There is an active thread re "Digiplexis" and I wanted to hear of any breakout annuals that you have in your garden.

I can tell you that I am so pleased with the performance of "SunPatiens" annual.

I had been in a funk with loss of Impatiens Walleriana due to the very widespread "Downy Mildew" disease. I know there are still lots of options but I love the mass of flower one finds on these Walleriana impatens. Last season I planted a few of the "SunPatiens" as an experiment and they thrived where I had often used Walleriana in the past i.e in lots of shade. So I do not use this plant in the sun as it was intended! (I was concerned at that time whether they could handle lots of shade and they did just fine). This year it went equally well plus I love the variegated salmon flower option. (I think I would buy it even if there was no flower!)

("Sunpatiens" are not "New Guinea" impatiens and personally I have never had good success with NG).

I wish I had snapped pics when they are at their best but here they are as of today, now into Fall. They have been in continuous bloom and very vigorous all summer.

I do understand why variegated coloring can often make the plant look diseased but I don't find this at all to be the case for this variegation as it is quite regular/symmetric on the leaf.

The one drawback to these plants is the price; much more expensive right now than the Walleriana version. I am thinking that as they become more popular this will lead to greater production and then falling prices.

What about you? Any annual you tried for the first or second time that you really liked?

I do agree that annual highlights can be a useful addition to a mixed perennial garden.

In fact, if the area or amount of light available is too small, annuals may greatly improve the situation.

The biggest problem I've had in these circumstances is reseeding with annuals moving around in a bed from year-to-year.

Still, the price might suggest that 'Sunpatiens' aren't inveterate seeders.

I, too, really missed impatiens last year. I tried begonias, and the flower size just wasn't right for the area. And even though I found the "pinkest" pink I've seen, the yellow center gave it a slight coral hue from a distance which didn't work with the Endless Summers that were close by.

I tried Supertunia Vista Bubblegum this year. I didn't have any full sun for it, and a couple areas that I thought would be way too shady (but no deep shade). They did wonderfully! I used some slow-release fertilizer when I planted them, then did NOTHING with them all summer. I think I only watered once or twice, but we did have a decent amount of rain.

Really couldn't be happier with them, and will use them again, but realize the color wouldn't work for everyone.

I've had good experience with New Guinea impatiens time out of mind and enjoy those vivid colored blooms.

Do 'Sun Patiens' thrive in shade as well as sun?

Generally, bi annual in my climate, rudbeckias provide outstanding color and self sow themselves freely.

Seedlings from this plant grew very fast and have also been blooming for a while now. No problem with mildew so far. I actually didn't know at the time of my purchase that the disease was still an issue.

Another favorite annual for me this year is torenia. It stays covered in blooms and is doing well in sun, part sun, and shade. I have white, yellow, pink, purple, and a burgundy color. The bees love them too.

My favorite annual this year was asclepia 'Red Butterfly'. While I grew it a few years ago it was planted late and wasn't very impressive. Found some old seeds this spring and planted the seedling, only one germinated) in my sandy, full sun mailbox garden. It has been a bright beacon to hummingbirds throughout the summer. Have let it go to seed so can plant again next spring.