Trends in annuals From Country Life Containers The enormous enthusiasm for growing plants in tubs and hanging baskets has been an obvious feature of gardening in the late 1980s and 1990s and it shows little sign of fading. On the contrary plant breeders are developing new varieties specifically with containers in mind. Petunias like 'Purple Wave' and 'Pink Wave', with the long, trailing habit of the familiar Surfinias, but without the risk of virus diseases, are poised to take off although the seed is expensive. The blue and white bicoloured Lobelia 'Regatta Blue Splash' is a superb new partner for basket plants in pink or red and Salvia farinacea 'Strata', with blue flowers on silvery white stems, is an excellent new tub plant.     From the Spring Gardens Number of Country Life, 1995 The 'Fantasy' petunias are both compact and small-flowered. These are ideal plants for small containers but their tight habit is more suited to modern town gardens than large country gardens and they are not vigorous enough for beds and borders. Developed both to ensure that they flower in the garden centre and thrive in tubs, the American breeders have even patented the gene for the dwarf habit and small flowers to protect their investment in research. Double petunias have also taken a step forward in recent years. The Victorians grew them from cuttings or accepted as few as 20% double flowered plants from a packet. The Duo Series, which took all the awards at last year's RHS trial of double petunias, is both prolific and compact - and every plant is double. In geraniums there is a much improved striped type, 'Raspberry Ripple', a fine dark eyed type, 'Venus' although good ivy-leaved varieties from seed are yet to appear. Back to Trends in annuals More on Trends in annuals The revival of old varieties Colours The future Annual Manual ©copyright 1999 Graham Rice. All Rights Reserved. All Images Digitally Watermarked.