of gerbera daisies in our Trial Garden, but the Garvinea series has provided us with some of the best performers. Sweet Smile was a delight, holding up to harsh weather and still continuing to bloom with beautiful 3- to 4-inch-wide yellow, daisy-shaped flowers. It holds up to heat, too, flowering well into the summer when many other gerberas just went green.  
  > Light: Full sun outdoors
  > Water: Keep evenly moist
  > Size: Grows about 12 inches tall and wide
Annual: Gerbera ‘Karoo’

Annual: Gerbera ‘Karoo’

If you’re like us, you’ll be blown away by the huge flowers on Karoo gerbera daisy. Each flower can reach 5 (or more) inches across and they appear in rapid succession on a big, beefy plant. It’s ideal for planting on a sunny porch, patio, or deck. 
  > Light: Full sun outdoors
  > Water: Keep evenly moist
  > Size: Grows about 18 inches tall and wide
Annual: Gerbera ‘Revolution Bicolor Rose Shades’

Annual: Gerbera ‘Revolution Bicolor Rose Shades’

Gerbera daisies are among the most charming annuals. They’re perfect for cutting for bouquets, attract butterflies, and look beautiful practically anywhere you grow them. Revolution Rose Bicolor is a fun new mix that shows off big flowers in a range of shades of pink and rose, all accented by lighter-color centers, giving them a delightful two-tone effect. Use them in container gardens and other planters to best effect. 
  > Light: Full sun outdoors
  > Water: Water when the top inch of soil dries to the touch
  > Size: Grows about 12 inches tall and 8 inches wide
Annual: Gerbera ‘Volcanoes’

Annual: Gerbera ‘Volcanoes’

Volcanoes sets a new standard for gerbera daisies! The blooms on this variety are huge: 4 inches wide or more! The color is stunning, too. Each orange bloom fades to yellow as it reaches the bottom of the petal, then meets an orange circle at the center. Volcanoes is the perfect showstopper for any sunny garden.
  > Light: Full sun outdoors
  > Water: Keep evenly moist
  > Size: Grows about 18 inches tall and wide
Annual: Impatiens ‘SunPatiens Compact Fire Red’

Annual: Impatiens ‘SunPatiens Compact Fire Red’

There are so many fun colors of SunPatiens, and we’re excited that plant breeders are continuing to work on making them better. Compact Fire Red shows off deep, rich red flowers that don’t fade as as much as older varieties as they age. And like all the other varieties, Compact Fire Red thrives in both full sun and full shade (just be sure to keep it watered in the sun).
  > Light: Sun or shade outdoors
  > Water: Keep evenly moist
  > Size: Grows about 30 inches tall and wide
Annual: Impatiens ‘SunPatiens Compact Orchid’

Annual: Impatiens ‘SunPatiens Compact Orchid’

SunPatiens, the first impatiens bred to grow in the sun, are some of our longtime favorites for their wonderfully consistent performance in our Miami Trial Garden. Blooming from spring to fall, Compact Orchid is a new variety that has soft pink-purple flowers and dark green foliage. 
  > Light: Sun or shade outdoors
  > Water: Keep evenly moist
  > Size: Grows about 30 inches tall and wide
Annual: Osteospermum ‘4D Violet Ice’

Annual: Osteospermum ‘4D Violet Ice’

A welcome sign of spring, 4D Violet Ice osteospermum is a delightful cool-weather annual that bears wonderful white flowers that have a violet-purple center. Unlike older varieties, the semi-double flowers don’t close at night (or in cloudy weather), so you can enjoy its beauty all day long.
  > Light: Full sun or partial shade outdoors
  > Water: Water when the top inch of soil is dry
  > Size: Grows about 12 inches tall and 18 inches wide
Annual: Petchoa ‘SuperCal Light Yellow’

Annual: Petchoa ‘SuperCal Light Yellow’

The SuperCal petchoas bring us our favorite qualities from both petunias and calibrachoas into one lovely plant. SuperCal Light Yellow shows off soft yellow flowers, grows well in landscapes and containers, and flowers all summer and into fall. It’s glorious by itself or paired with other flowers in hanging baskets. 
  > Light: Full sun outdoors
  > Water: Water when the top inch of soil is dry
  > Size: Grows about 12 inches tall and 18 inches wide
Annual: Petunia ‘Crazytunia Razzmatazz’

Annual: Petunia ‘Crazytunia Razzmatazz’

The Crazytunia collection ups the interest of old-fashioned petunias! Showing off fun colors and combinations, we’re always excited when they send us new varieties to test. Razzmatazz was a favorite because of its burgundy-purple flowers that blend to pink and yellow at the center in a wonderful star pattern. 
  > Light: Full sun outdoors
  > Water: Keep evenly moist
  > Size: Grows about 12 inches tall and 18 inches wide
Annual: Petunia ‘Easy Wave Pink Passion’

Annual: Petunia ‘Easy Wave Pink Passion’

Wave petunias have earned their reputation as tried-and-true garden performers. Easy Wave Pink Passion is a delightful variety that has big flowers in a wonderful shade of candy pink. The blooms are accented with darker centers, making them a showpiece. Easy Wave Pink Passion is an ideal annual for the garden, as well as container gardens. 
  > Light: Full sun outdoors
  > Water: Water when the top inch of soil dries to the touch
  > Size: Grows about 12 inches tall and 40 inches wide
Annual: Vinca ‘Valiant Lilac’

Annual: Vinca ‘Valiant Lilac’

Valiant Lilac vinca was a showstopper in our Trial Garden thanks to its big, beefy size and constant supply of lovely lavender-pink flowers that attract butterflies. Bigger than most, the plant puts on a show all by itself, but mixes beautifully with other annuals, as well as perennials and shrubs, in beds, borders, and containers. 
  > Light: Full sun outdoors
  > Water: Water when the top inch of soil dries to the touch, but tolerates drought
  > Size: Grows about 24 inches tall and wide
Perennial: Heuchera ‘Carnival Black Olive’

Perennial: Heuchera ‘Carnival Black Olive’

Our Trial Garden team in South Carolina loved this heuchera variety for its fantastic performance. It held up well to weather and looked fantastic. We particularly love the two-tone effect of the leaves, which are dark purple on top and lighter on the bottom. They wave at you in the breeze!
  > Light: Shade or part shade outdoors
  > Water: Water when the top inch of soil dries to the touch
  > Size: Grows about 12 inches tall and wide
  > Hardiness: Perennial in USDA Zones 4-8
Perennial: Hibiscus ‘Mocha Moon’

Perennial: Hibiscus ‘Mocha Moon’

If you’re not familiar with hardy perennial hibiscus, Mocha Moon is sure to be a delight. It’s a tough-as-nails variety that thrived in our South Carolina Trial Garden, blooming nonstop from midsummer to October! It shows off huge pink flowers that practically shine against the mocha-purple foliage. 
  > Light: Full sun outdoors
  > Water: Water when the top inch of soil dries to the touch
  > Size: Grows about 48 inches tall and 60 inches wide
  > Hardiness: Perennial in USDA Zones 4-9


Perennial: Hibiscus ‘Starry Starry Night’

Perennial: Hibiscus ‘Starry Starry Night’

A sister to Mocha Moon, this hardy perennial hibiscus shows off wonderful purple-black flowers and a steady supply of pink-and-white flowers from midsummer all the way to the onset of cold temperatures in fall. It loves hot and humid weather, but survives winter temperatures down to -30F (-34C)!
  > Light: Full sun outdoors
  > Water: Water when the top inch of soil dries to the touch
  > Size: Grows about 48 inches tall and wide
  > Hardiness: Perennial in USDA Zones 4-9

Perennial: English Lavender ‘Platinum Blonde’

Perennial: English Lavender ‘Platinum Blonde’

Declared one of the best lavenders we’ve ever tested by our R&D team, Platinum Blonde holds up to summer heat and humidity, as well as our South Carolina winters. It shows off unique creamy-edged foliage and fragrant clusters of lavender-blue flowers. 
  > Light: Full sun outdoors
  > Water: Drought tolerant
  > Size: Grows about 24 inches tall and wide
  > Hardiness: Perennial in USDA Zones 6-9
Perennial: Little Bluestem ‘Standing Ovation'

Perennial: Little Bluestem ‘Standing Ovation'

Little bluestem is a fantastic heat- and drought-tolerant North American native grass that shows off blue-green foliage in summer that turns to a lovely shade of purple-red in fall/winter (where the weather’s cold). Standing Ovation is a fun improvement that stays standing and doesn’t flop like older varieties. 
  > Light: Full sun outdoors
  > Water: Drought tolerant
  > Size: Grows about 48 inches tall and 18 inches wide
  > Hardiness: Perennial in USDA Zones 4-8