
DATE: Sunday, March 9, 1997                 TAG: 9703110534

SECTION: HOME                    PAGE: G2   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY MARY REID BARROW, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   80 lines

SUNFLOWER AMONG BLOOMING GOOD NEW ANNUALS

IF YOU WANT to get on the sunflower bandwagon but you have a tiny yard, try Pacino, a new miniature sunflower that blooms its little head off, again and again.

Master Gardener Gloria Winiker, the trials manager in the annuals trial garden at the Hampton Roads Agricultural Research & Extension Center, gave Pacino glowing reports when she wrote up her evaluation of last year's new annuals.

``This is a good-size garden plant,'' Winiker said. ``Even with postage-stamp yards, this sunflower will stay within the bounds of reason. They could certainly brighten any little corner.''

Pacino grows 2 to 3 feet tall and was developed for the cut-flower trade. It has one central bloom, like the giant sunflower, but also sends out side blooms that are almost as large as the central bloom, Winiker said. The side blooms quickly follow the central bloom into flower.

``If you pick the blooms and don't allow it to go to seed, it will keep on blooming,'' she noted.

Pacino will probably be available in pots at nurseries this spring, Winiker said. But she recommends that you grow it from seed.

``Sunflowers are so easy to grow from seed yourself, and they grow so fast,'' she said. ``Just make a little depression in the ground exactly where you want them to grow, put in two or three seeds and cover them over.''

From last year's experience in the trial garden, Winiker also recommends Gypsy, a tiny baby's breath with a lavender tint.

An All America selection last year, little Gypsy grows in dainty mounds. It would be delightful at the front of a border or tumbling over the edge of a hanging basket.

``It's good for mixing with other flowers in tubs, too,'' Winiker said. ``It adds texture.''

Winiker also is high on Salsa, a new series of shorter salvias. They come in striking colors of burgundy, salmon, scarlet and white as well as in bicolors such as salmon and white and scarlet and white. If you cut the salvias back in late summer, they should bloom from May until frost, she found.

``This new little series has proved to be charming,'' Winiker said. ``We're quite pleased with their performance.''

She also is pleased with a pair of new zinnias, totally unlike the old familiar zinnias that most folks know. Daisylike and delicate with narrow leaves, these zinnias have shown no evidence of the late summer mildew that attacks traditional zinnias.

``They last until frost,'' Winiker said.

A yellow-gold variety is called Classic, and one with white petals and a yellow center is called Crystal White. Stems are multiflowered, growing 14 to 16 inches tall, and do well in cut-flower arrangements.

``They have no drawback that I've noticed,'' Winiker said. ``They are extremely drought-tolerant and heat-tolerant and are resistant to insects.''

Other new varieties that Winiker recommends for the flower garden include a new impatiens called Mosaic Lilac. Its lavender flower is streaked with white, ``almost like a paint brush has been drawn through it,'' she said.

And don't forget the Fantasy petunia. Although not brand new, Winiker sings the tiny petunia's praises. Fantasy doesn't get leggy, but stays compact and does well in sandy soil near the water. Another asset is its rainbow of colors. ILLUSTRATION: Photos by CHARLIE MEADS/The Virginian-Pilot

Gloria Winkler has had great success growing the miniature sunflower

Pacino at the Hampton Roads Agricultural Research & Extension

Center.

The new yellow-gold Classic zinnia resists late-summer mildew.

Graphic

WANT TO SEE?

If you want to keep up with new annuals (or perennials and

herbs), visit the Hampton Roads Agricultural Research & Extension

Center, 1444 Diamond Springs Road, Virginia Beach. Signs near the

main entrance indicate that parking is available on the grassy road

shoulder beside the trial gardens. Flowers are marked with common

name and species name. KEYWORDS: WEEDER'S DIGEST