On Gardening: There is Magic in the garden this year

Norman Winter, Tribune News Service on May 28, 2026

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There is a new flower showing up at garden centers that is pure Magic. In fact, its official name is Superbells Magic Double Grapefruit. If you aren’t familiar with the name, it is a calibrachoa, a petunia relative. Double gives reference to flowers that, in this case, look like miniature roses.

Magic is your key descriptor telling you that the flower changes colors. The flowers start off a pleasant lemon yellow and then age to a rose pink. Of course, to get to rose pink you have various shades along the way. Another magical aspect to me, the guru of captivating combinations, is that it seems that no matter the color you choose, it will go with Superbells Magic Double Grapefruit calibrachoa.

You will find your plants reaching 6 to 12 inches in height with a spread from 12 to 24 inches. So this will be a great plant for spilling or tumbling over the rim of baskets and containers. So let me put to death the rumor that you can’t put them with petunias because someone said they have different water needs. Everyone in the basket or container needs watering daily in the long summer unless it rains.

My son James showed us right off the bat how versatile they are when choosing partners. He paired Superbells Magic Double Grapefruit calibrachoa with Supertunia Vista Cool Jazz petunia, which is also making its debut this year. There is something special about the affinity these two flowers have for each other. He, however, also combined with Superbells Grape Punch calibrachoa, which seemed like a perfect partner for both.

Then my neighbors Dave and Cynthia had a special vision for their hanging basket. Could Superbells Magic Double Grapefruit, which looked so perfect with Supertunia Vista Cool Jazz, go with orange? They didn’t choose orange but went with Supertunia Persimmon petunias that color up like ripe persimmons with yellow throats. Who says persimmons and grapefruits can’t go together?

Can the grapefruits go with plums? The Garden Guy planted one of his containers with Superbells Magic Double Grapefruit calibrachoa and Supertunia Mini Vista Plum Veined petunia. As you might guess, it is purely magical.

But as I was researching Heart to Heart Chinook caladium for last week’s column, I stumbled across a photo that is epic. The container, a formal urn, had Heart to Heart Chinook caladiums. The Caladium of the Year paired with Surefire Cascade Red begonia and Superbells Magic Double Grapefruit calibrachoas both making their debut. Oh, be still my heart!

This award-winning Superbells needs good sunlight. I like them in boxes and baskets, so use a good lightweight potting mix. I feed it about every three weeks with a water-soluble fertilizer mix. Then one other technique is critical: cutting back. I usually let the plant tell me when and where to cut. I always remove any dry shriveled or dead stems, but the goal is to generate new growth.

There is one more magical aspect. The Garden Guy didn’t think I would like another double, and another magic (reference to my favorite Magic Pink Lemonade) but I do. I am totally hooked, and you will be too!

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(Norman Winter, horticulturist, garden speaker and author of “Tough-as-Nails Flowers for the South” and “Captivating Combinations: Color and Style in the Garden.” Follow him on Facebook @NormanWinterTheGardenGuy.)

(NOTE TO EDITORS: Norman Winter receives complimentary plants to review from the companies he covers.)