Our pansy crop for landscapers was released in volume last week, and we have done a fine job of bringing these plants along this year. I assure you—this was not a challenge. Pansies have a reputation as a low-maintenance, easy-to-grow crop and it is largely true. Of course, they do need attention during propagation, but they are not a twitchy crop or fussy by any stretch of the imagination.

Such a carefree garden attitude makes it tough for retailers and landscapers to stand out when everyone and their garden gnome is offering pansies for sale. “Why us?” is a tough question, but we think we have valid selling points that you can offer to your customers.

New this year are Cottage Garden Bowls, featuring a mix of Pansies, Violas and early spring accent plants we specifically turn to for March and early April color.As you can tell by the photos, these 10 and 12-inch bowls pack a vivid punch and add personality at a time of year when fun color is hard to find.

We put a lot of thought into the design of these bowls—they aren’t filled with random plugs of leftovers. Last fall we set out to bring you an early spring product with vibrant colors, fun textures and most importantly, strong performance through cold nights, and Cottage Garden Bowls were the result.

People are familiar with Impatiens. It has achieved broad acceptance in the market because most people know what the plants look like and feel comfortable growing them. Impatiens perform well in the shade, so it is only natural that people will try to grow them out in the sun, too.

However . . . they won’t perform as well. Impatiens CAN be grown in the sun, but daily or twice daily watering is necessary to be successful, and in most cases that is just not going to happen.

Sunpatiens® from Sakata offer the perfect alternative. A cross between New Guinea Impatiens and Standard Impatiens, Sunpatiens® feature waxier leaves and are tougher plants in general. This is an Impatiens that does well in the sun! In fact, Sunpatiens® actually require the sun exposure to bloom well; they perform poorly in the shade.

Musas look like Cannas on the surface; however there are significant differences between the two that impact the design of both landscapes and containers. First of all, Musas are much bigger than Cannas, in both leaf and overall size. For example, a Canna might have leaves measuring 12–18 inches, whereas a typical Musa could sport a 3-foot leaf. A Canna might occupy a pot 24 inches in diameter, whereas a Musa could easily go 3–4 feet from leaf tip to leaf tip.

Also, Cannas hold their leaves vertically, so you can see their leaf shapes and colors as you walk toward them. Musas generally hold their leaves horizontal to the ground, so they function more like tropical trees that provide shade for the garden underneath.