On Gardening: Safari Dusk named 'Annual of the Year'

Norman Winter, Tribune News Service on Jan 29, 2026

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Safari Dusk has been chosen as Proven Winners' "Annual of the Year." It is an incredibly beautiful flower that you must put in your repertoire of component plants, if you will, for mixed containers and hanging baskets.

Botanically speaking it is a Jamesbrittenia hybrid that in the United States goes by the common name South African Phlox. In containers from Florida to Alabama and Georgia show this plant has "gold medal" written all over it.

It’s rare to find it at the garden center because most gardeners simply don’t recognize the name and thus the industry has been timid at putting it on the display bench. This has been like the "chicken or egg" type scenario: If we don’t have chance to buy it, how is everyone going to fall in love with its beauty and performance

So, the fact that it is an award winner and the "Annual of the Year" for 2026 maybe we will see a Jamesbrittenia lift off. But there is one more shot in the arm for Safari Dusk: It is one of the key ingredients in a Proven Winners "Recipe of the Year" called Saffron Sunrise.

Saffron Sunrise is one of the most beautiful mixes you will ever grow. It features Supertunia Saffron Finch petunia, Tropical Sunrise Superbells calibrachoa and the star of this column, Safari Dusk South African phlox.

Then another recipe I photographed at the Young’s Plant Farm Annual Garden Tour in Auburn, Alabama, was nothing short of dazzling. It had no official name but featured Safari Dusk South African phlox, a yellow daisy-like flower called Goldilocks Rocks bidens and Superbells Cherry Red calibrachoa.

Both recipes I’ve shared are like three-part harmony for the garden. Proven Winners' tag says Safari Dusk is royal purple but it says strong hints of a blue that gives it a lavender color with a yellow eye and tinge of orange-red in the center. Safari Dusk is different from the three other varieties offered in that it has markings that look like whiskers similar to a pansy.

Hopefully you will get to see the photographs of these mixes but if not know that each basket or container features Superbells, Tropical Sunrise or Cherry Red calibrachoas, Safari Dusk South African phlox, and one yellow flower, Supertunia Saffron Finch petunia or Goldilocks Rocks bidens.

Safari Dusk South African phlox will reach 12 inches tall with a spread of 1 to 2 feet. In my hanging baskets I had a nice draping or spiller effect. That coupled with tiny pollinators, bees and butterflies, was an unexpected delight.

Safari Dusk is a Sutera relative and I’ve seen it called Sutera. It is much superior and more tolerant of weather, however. It needs good drainage and sun to part sun. The good drainage requirement is another way to say containers and baskets will be just perfect only needing your artistic touch.

In containers that get watered every day in the growing season, an application of a water-soluble fertilizer every two to three weeks will keep them at peak performance.

The Safari series now boasts Safari Lava Flow (which is new this year), Safari Sky, Safari Dawn and Safari Dusk, the "Annual of the Year." Start sourcing now and talk to your garden center about this great new generation of plants.

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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.)