The Beauty of Young, New Plants

It's great to work at a nursery that grows such cool plants... and to so easily get an early taste of the seasons that lie ahead! Here's a couple of pics of some of the newest varieties that we are growing this year, and in this case, pushing a little ahead of their regular schedule, just so we can see how they do, and what they look like.























Above, left to right, top to bottom:

Heuchera 'Electric Lime'
Heucherella 'Golden Zebra'
Viola 'Heartthrob'
Heuchera 'Havana'
Dicentra 'Candy Hearts'
Heuchera 'Midnight Bayou'
Brunnera 'Emerald Mist'
Brunnera 'King's Ransom'
























Above, left to right, top to bottom:

Heucherella 'Sweet Tea' (very cool!)
Heuchera 'Midas Touch'
Heuchera 'Sugar Plum'
Geum 'Eos' (sweet!)
Heucherella 'Tapestry'
Heuchera 'Fire Chief' (I really like this one)
Heuchera 'Electra'
Thalictrum ichangense Evening Star Strain

I really enjoy putting and seeing these "assorted" trays together -- I don't know how anyone could resist!

Here's to dirt under your nails.

Mark, the coolplantsguy

In the Pipeline -- New Plants for 2011 and Beyond, Part 2

In this post, we will take a look at the breeding work of Brent Horvath of Intrinsic Perennial Gardens in Hebron, Illinois. His most popular introduction so far include Polemonium 'Heaven Scent', a personal favourite of mine, with early, grape-scented purple flowers and dark spring foliage. It was derived from crossing the native (most of north-eastern North America) P. reptans with P. yezoense 'Purple Rain'.























Another popular introduction of Brent's is Sedum 'Lajos' Autumn Charm™, a wonderfully variegated (sport of the popular 'Autumn Joy') form of Showy Stonecrop. While I have become somewhat jaded with variegated Sedums, due to their relative instability, this one appears to be the "most stable", and is otherwise very colourful.


One of Brent's plants that has been out for a few years, that I am very impressed with but have yet to grow is Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Red Head' (below). Compared with the "flowers" of other forms of Fountain Grass, this one is simply outstanding.


In Brent's pipeline are several more exciting new perennials. The following have been released in the last year or two, or will be released by his nursery in 2010. Keep in mind that an introduction to the industry, typically takes a few more years to reach "mass production".

One that is almost shockingly beautiful is Andropogon gerardii 'Red Bull', a selection of the native (most of North America east of the Rocky Mountains) Big Bluestem or Turkey Foot Grass, which is described as the "monarch of the prairie grasses". In any case, it is a beautiful, upright grass that is easy to grow in full sun, with lush summer foliage, that in the case of 'Red Bull', turns a brilliant red in the autumn.























Another beauty is Geum 'Mai Tai' with lovely peachy-apricot flowers on dark stems.


Last but not least is Penstemon digitalis 'Precious Gem', a brand new selection of the native (most of eastern North America) with foliage that emerges bronze and turns green by summer, and with plenteous pink flowers on dark stems that persist until autumn.


Here's to dirt under your nails...

MPD, coolplantsguy

In the Pipeline -- New Plants for 2011 and Beyond

So most of us are at least somewhat interested in trying a new plant or two this spring or summer... my last four posts here have highlighted several new varieties that will be available in 2010. But what about the new plants that are in the pipeline to be released in 2011 and beyond? Here's a few sneak peaks to whet your appetite.

One of my favourite stops while visiting Holland, was the nursery of Marco van Noort, an incredible plantsman, and breeder of the popular Geranium 'Jolly Bee'. The genus Geranium is a specialty of his, but it appears as though he is branching into Echinacea as well. Here are some seedlings pictured on his website:








Also check out this video of plants that he is releasing in 2010-11.



I am very impressed with these, and knowing his standards in breeding and selection, they are bound to be good varieties. My best guess is that they will likely make it North American in 2011-12.

I can recall my last visit to his nursery and seeing a very small batch of near-red Geranium cinereum -- it looks like 'Memories' or 'Signal' are the result of that work -- beautiful!

Here's one that he describes as the largest-flower ever. The variety 'Dragon Heart' (also a superb plant) is on the left for comparison.


Spring is just around the corner! A few more weeks my friends.

Here's to, at least dreaming of, dirt under your nails.

MPD, coolplantsguy

New Plants for 2010, Part 2

Here's another set of three new varieties of perennials that we are growing for 2010.

First is Geum Totally Tangerine™ ('Tim's Tangerine') from the UK. It is completely sterile, and so is particularly long-blooming compared to other varieties. While I've generally not been a big fan of this genus in the past, I've warmed up to it in recent years, and expect this plant to be a real winner in the garden. It is hardy to USDA zone 4 and easy to grow in the front or middle of a bed, forming a low mound of foliage but with flowers on stems nearing 75cm (30") in height.


































Second is Echinacea 'Firebird' from Terra Nova's breeding program. This variety has brilliant red-orange, shuttlecock-shaped flower petals surrounding a dark cone for a beautiful contrast. It has a well-branched habit and flowers at just under 1m (38") in height.
















While there has been much discussion regarding the hardiness and vigour of these new hybrid Coneflowers, my recommendation based on experience is to plant relatively mature plants in the late spring or early summer. Graham Rice covered some of the likely issues in his December 2007 article.

Finally for this post, is Hemerocallis 'Just Plum Happy' from renowned Daylily breeder Darrel Apps. It is a re-blooming variety producing large (11cm, 4.5" wide) flowers with mauve-pink petals and a darker plum-purple eye with matching picotee edge.


















Thanks to Planthaven, Skagit Gardens, Terra Nova Nurseries and Walters Gardens for use of their photography.

More to come...

MPD, the coolplantsguy

New Hellebores

The genus Helleborus is unique in the world of perennials, and likely I would suggest, in the world of gardening as a whole. Their very early bloom time is essentially unparallelled. I can only think of Cyclamen coum, and a few of the early spring-blooming bulbs, as possible equals.

It was not long ago that Helleborus were relegated only to specialty nurseries, and at somewhat excessive prices. Nursery propagation was slow and tedious to say the best. In recent years however, they have thankfully become more readily available, and at more reasonable prices.

One of my favourites of a few years ago, is Helleborus Ivory Prince™ ('Walhelivor') from David Tristram of the UK. The bronze-pink buds open to a creamy-green-white flower, and their production is prolific.



















More recently, I'm eager to try H. niger 'HGC Josef Lemper', a selection of the historic Christmas Rose by Joseph Heuger of Germany. The bright and pure white flowers are more upright and longer-lasting than older forms. I've even seen it available as a "pot plant" in some of the local grocery stores in December!



















Finally, one that is "hot off the presses" and has many in the industry more than a little excited is H. 'Walberton's Rosemary', also from Mr. Tristram. It is supposedly a cross between H. niger and H. orientalis, which until recently had been highly sought after but nearly impossible to achieve. In any case, the flower colour and habit appears to be impressive.














You can read more about this beauty at Graham Rice's post, here.

In the meantime, here's to dirt your nails -- spring has finally arrived!

Cool New Plants for 2009 III

OK, one more "New Plants for 2009" post before spring. We had a good thaw here a few weeks ago, but it's been up and down ever since. It's -8C at the moment, and I would expect that we will get one more good dump of the white stuff before April.

Cypripedium reginae (Showy, or Queen's Lady's Slipper) of course is not new, but I'm so excited that we finally have a decent crop of this exotic beauty, that's is certainly worth the honour. It is native to most of the provinces and states in North America's northeast quandrant, but is endangered or threatened in most of those areas. My crop has been produced via tissue culture -- not harvested from the wild. In the garden, it's not one for the average sunny border, but with an evenly moist, neutral to slightly alkaline soil in partial shade, it is not difficult. For some excellent photographs, click here.














Eryngium planum 'Jade Frost' is a wonderfully variegated version of the Flat Sea Holly, and originated in the Cornwall (UK) garden of James and Megan Cave. Most photographs show off the foliage with a dramatic pink tinge on the cream-edged green leaves -- this trait apparent during periods of cooler temperatures.














Less common are photographs of the plant in a mature state with the "blue" flowers. In either case, this is a definite "must-have" for any serious gardener.


















Heuchera 'Beaujolais' is another excellent introduction from Frenchman Thierry Delabroye -- this one with large, dark leaves overlaid with silver. It is a great intermediate colour between the brighter types like 'Caramel', and the darker ones like 'Mocha'. As with most of Thierry's hybrids, there is significant H. villosa influence which should add to its vigour, especially with our hot, humid summers.



















These are another three new plants I intend to add to my garden this spring. I hope you will too.

Here's to dirt under your nails.

MPD

Cool New Plants for 2009 II

Here's another sampling of new plants for 2009 -- and why I think they will be worth at least a try.















Brunnera 'King's Ransom' is a very cool variegated sport of the now classic 'Jack Frost' -- so just take those wonderfully silver leaves and add a creamy edge to each, and you've got the new 'King's Ransom'. It should be a pleasant addition to the shade garden, making an effective neighbour to something plain and dark such as a Heuchera.

The "parent" 'Jack Frost' is such a great and easy plant, that this new form should at least be decent. My realistic expectation however, is that 'King's Ransom' will be somewhat less vigorous, but hopefully this is not a problem. Another potential concern is the stability of the variegated characteristic -- hopefully it's not anything like the dreaded form 'Variegata'. In any case, I'm still looking forward to trying 'King's Ransom' -- hopefully I don't have pay one to obtain it.















Geranium 'Sandrine' is from Thierry Delabroye of France (the same breeder that has brought us all the wonderful new Heuchera villosa hybrids), and is being described as "'Ann Folkard' on steroids". I always found 'Ann Folkard' to be such a useful "design" plant (I'm no designer), with it's subtle golden foliage and weaving/sprawling habit, but that it still lacked something. The flowers of the newer 'Sandrine' are twice as large as the ones on 'Ann Folkard', and that could make all the difference.

































Hemerocallis 'Fooled Me' has brilliant golden-yellow flowers with striking red eye-zone and matching picotee edge. It won the American Hemerocallis Society's Silver Stout Medal (the highest honour) award in 2005, and is known for its prolific flower production.

Here's to dirt under your nails.

MPD

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

All Those New Echinacea (Coneflowers)

I know they've been all the rage for the last few years, ever since the Chicagoland Grows breeding program came out with Orange Meadowbrite. And then some Dutchman discovered the interesting double form eventually named 'Razzmatazz'. Since then, we've got the Big Sky(TM) series, the Conefections(TM) series, a couple more in the Meadowbrite series, and several more from Terra Nova.

Desipte all the hubris, my favourites remain 'Kim's Knee High', an outstanding relatively dwarf form with excellent branching, flower production and petal colour. Introduced by Niche Gardens and named for its founder Kim Hawks.













Also a favourite of mine, is the relativley new 'Green Envy', with unique green petals that eventually fade to a light pink. Some propagators have said this detracts from the plant, and have therefore been promoting another called 'Green Jewel' as one than has petals that remain green all the time. I disagree, and feel that the green petals of 'Green Envy' turning to pink are actually more unique and interesting than those that remain green.

In any case, all Echinacea (Coneflowers) are easy to grow in full sun and relatively drought tolerant once established. They do tend to self-seed a little bit, which makes the introduction of all these new hybrids into the garden, somewhat interesting.

For what's it worth, here's an interesting semi-double I found in our nursery the other day.












Here's to dirt under your nails.

MPD

A Cool New Digitalis

A very weird and wonderful Digitalis (Foxglove) was discovered by one of my growers at our nursery yesterday. It was one amongst several dozen D. purpurea 'Excelsior Hybrids'.

Although I have seen oddities before in certain plants, nothing quite as extraordinary as this.

Time will tell, with a few emails zipping around the world, whether it is truly of any horticultural significance. In the meantime, it is fun and otherwise a plain testimony to nature's wonderful variability.

Three New Cool Plants I

Most gardeners are interested in "what's new" as far as plant varieties are concerned. It provides us with an opportunity to be different than our friends, and to learn about and appreciate something that is, at the very least different from what we're use to, but also hopefully better or improved, than what most are used to.

These three plants are relatively new, but also tried and tested for a couple of years in trial gardens here in Niagara-on-the-Lake. The pictures were taken May 14, 2007.




















The first is Geum 'Mango Lassi', which was introduced by Blooming Nursery of Oregon a few years back. It's origin or parentage is, as far as I can tell, unknown. In any case, it performed admirably and made a tremendous display of colour for several weeks in our trial garden last year. Try it with something that has silver foliage like Stachys 'Big Ears' (Lambs Ears) and/or a plant with similar colour like Physocarpus Coppertina.

The second is Euphorbia polychroma 'Bonfire', a new introduction a few years back via Blooms of Bressingham. It is a definite improvement upon older selections of the Cushion Spurge that had dark foliage but faded quickly to the usual grey-green. In any case, this one is a beauty with dark foliage that contrasts nicely with the chartreuse flowers in spring, and holds its colour nicely into the summer.




















Finally, new varieties of Pulmonaria (Lungwort, Lords and Ladies) have been plentiful in recent years, but some have been prone to mildew and otherwise less than stellar. Pulmonaria 'Samurai' however (P. 'Majeste' × P. longifolia cevennsis) has performed like a star with clean silver foliage and brilliant near-blue flowers.




















If you'd like to try something new this year, try one of these -- plants that have been tried and tested.

Here's to dirt under your nails.

MPD