From Alicia Asleson

Otter Tail County Master Gardener

Let’s dive in to see the top 10 performing annuals for 2026

Begonia Whopper 

Rose Espresso Leaf

Begonias are known to do well in our region, and this is one of the best examples! This cultivar stood true to its name, exhibiting a striking contrast between the dark, mocha colored foliage and its bright rose flowers. Whopper Espresso Rose Leaf offered a beautiful visual display while in a shaded garden. Staying floriferous and healthy all season helped it earn its 2026 top ten title.

Calibrachoa Cabaret® Orange Kiss

This container trialed calibrachoa caught our eye in the garden very early in the season. Cabaret® Orange Kiss shined with a bursting display of orange-colored flowers and a distinct red eye. The plants filled up the container and spilled over the edges, providing a full look all on their own. This cultivar is a great option for limited space gardening, giving color, vigor, and flower power all season long.

Coleus ChargedUp™ Prismatic

This showy coleus made its mark in the garden this growing season, attaining its spot in the top ten for both a container and an in-ground planting. Visitors voted on ChargedUp™ Prismatic as one of their favorite cultivars displayed in the garden, and it’s not hard to see why! With bold bursts of lime paired with a stark maroon, this coleus was easy to spot and to love! With a vigorous branching habit and great plant health, ChargedUp™ Prismatic was able to perform throughout every condition that a Minnesota prairie summer threw its way.

Ipomoea Sweet Caroline Bewitched After 

Midnight™ II

Trialed in-ground, the sweet potato vine’s striking foliage left us wishing we had more of them in the garden! Planted in a known hotter and drier part of the display garden, this Ipomoea was quick to find its feet and establish itself. Its vigor and prominent dark color was everlasting throughout the entire season. Sometimes, plants do so well we don’t even need flowers for it to make the top ten!

Petunia NewBee

Petunia NewBee delivered from June to September both in-ground and in a container. It had showy, ombre colored yellow flowers with a darker yellow vein out from the center. NewBee remained uniform, healthy, and floriferous throughout our unique set of summer conditions. We noted its immediate vigor, ability to produce flowers, and naturally deadheaded as the trial went on. This cultivar can be paired nicely in a combination planting, or as a bedding plant.

Petunia Supertunia 

Vista® Cool Jazz™

Amongst many petunia cultivars in this year’s trial, Supertunias always perform, and it’s their longevity and flower power that get them on the top ten list. Cool Jazz™ persevered through our wet June, hot July, and dry August, always flowering with a nice soft purple color. Each data collection day, these petunias exhibited excellent uniformity, which  makes them great for  in-ground plantings. Their soft color also helps them to pair nicely with any other cultivars/colors in your garden bed.

Salvia Mystic Spires

Salvia Mystic Spires was already in our sights during its time in the greenhouse. It was a fast-growing cultivar that was quick to flower, and performed well after transplanting both in-ground, and in a container. This salvia took up space in the ground and was a pollinator magnet! It earned a spot in the top ten due to its health and quality all season long. Mystic Spires was easily spotted because of its height, and well-pronounced purple salvia coloring.

Sunflower Sunfinity® Single Yellow

Sunfinity® Single Yellow proved itself while planted near other sunflower cultivars. This bushy, upright cultivar shined with excellent plant quality throughout the entire season flashing a very simple, single sunflower look. Great vigor, uniformity, and continual flowering! While other Helianthus cultivars suffered from powdery mildew early on, Sunfinity® Single Yellow held strong, demonstrating its resistance in hot and wet early conditions.

Zinnia Belize 

Double Scarlet

With Belize Double Scarlet’s vivid red blooms, and numerous flowers, it was impossible to walk by this cultivar and not stop! This zinnia stood out amongst other Belize Doubles because of its ability to withstand drought-like conditions with consistent flower color. It remained healthy all season long, showing excellent vigor, uniformity, and flowering. Its strong lower branching promoted outward dome- like growth instead of upward growth, giving it an edge to perform well in a container as well as in-ground.

Zinnia Zydeco™ Gold

Zydeco™ Gold was a standout all season long! These zinnias exhibited an eye-catching orange flower color with healthy foliage. Visitors often mistook it for a marigold due to its large, double flowers. Plants had increased flower longevity due to their double flowers, heat and disease tolerance, and vigorous branching habit. Because of their habit, Zydeco™ Gold can be adapted easily into combination plantings, containers, or hanging baskets.

Source: West Central Research and Outreach, The 2026 Top Ten Performing Annuals