Black is back—and beautiful

The Black Pearl Ornamental Pepper is making its debut. That's right, black, and this year it's not optional. Black-leafed plants are the "little black dress" of the garden world. Everybody needs at least one; they never go out of style and they make every garden look great. The Black Pearl showcases leaves of pure black with fruit that matures from black to deep red on plants that are vigorous and bushy.

These upright, well-branched plants love heat and humidity and are not fazed by drought. They virtually are carefree and perfect for containers or the garden in full sun. Everything you plant will pop with brighter, bolder color with this beauty as a backdrop for vibrant annuals and perennials. And everything you plant should come from the same source as your Black Pearl Pepper--the Simply Beautiful line from the Ball Horticultural Company, West Chicago, Ill., now celebrating its 101st year in business.

With black as our now well-described backdrop, a sure foreground winner is the Blazin' Rose Iresine--its striking foliage forming an eye-catching, multicolor pattern. Its leaves present a rich mix of green, burgundy, and pink, with hot-pink stems. Blazin' Rose has a vigorous habit that makes it ideal for large mixed containers or other combination plantings, where it struts its stuff without getting lost among other varieties.

Also never in danger of getting lost is Mystic Spires Blue. These sturdy, dark green-leafed plants are smothered with deep blue flowers all season long, blooming well into the fall--right up until the first frost.

Another we-can't-resist-it standout is the Serena White Angelonia, from the new, more compact angelonia series that is just right for garden beds and landscapes. (Serena also comes in lavender, lavender pink, and purple.) This continuous bloomer thrives in hot areas (humid or dry) and should be located in full sun.

We finished off with Fanfare Bright Coral Spreading Impatiens, a new addition this summer along with Pink Sparkle, the latter featuring beautifully accented pink blooms. These spreading impatiens are ideal for hanging baskets, mixed containers, and landscapes. Guaranteed to garner attention, they fill in extremely fast, providing plenty of quick color.

For more information on these plants and others, including where they can be purchased, visit SimplyBeautifulGardens.com or Wave-Rave.com.

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COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning