It's time again for my annual review of plants' performance in Penn State Cooperative Extension's demonstration gardens in North Park and South Park.

The gardens are planted and maintained by Allegheny County's Penn State Master Gardener volunteers. The demonstration gardens' primary purpose is to show home gardeners plants that do well in local soils and climate with minimal maintenance. We work in the gardens one night a week. Pesticide use is minimal, primarily a little glyphosate (Roundup) to control weeds prior to planting in the spring. No insecticides or fungicides are used. The gardens are planted the first week of June and the spent annuals removed when frost kills them.

The demonstration gardens focus on annual flowering plants because they remain the top-selling horticultural crop. Very few perennials offer the season-long bloom that annuals provide. Both gardens also include an assortment of perennial flowers, ornamental grasses and herbs.

Outstanding Performers are those annuals that bloomed all summer with minimal deadheading (removal of spent flowers) and no signs of insect or disease problems, and no animal damage. There are times when deer damage plants in one garden, but not the other. That will be noted in the individual plant evaluations.

Outstanding performers

'Angelface Blue' Angelonia (Angelonia angustifolia) -- attractive foliage; good in large containers as well as in beds and borders.

Serena series Angelonia -- more compact than other varieties of Angelonia; the first Angelonia from seed (the rest are cutting propagated). Use in beds, borders and containers.

'Red Butterfly' annual butterfly weed (Asclepias curassavica) -- trouble-free and long-blooming; attractive to butterflies and pollinators. Monarch larvae fed heavily on this plant in South Park; best in beds and borders.

'Goldteppich' Peter's gold carpet (Bidens ferulifolia) -- blooms from planting until hard frost; heat- and drought-tolerant. Use for edging, massing or in hanging baskets or containers.

Angel's trumpet (Brugmansia spp.) -- shrub or small tree with large trumpet-shaped, evening fragrant flowers; not winter hardy in our area but can be overwintered indoors. Use as a focal point, or grow in large containers to make it easier to move them indoors.

'Australia' Canna -- dark maroon foliage a great foil for deep red flowers. Use in beds, borders and large containers. Lift rhizomes in fall and store indoors for the winter.

'Tropicana' Canna -- large leaves are striped with red, orange and green. Very showy! Use in beds, borders and large containers. Lift rhizomes in fall and store indoors for the winter.

'Black Pearl' ornamental peppers (Capsicum annuum) -- heat- and drought-tolerant; fruits ripen from purple-black to red. Can be eaten but is VERY hot. Use in beds, borders or containers.

'Chilly Chili' ornamental peppers (Capsicum annuum) -- heat- and drought-tolerant; fruits are not hot, which makes them safe around curious children and pets. Fruits remain showy even after they have dried on the plants. Use in beds, borders or containers.

Annual Vinca (Catharanthus roseus Pacifica series) -- clean, glossy green foliage and constant bloom. Vigorous heat- and drought-tolerant plants. Good for massing, edging and containers.

'New Look' Celosia (Celosia argenta var. plumosa) -- old All-America Selections winner that stands the test of time. Bronzy foliage sets off dark red flowers exquisitely. Dries well, too. Use in beds, borders and containers.

Sparkler and Spirit series spider flower (Cleome hasslerana ) -- heat- and drought- tolerant; attractive to butterflies. More compact and less likely to flop than older varieties. Use in beds and borders.

Mystic Illusion and Mystic Desire dahlia (Dahlia x 'Knockout' and 'Scarlet Fern') -- vigorous plants with maroon foliage that held their color through the summer; especially outstanding in late summer and fall. Dig up tubers and store indoors over winter. Use in beds, borders or large containers.

'Cornucopia' double purple angel's trumpet (Datura metel) -- unusual double purple flowers and evening fragrance. Use as an accent in beds and borders or in large containers.

'Miracle Pink' twinspur (Diascia) -- outstanding plants for edging, massing and containers; clean and problem-free.

'Gold Edge' golden dewdrop (Duranta erecta) -- outstanding medium-sized foliage plant; gold leaf variegation does not scorch in full sun. Minor deer damage late in the season did not detract from this beauty. Use in beds, borders and large containers.

'Inneuphdia' Diamond Frost Euphorbia -- outstanding baby's breath effect; season- long bloom. Use in beds, borders and containers. Deer damage in South Park.

'Inneuphhel' Helena's Blush wood spurge (Euphorbia amygdaloides ) -- attractive green-and-white variegated foliage with a reddish blush that intensifies with cooler temperatures; chartreuse flowers in early spring. Might be perennial for us -- stay tuned!

'Sunshine Yellow' Euryops (Euryops pectinatus) -- dark green foliage shows off bright yellow, daisy-type flowers nicely; blooms right up until frost.

Qis series Gomphrena (Gomphrena globosa) -- long-blooming and problem-free. Excellent dried flower. Use in beds and borders.

'Dakota Gold' Helen's Flower (Helenium amarum) -- free-blooming, very compact relative of our native sneezeweed. Problem-free; use as an edging plant or in beds and containers.

'Desert Sunset,' 'Tropical Fruit' and 'Peach Sunrise' Patriot Classic Lantana (Lantana camara) -- great for attracting butterflies and pollinators; very heat- and drought- tolerant. Nonstop blooming; use in beds, borders and large containers. Deer damage in South Park.

'Showstar' medallion flower (Melampodium paludosum ) -- bloomed nonstop; tolerant of heat and drought as well as wetter weather. Powdery mildew started in late September. Use in beds, borders or containers.

'Broken Colors' and 'Limelight Rose' four o' clock (Mirabilis jalapa ) -- long-blooming heirloom flowers that tolerate hot, dry weather very well. Best in beds and borders. Flowers open late afternoon or early evening. North Park only, due to deer damage in South Park.

'Blue Bird' Nemesia (Nemesia strumosa) -- season-long bloom with no deadheading; use for edging, massing and containers.

'Purple Majesty' millet (Pennisetum glaucum) -- past All-America Selections winner. Foliage and long-lasting seedheads remain attractive right through summer; seedheads dry nicely, too. Use in beds, borders and large containers.

'Rubrum' purple fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum) -- outstanding in all types of weather; not winter hardy in our climate. Use in beds, borders and large containers.

Dog-gone, also known as Scaredy cat (Plectranthus caninus) -- attractive gray-green foliage and showy flowers in summer. Pungent aroma of leaves supposed to repel problem cats and dogs; seems to work on deer and other wildlife, too.

'Carmencita Bright Red' castor bean (Ricinus communis) -- huge plants that make a great focal point in the garden; tiny white flowers very attractive to pollinators. Use in beds, borders and large containers.

'Victoria' mealy-cup sage (Salvia farinacea) and 'Black and Blue' anise-scented salvia (Salvia guaranitica) -- attractive to butterflies, hummingbirds and pollinators; 'Victoria's' flowers dry nicely, too. Requires some deadheading to stay attractive; use in beds, borders and containers.

'Flare' scarlet sage (Salvia splendens) -- same qualities as above, outstanding selection of scarlet sage.

Purple heart (Setcreasea purpurea) -- better known as a houseplant, but pink-purple foliage makes a good foil for flowering plants. Use in beds, borders and containers. Deer damage in South Park.

Copper firethorn (Solanum pyracanthum) -- well-armed plant is unique for the bright orange thorns that cover the stems and run down the midrib of every leaf. Painful to work around, but no wildlife damage here; use in beds, borders and large containers.

Kong Rose Coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides) -- huge leaves are trademark of Kong series. Very tropical-looking; remove flower spike to keep plants compact and showy. North Park only, due to deer damage in South Park.

Royal Glissade Coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides) -- antique shades of green and pink in an outstanding coleus; few flower spikes to remove. North Park only.

'Splash' and 'Coco Loco' Coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides) -- two more great sun-tolerant coleuses. Few flower spikes to remove. North Park only.

Persian shield (Strobilanthes dyeranus) -- grown for colorful foliage; does well in hot, dry weather. Use in beds and containers. Late deer damage. North Park only.

'Temari Patio Blue' and 'Superbena Dark Blue' hybrid Verbena (Verbena) -- very heat- and drought-tolerant; long season of bloom; clean, dark green attractive foliage. We had a lovely unnamed peach-colored verbena at North Park that was also outstanding. Use in beds, borders and containers.

'Crystal White' and 'Crystal Yellow' spreading zinnias (Zinnia angustifolia) -- long-blooming, disease-resistant; excellent for edging, massing and containers.

'Profusion White' zinnia -- All-America Selection Gold Medal winner bloomed all summer. Very heat- and drought-tolerant, as well as disease-resistant. Good in beds and containers.

Both demonstration gardens are exposed to full sun and are open and unfenced. We do spray the daylily bed at North Park with a deer repellent called Liquid Fence but otherwise do nothing to control deer damage. We sprayed a few plants that were severely damaged right after planting to allow them a chance to get established, but then they were on their own. Plants that are damaged by deer (or other wildlife) for three consecutive years are not planted again.

The deer population forces us to try new plants every year while keeping the tried and true. Since we have a much worse deer problem in South Park, some of those beds have been switched over to herbs with great success. Deer and other animals often avoid plants with strongly scented foliage, and they have good ornamental value.

NEXT WEEK: Good performers and poor performers.