Flower trials allow the industry to have a say in what they will include in their designs in seasons ahead. More than 400 Industry pros voted their top flower picks from more than 1,000 varieties at the Welby Gardens Summer Trials in 2017. Most of the brand new varieties have limited availability the first year out so early orders are recommended—even as early as fall following the trials. Here are 2017 top picks you’ll be seeing in the market soon.

Helianthus Sunfinity (shown right)
Provides non-stop blooms with multiple branches and lots of flowers all summer long. Considered a dwarf Sunflower at 48” tall and 24-32” wide, it’s perfect for large containers. Really takes the heat and full sun.

Coleus Main Street La Rambla (shown left)
Bright, resilient foliage for sun or shade. This coleus will add color and texture to any landscape or container. Its traditional green, rose and burgundy coloring matches well with almost any color scheme.

Osteospermum Blushing Beauty (pictured at top)
Golden-yellow petals with a rose/purple center combine well with other yellow, purple or pink flowers. Growing 10-14” tall and wide in full sun, it works well in combinations or alone in pots. Like most Osteospermum, it blooms best in cooler locations with regular watering.

Petchoa Supercal – Crimson Red (shown right)
A perfect cross between petunia and calibrachoa. The large blooms are a vibrant deep red. Petchoa has high pH tolerance, excellent heat tolerance and weather recovery on semi-trailing (12” x 15”) plants that start to bloom early even in cool temperatures, so they are great season extenders.