Top New Blue, Pink, and Purple Annuals for 2011

Here's an eye-catcher! Black Velvet is marketed as the world's first black petunia and the color really is black. The dark blooms seem to pair well with everything, so you can enjoy perfect container combos.

Name: Black Velvet Petunia

Growing conditions: Full sun and moist, well-drained soil

Size: To 12 inches tall and wide

Grow it with: Breathless euphorbia, an airy plant with white flowers that looks great with the petunia

Source: Watch for this variety at your local garden center

Available from seed: No

Annual phlox is an old-fashioned favorite, so we're excited to see plant breeders making it popular again! 'Intensia Blueberry' is a stunning selection that shows off rich blue-purple flowers that fade to silvery-lavender as they mature. It holds up well to heat and drought and is fantastic in containers.

Name: Phlox 'Intensia Blueberry'

Growing conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil

Size: To 12 inches tall and wide

Grow it with: Golden sweet potato vine, for a startling blue-and-gold color combination

Source: Watch for this variety at your local garden center or find a retailer near you at provenwinners.com

Available from seed: No

Ageratum, an easy-to-grow, heat-loving annual flower, is enjoying a resurgence thanks to recent varieties including 'Lemon/Lime', which features bold purple flowers and yellow-edge foliage.

Name: Ageratum houstonianum 'Lemon/Lime'

Growing conditions: Full sun and moist, well-drained soil

Size: To 16 inches tall and 10 inches wide

Grow it with: Bidens, an easy-growing trailer with cheery golden daisy flowers

Source: Watch for this variety at your local garden center

Available from seed: No

Part of the new generation of petunias, 'Supertunia Indigo Charm' thrives without pruning, pinching, or other special care. It's a blooming machine, producing masses of dark indigo-blue flowers all summer long.

Name: Petunia 'Supertunia Indigo Charm'

Growing conditions: Full sun and moist, well-drained soil

Size: To 12 inches tall and trailing/spreading to 48 inches wide

Grow it with: 'Supertunia Sangria Charm', its sister variety, for a cheery, no-fail combo

Source: Watch for this variety at your local garden center or find a retailer near you at provenwinners.com

Available from seed: No

With their profusion of bloom, gorgeous flowers, and easy-growing nature, petunias are easy to fall in love with -- especially when they're this beautiful. 'Opera Supreme Light Blue' shows off powder-blue blooms all along the trailing stems so you don't end up with a bald spot in the center of the plant.

Name: Petunia 'Opera Supreme Light Blue'

Growing conditions: Full sun and moist, well-drained soil

Size: Trails to 3 feet

Grow it with: White angelonia, which creates a lovely contrast in color and texture

Source: www.jungseed.com

Available from seed: Yes

Bring exuberance to your containers with 'Lucia Lavender Blush' lobelia, an easy-growing, heat-resistant variety that produces a constant spray of lavender-pink blooms on a mounding plant. It also grows well in beds and borders.

Name: Lobelia 'Lucia Lavender Blush'

Growing conditions: Full sun or part shade and moist, well-drained soil

Size: To 30 inches tall and 16 inches wide

Grow it with: 'Dipt in Wine' coleus or another rich purple or red coleus to create contrast

Source: Watch for this variety at your local garden center or find a retailer near you at provenwinners.com

Available from seed: No

A fun way to add excitement to early spring and late fall containers, 'Plentifall Lavender Blue' pansy has a trailing habit, so you'll be delighted as it spills over the sides of hanging baskets and other containers.

Name: Viola 'Plentifall Lavender Blue'

Growing conditions: Full sun and moist, well-drained soil

Size: To 8 inches tall and trailing to 24 inches

Grow it with: Stock, an early-flowering annual with fragrant flowers and an upright habit

Source: Watch for this variety at your local garden center

Available from seed: Yes

A mounding, early-spring bloomer with gorgeous sky-blue flowers marked with a darker blotch surrounded by a white halo, this viola blooms profusely in fall and comes back in spring. It's an All-America Selections award winner for 2011.

Name: Viola cornuta 'Shangri-La Marina'

Growing conditions: Full sun and moist, well-drained soil

Size: To 6 inches tall and 12 inches wide

Grow it with: Lemon-yellow violas, which make a perfect contrast

Source: Watch for this variety at your local garden center

Available from seed: Yes

You don't usually think of pansies as trailing plants, but the Plentifall series, including 'Plentifall Purple Wing', offers such a habit, making it a perfect pick for hanging baskets and other containers.

Name: Viola 'Plentifall Purple Wing'

Growing conditions: Full sun and moist, well-drained soil

Size: To 8 inches tall and trailing to 24 inches

Grow it with: Nemesia, an airy cool-weather-loving annual that looks great with pansies

Source: Watch for this variety at your local garden center

Available from seed: Yes

As pure as fresh snow, 'Plentifall White' pansy is a gorgeous spring- or fall-blooming flower that sports a unique trailing habit that's perfect for use in containers.

Name: Viola 'Plentifall White'

Growing conditions: Full sun and moist, well-drained soil

Size: To 8 inches tall and trailing to 24 inches

Grow it with: Spring bulbs, such as tulips, as the pansy will help hide the base of their stems in pots

Source: Watch for this variety at your local garden center

Available from seed: Yes

A sun-loving begonia that doesn't stop blooming, 'Beaucoup White' will make your containers the best on your block. It features rich green foliage and hundreds of charming white flowers with pink-backed petals.

Name: Begonia 'Beaucoup White'

Growing conditions: Full sun and moist, well-drained soil

Size: To 10 inches tall and wide

Grow it with: 'Stardust White Sparkle', an airy, easy-to-grow white flower that adds elegance to the begonia

Source: Watch for this variety at your local garden center

Available from seed: No

For sheer flower power, it's tough to beat 'Stardust White Sparkle' euphorbia. This mounding, drought-tolerant plant shows off masses of tiny white flowers that mix great with other plants.

Name: Euphorbia 'Stardust White Sparkle'

Growing conditions: Full sun and moist, well-drained soil

Size: To 8 inches tall and wide

Grow it with: Petunias, which will look great against the airy euphorbia flowers

Source: Watch for this variety at your local garden center

Available from seed: No

Gardeners have come to know and love the Wave series of petunias for their strong garden performance. 'Shock Wave Coconut' fits right in, producing a ton of small creamy-white flowers from the top of the plant to the bottom.

Name: Petunia 'Shock Wave Coconut'

Growing conditions: Full sun and moist, well-drained soil

Size: To 15 inches tall and 36 inches wide

Grow it with: 'Shock Wave Denim' petunia, which has a similar habit but with soft purple-blue blooms

Source: Watch for this variety at your local garden center

Available from seed: Yes

A winner for hanging baskets, 'Beaucoup Rose' begonia has flexible stems and big rosy-pink flowers. It blooms all summer and fall, putting on quite a show in containers.

Name: Begonia 'Beaucoup Rose'

Growing conditions: Full sun and moist, well-drained soil

Size: To 10 inches tall and wide

Grow it with: This beauty doesn't need a plant partner to look good!

Source: Watch for this variety at your local garden center

Available from seed: No

The Potunia series of petunias offers great performance both in the landscape and in containers. You don't need to pinch or prune them, and they keep their mounded habit beautifully. 'Potunia Blackberry Ice' shows off white flowers with rich purple veins.

Name: Petunia 'Potunia Blackberry Ice'

Growing conditions: Full sun and moist, well-drained soil

Size: To 12 inches tall and 36 inches wide

Grow it with: Wax begonias, which are great for a smaller accent

Source: Watch for this variety at your local garden center

Available from seed: No

Part of the new generation of petunias that thrive without pinching or other special care, 'Opera Supreme Raspberry Ice' is an easy-growing, floriferous variety that produces loads of soft-pink blooms accented by darker raspberry-pink veins.

Name: Petunia 'Opera Supreme Raspberry Ice'

Growing conditions: Full sun and moist, well-drained soil

Size: Trails to 4 feet

Grow it with: Pink gerbera daisy, which you can't beat for a cheery punch of color

Source: www.jungseed.com

Available from seed: Yes

With its soft-pink color, easy-growing nature, and ability to produce tons of blooms, we think Easy Wave Pink Dawn will be a garden winner. Its mounding, spreading habit makes it perfect for beds and borders, hanging baskets, and mixed containers.

Name: Easy Wave Pink Dawn Petunia

Growing conditions: Full sun and moist, well-drained soil

Size: To 12 inches tall and 40 inches wide

Grow it with: Easy Wave White petunia, which offers the same plant habit but with soft-white flowers.

Source: Watch for this variety at your local garden center

Available from seed: Yes

There are lots of New Guinea impatiens on the market, but the Magnum series stands out because of its huge flowers. 'Magnum Lavender' offers a strong, upright habit and dark green foliage with lavender-pink flowers that can reach 3 inches across.

Name: Impatiens 'Magnum Lavender'

Growing conditions: Full sun or part shade and moist, well-drained soil

Size: To 12 inches tall and wide

Grow it with: Wax begonias, which are great for a smaller accent

Source: Watch for this variety at your local garden center

Available from seed: No

An All-America Selections award winner for 2011, 'Glamour Red' kale features shiny green leaves that develop vivid red-purple coloring. It's a standout for fall containers!

Name: Brassica oleracea 'Glamour Red'

Growing conditions: Full sun and moist, well-drained soil

Size: To 12 inches tall and wide

Grow it with: Purple pansies, which create a fresh fall look

Source: Watch for this variety at your local garden center

Available from seed: Yes

Sure to add a level of sophistication to your garden, 'Superbells Blackberry Punch' calibrachoa offers a strong but elegant color contrast with its hot-pink-and-dark-burgundy blooms that appear in masses, practically smothering the plant all summer long.

Name: Calibrachoa 'Superbells Blackberry Punch'

Growing conditions: Full sun and moist, well-drained soil

Size: To 14 inches tall and trailing to 36 inches

Grow it with: Purple sweet potato vine, which highlights the flowers' hot-pink edges

Source: Watch for this variety at your local garden center, or find a retailer near you at provenwinners.com

Available from seed: No

We're sure you'll be delighted by the sheer number of blooms this lovely little petunia produces. Starting in spring then going through fall (especially if you keep it well fed), 'Supertunia Sangria Charm' shows off butterfly- and hummingbird-attracting trumpets of bold purple-pink.

Name: Petunia 'Supertunia Sangria Charm'

Growing conditions: Full sun and moist, well-drained soil

Size: To 12 inches tall and trailing/spreading to 48 inches wide

Grow it with: Pseuderanthemum 'Black Varnish', which features shiny black foliage that's a great contrast to the bright blooms

Source: Watch for this variety at your local garden center or find a retailer near you at provenwinners.com

Available from seed: No

A new selection that brings to mind old-world charm and elegance, 'Spanish Dancer' sweet pea shows off big clusters of creamy flowers blushed with soft rose.

Name: Lathyrus odorata 'Spanish Dancer'

Growing conditions: Full sun and moist, well-drained soil

Size: Climbs to 6 feet

Grow it with: Larkspur, another great spring annual with old-fashioned charm

Source: burpee.com

Available from seed: Yes

It's tough to beat impatiens for big color in shady spots. 'Impreza Cherry Splash' is a stunning new selection that shows off soft-pink blooms with bright cherry-red centers. Plus, it keeps its compact habit well into the season.

Name: Impatiens 'Impreza Cherry Splash'

Growing conditions: Shade and moist, well-drained soil

Size: To 14 inches tall and wide

Grow it with: Purple sweet potato vine, which helps the pink impatiens' blooms shimmer

Source: Watch for this variety at your local garden center

Available from seed: Yes

A fantastic perfomer last year in the Better Homes and Gardens Test Garden, 'Gryphon' begonia is a spectacular shade-loving specimen that shows off silvery, tropical-looking leaves and easy-growing habit.

Bonus: It grows well indoors, too, so you can treat it like a houseplant all year or bring it in at the end of the season.

Name: Begonia 'Gryphon'

Growing conditions: Sun or shade and moist, well-drained soil

Size: To 18 inches tall and wide

Grow it with: Purple elephant's ears, which creates an amazing tropical combo with this begonia

Source: Watch for this variety at your local garden center

Available from seed: Yes

Showing off a great habit -- lots of branches and a mounding shape so it's less likely to get out of control by the end of the season -- 'Mosaik Amazon Green' coleus sports bright green leaves with a broad creamy-white stripe down the center.

Name: Solenostemon 'Mosaik Amazon Green'

Growing conditions: Sun or shade and moist, well-drained soil

Size: To 18 inches tall and 14 inches wide

Grow it with: 'Superbells Blackberry Punch' calibrachoa or another rich purple-flowering variety for the dark-and-light color contrast

Source: Watch for this variety at your local garden center

Available from seed: No

This upgrade of old-fashioned sweet William offers bigger blooms and a longer flowering season. The bold purple blossoms show shine with a broad white edge and are perfect in bouquets. It thrives in containers and beds and borders.

Name: Dianthus 'Diabunda Purple Picotee'

Growing conditions: Full sun and moist, well-drained soil

Size: To 8 inches tall and 10 inches wide

Grow it with: Sweet alyssum, which will look wonderful trailing out beneath the dianthus

Source: Watch for this variety at your local garden center

Available from seed: No

Coleus loves long, hot summers, so 'Alligator Tears' is a great choice for spicing up beds, borders, and containers. A variety that tolerates full shade or sun, it offers rich green foliage boldly emblazoned with a golden arrow in the center.

Name: Solenostemon Colorblaze 'Alligator Tears'

Growing conditions: Sun or shade and moist, well-drained soil

Size: To 30 inches tall and 16 inches wide

Grow it with: 'Dipt in Wine' coleus or another rich purple or red coleus to create contrast

Source: Watch for this variety at your local garden center or find a retailer near you at provenwinners.com

Available from seed: No

Bold Phantom petunia is sure to catch your eye. This mounding plant offers black flowers highlighted with a creamy-yellow star in the center. It puts on a show all by itself in containers, or looks great with dark-leaf planting partners.

Name: Phantom Petunia

Growing conditions: Full sun and moist, well-drained soil

Size: To 12 inches tall and wide

Grow it with: Purple sweet potato vine, which will accent the rich flower colors

Source: Watch for this variety at your local garden center

Available from seed: No