Cool New Plants for 2009

New plants still make the plant and garden world go around, at least for most that consider themselves interested in gardening as a hobby. Something new is usually something different, and experiencing some of that is half the fun.

This is despite frustrations in recent years, and therefore some current scepticism, and increased wariness. No doubt with current economic conditions, most will be more cautious in there purchase decisions.

For casual or non-hobby gardeners, new plants still provide, at least hopefully, improved forms and more colourful selections to choose from.

Here are a few that my nursery is offering as "new" for 2009:



















Coreopsis 'Red Shift' is another introduction in the Big Bang™ series by Darrel Probst, and comes after eight years of hybridizing many species. Large (5cm, 2") yellow flowers boast an interesting red eye-zone, and in cooler weather, the red colour "runs" to cover most and somestime all of the petals. Plants reach 75-90cm (30-36") in height, and bloom from mid-summer through fall. It has overwintered in zone 5.

Below is a collage of some of the other hybrids that Darrel is working on. WOW!


































Heuchera 'Plum Royale' is a cool new Heuchera (Coral Bells) from Terra Nova Nurseries (Oregon). I've always loved good ol' 'Plum Pudding', and 'Plum Royale' simply looks like an improved version of that classic variety. Terra Nova is promoting the fact that it maintains the shiny purple foliage all summer, and suggests combining it with silver-foliaged plants.




















Hosta 'Rainforest Sunrise' is a cute small variety (45cm wide) with excellent golden-yellow leaves that are edged in dark green. The above photograph shows a plant in our trial gardens a couple years back, and was likely grown in too much sun. In any case, it still performed admirably, and it remains the brightest variety that I've seen to date.

Here's to dirt under your nails.

MPD

Cool Blog & Forum

The web is such a monolith of information, it's often difficult to find new sites of interest. Here's two that I've discovered and recently enjoyed.

First is a great blog for all you avid gardeners: Garden Rant. I just posted a comment on Allan Armitage's blog re native plants this morning.

Another is the GardenWeb Forums. I check the Perennials section almost on a daily basis. It's full of good, simple information from, and exchanges between, mostly every-day gardeners (from across North America).

Here's to dirt under your nails.

MPD