Since the first flower show in June 1829 in the former Masonic Hall on Chestnut Street, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society has introduced new plants and ideas to the American public.

In 2013 the Flower Show unveiled a New Plant Showcase. Located adjacent to the PHS Exhibit at the center of the show floor, the display highlighted beautiful new annuals, as well as some perennials, chosen from the trade show, the “California Spring Trials,” and select West Coast growers. Sam Lemheney, Show designer, visited the trials and commercial greenhouses up and down the Golden State, and chose a few favorites from Sakata International, Suntory, and Hort Couture. The featured plants included:

Coleus ‘Under the Sea,’ has unique leaf shapes that remind one of crustaceans, coral and other sea creatures.The plants have a secondary set of leaflets surrounding the main leaf. They love the direct sun or shade.

Petunia ‘Glamouflage Grape,’ which has stunning grape-colored flowers with amazing variegated leaves. It grows in sun or part shade, and is great for baskets or mixed containers.

Primula ‘Blue Zebra,’ which offers incredible blue-and-white flowers with golden eyes. It grows in part-sun or shade and makes a great splash in early spring.

Gerbera jamesonii ‘Festival’ produces large spectacular flowers, and has an assortment of bright, bold colors.

Platycodon astra is an easy-care perennial that blooms in summer and sports showy blue flowers. The “balloon flower” is great for containers, rock gardens, or the front of a border.

Sunpatiens is a sun-loving, heat-loving impatiens that thrives in full sun or part shade and delivers continuous color from spring through frost.

All the amazing plants introduced at the New Plant Showcase are available for purchase at PHS Meadowbrook Farm, the beautiful estate and garden center at 1633 Washington Lane in Abington Township, Pa. For information about Meadowbrook, visit www.meadowbrookfarm.org.