Last week, I discussed some of the new vegetable varieties I am looking forward to experimenting with in this year’s garden. Today, I’d like to tell you about some recent ornamental-plant introductions that have caught my eye.

I plan on finding homes for them in my garden so that I can evaluate their performance and see if they are worth all the buzz they are generating. If they sound like they might be good additions to your garden, all of them should be available at many local, independent garden centers this spring.

‘Bloomerang’ lilac: There’s a new lilac on the block, and I’ve heard nothing but rave reviews about this beauty. This hybrid bears lovely, fragrant purple flowers — but not just in the spring! ‘Bloomerang’ presents a typical flush of blooms in early spring, but, then in mid-summer, it flowers again and continues to do so all the way through fall. It is a fairly compact specimen, reaching only 5 feet tall and nicely mounded. Like other lilacs, ‘Bloomerang’ prefers full sun and well-drained soil. It is also powdery mildew-resistant.

‘Heathcliff’ rose :A hybrid of a old-fashioned English rose by the breeders at David Austin Roses, this stunning cerise-colored rose is lush and fragrant. The blooms are dense with petals and of a beautiful round shape. This rose is a strong repeat bloomer that bears flowers throughout the summer. It is a very hardy variety and has a more-upright growth habit, reaching 5 feet to 6 feet in height at maturity.

‘Tranquility’ rose: Another selection from David Austin, this English musk hybrid rose is a complete show-stopper. The flowers produce a musky apple scent, and while the buds are graced with a tinge of creamy yellow, the mature flowers are pure white. Another excellent repeat bloomer, ‘Tranquility’ is a vase-shaped shrub with near-thornless canes and foliage.

‘Sonic Bloom’ weigela: This deciduous shrub puts a new twist on an old favorite. The tubular flowers of weigela are a favorite of hummingbirds, and this new hybrid is no exception. But, unlike standard varieties, ‘Sonic Bloom’ doesn’t flower just in the spring; it produces blooms throughout the summer and well into the fall. The medium-green foliage is the perfect background for the deep-pink flowers, and the shrub doesn’t require deadheading in order to produce more blooms. It prefers full to part sun.

‘Raven’ geranium: Perennial geraniums have always been a favorite in my garden. Though they don’t look anything like the annuals that share their common name, they are tough, beautiful additions to the sunny border. ‘Raven’ is a cultivar of Geranium phaeum (I have another cultivar called ‘Mourning Widow’ that I adore). In May, and then off-and-on through late summer, ‘Raven’ is graced with deep-purple/near-black blooms standing tall above its medium-green, ruffled foliage. The plant does best in part to full shade, though it will readily tolerate full sun.

Horticulturist Jessica Walliser co-hosts “The Organic Gardeners” at 7 a.m. Sundays on KDKA Radio. She is the author of several gardening books, including “Grow Organic” and “Good Bug, Bad Bug.” Her website is www.jessicawalliser.com.

Send your gardening or landscaping questions to tribliving@tribweb.com or The Good Earth, 503 Martindale St., 3rd Floor, D.L. Clark Building, Pittsburgh, PA 15212.

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