What we love: The Archangel™ series boasts flowers that are three times larger than other varieties of angelonia, and there’s no need to deadhead!

Type Tender perennial (grown as annual)

Blooms Purple-blue flowers from late spring to early fall

Light Full sun

Size 12 to 14 in. tall, 10 to 12 in. wide

Cold-hardy USDA zones 9 to 11

Heat-tolerant AHS zones 12 to 1

Introducer Burpee Home Gardens®

Source Local garden centers

What we love: The full flower centers of SunBathers™ Malibu make it so this gazania doesn’t close up fully when the sun sets!

Type Tender perennial (grown as annual)

Blooms Solid orange, semidouble daisylike blooms with pointed petals from summer to fall

Light Full sun

Size 8 to 12 in. tall and wide

Cold-hardy USDA zones 10 to 11

Heat-tolerant AHS zones 12 to 1

Introducer Ecke Ranch

Source Local garden centers

What we love: Superbells® Cherry Star thrives in well-drained soil — perfect for your containers this year. Be sure to keep it close to a window. Its flower-heavy, trailing branches will attract hummingbirds!

Type Tender perennial (grown as annual)

Blooms Bright pink flowers with yellow, cream-tinged star centers from spring to early fall

Light Full sun

Size 6 to 10 in. tall, 8 to 10 in. wide

Cold-hardy USDA 9 to 11

Heat-tolerant AHS zones 12 to 1

Introducer Proven Winners®

Source Local garden centers

What we love: A selection of the native species, ‘Arizona Apricot’ is drought-tolerant and a heavy bloomer. Its large flowers have layers of petals in lighter hues than traditional gaillardia.

Type Perennial

Blooms Daisylike flowers with warm, apricot-colored centers from early summer to fall

Light Full sun

Size 10 to 12 in. tall and wide

Cold-hardy USDA zones 3 to 10

Heat-tolerant AHS zones 10 to 1

Introducer Ernst Benary of America Inc.

Source High Country Gardens

What we love: This hosta’s extreme ruffling starts at the crown of the plant and ends at the very tip of each leaf — you’ll want to stop for a touch every time you pass.

Type Perennial

Blooms Light lavender flowers in midsummer

Light Part to full shade

Size 11 to 24 in. tall, 28 to 30 in. wide

Cold-hardy USDA zones 3 to 9

Heat-tolerant AHS zones 9 to 1

Introducer Proven Winners® and Walters Gardens, Inc.

Source Hallson Gardens

What we love: This dwarf red hot poker blossoms with vibrant, cinnamon red color that won’t fade — a striking contrast against its grassy, green foliage. And it reblooms!

Type Perennial

Blooms Vivid red flower spikes from late spring to early fall

Light Full sun

Size 16 to 20 in. tall, 12 to 15 in. wide

Cold-hardy USDA zones 6 to 9

Heat-tolerant AHS zones 9 to 1

Introducer Terra Nova® Nurseries, Inc.

Source Lazy S’S Farm

Get great photos, profiles and growing tips on over 20 more of 2012′s best new perennials, annuals and plants in the March/April issue of Garden Gate magazine, available on newsstands now!