Formerly recognized only as a weed, verbascum is gaining popularity with gardeners and growers. 'Southern Charm' will bloom the first year when started from seed without the need for vernalization. - By Paul Pilon

Compact growth habit and long-lasting flowers make this an ideal container crop. Veronica 'Royal Candles' is a clump-forming, bushy cultivar often utilized in rock gardens, as a border plant or in containers. This cultivar has many distinguishing characteristics such as a compact growth habit, reaching only 10-12 inches tall; clean leafy foliage topped with numerous vertical flower spikes; and deep blue-purple flowers, lasting from late spring to midsummer. With these characteristics, it is well suited to production in small container sizes and for marketing alongside bedding plants. - Paul Pilon

This cool-season perennial has great landscape appeal and no vernalization requirement, which means producing flowering plants is mostly a function of temperature and time. - By Paul Pilon