We gardeners are always on the lookout for plants that have that special characteristic: unique foliage, multi-colored flowers, unusual growth habit, or some other eye-catching trait. In today’s world of dozens of options on the shelf even for toothpaste, it takes a lot to stand out from the crowd, which is why so many of the new plant introductions are released specifically for their “wow” factor. As you plan and plant your gardens and containers this month, here are a few must-have plants I recommend incorporating into your planters and beds that are sure to wow your neighbors and bring you happiness all season long.

First, petunias have long been a staple of the flower garden, and today’s spreading, trailing varieties are a great way to add incredible color to beds or containers without the deadheading that older varieties required. Supertunias are arguably the best-known branded petunias on the market today, and the Vista series is the most aggressive and impressive for its size and blooming power.

If you’ve tried growing Supertunia Vistas, though, and have had them swallow up the other plants in your pots—or if you want additional colors that the Vista series doesn’t offer, check out the striking options in Mini Vista petunias available this spring at Vander Giessen’s. These smaller-flowered varieties come in a wide range of colors including yellow, scarlet, and the brand-new deep purple Ultramarine—all colors missing from the regular Vista selection. Mini Vistas bloom prolifically, and because their flowers are slightly smaller than regular petunias, they don’t spoil easily in rainy weather. Mini Vistas pair well with other basket stuffers, staying slightly more compact while still filling out and growing vigorously.

Second, foliage plants are very on-trend and sure to bring the “wow” factor to your garden space or containers, and one must-have foliage plant I love to use in containers is Lemon Coral sedum. This annual succulent has finely textured bright chartreuse-to-yellow foliage and quickly fills out to create a dense, mounding or slightly trailing form. Best in full sun, Lemon Coral works great at the front of a garden or as a border plant. In containers, I like to pair Lemon Coral with dark-leafed sweet potato vine and coleus for a colorful container filled only with foliage plants.

Now, if you’ve always thought of coleus as a shade-lover and wonder why I would pair it with something sun-loving like a sedum, here’s another way to impress your neighbors: use shade lovers in the sun! Now, not all shade plants do well in sun, but coleus—traditionally used for shade gardens—performs great in sun and heat. Prized for its colorful leaves and robust growth habit, coleus is an excellent addition for height and texture in any container mix for sun or shade. Check out the many varieties of coleus we have in stock at the nursery and add them to your pots for great color all summer.

Likewise, impatiens are one of the most common shade annuals that perform well in sun. Years ago, a long-time customer of the nursery taught us that traditional impatiens grow impressively well in sun, as long as you can keep up with watering. We’ve tried it, and she was right—you can grow impatiens anywhere! Today’s Beacon and Imara varieties are highly resistant to downy mildew, the disease that wiped out impatiens in past years, so you if you need easy color for flowerbeds with almost no insect or disease susceptibility, you’ll be hard-pressed to find something easier to grow than impatiens.

Finally, many gardeners have discovered in recent years the impressive growth habit of annual papyrus varieties like Prince Tut but may have wanted a more compact variety for smaller containers. New to market last year, Queen Tut makes a great centerpiece for mixed containers with bright green, upright grassy foliage that blends nicely with other basket stuffers. With small, fluffy heads that resemble upturned umbrellas, Queen Tut papyrus is sure to catch your eye.

No matter whether your garden is two acres or two pots on a small balcony, spring is an exciting time browsing the greenhouses at Vander Giessen’s and finding new, colorful plants that will stop you in your tracks all season long. And if they wow the neighbors, great—but truth be told, most of us garden purely for the joy the plants bring our own souls.