Plants We Love 2014 by Horticulture

Plants We

LOVE

HOT NEW VARIETIES & AWARD WINNERS FOR 2014

New Intros Noteworthy plants of 2014 compiled by Meghan Shinn

HE PLANT WIZARDS have been at it again. Here are some of the exciting new varieties theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve cooked up for release in 2014. What will you seek for your garden?

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FROM DAVID AUSTIN: ‘BOSCOBEL’ ENGLISH ROSE

‘Boscobel’ bears beautifully formed ﬂowers of a rich salmon coloring that changes with age to a rich, deep pink. The flowers start as red buds that open to pretty cups and develop into perfectly formed blooms of classic rosette formation. The numerous small petals are of varying shades, mingling to provide a most pleasing effect. The delightful, medium to strong myrrh fragrance has a hawthorn character with hints of elderflower, pear and almond. ‘Boscobel’ forms an upright, 3-foot shrub that is strong and healthy with dark green, glossy foliage. Full sun. Zones 5–9. ‘HEATHCLIFF’ ENGLISH ROSE

There are few roses as popular as those of deep crimson coloring—and none so difficult to breed. ‘Heathcliff ’ is a stunning 13th addition to Austin’s collection of red/scarlet English roses. It has large, fully double ﬂowers of rosette shape. The color is a true deep crimson, with a certain softness reminiscent of some of the old red Gallica roses. Its lovely fragrance is unusual: Tea Rose imbued with Old Rose, played beautifully off a minor base note of earthy, elegant, dry woody cedar. Grows roughly 3 feet tall and wide. Full sun. Zones 5–9.

15 to 20 feet in width. The bright spring blooms give way to dark green foliage with a red overcast. In the fall, small cherry-red fruits appear. This is an alternative to the popular ‘Prairifire’ with better disease resistance. Hardy to Zone 4. FIREBIRD VARIEGATED DOGWOOD

Cornus florida rubra ‘Fircomz’. A fabulous new dogwood with colorful flowers and foliage! A sport from Cherokee Brave, Firebird has red flowers and white centers. However, its finest attribute is its green-and-white variegated foliage, which also shows red to burgundy new growth all season long. As the nights cool and fall approaches, these red tones overtake the entire leaf. This selection of a native tree grows more slowly than other cultivars and reaches a mature height of approximately 20 to 25 feet with a 20-foot spread. Zone 5. Above right, top to bottom: 'Boscobel' English rose; 'Heathcliff' English rose; spring flowers of Show Time crabapple. Below: Firebird dogwood's variegated foliage.

FROM UPSHOOT HORT: SHOW TIME CRABAPPLE

Malus ‘Shotizam’ Show Time has the most prolific fuchsiared ﬂowers of any crabapple on the market—they’re practically fluorescent! It matures to approximately 25 feet in height and

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FROM PROVEN WINNERS COLORCHOICE SHRUBS:

wide, and it may be cut back each winter. Zones 5–9.

‘SWEET SUMMER LOVE’ CLEMATIS

This is a new type of sweet autumn clematis, with a longer bloom time and brilliant color. Fragrant cranberry-violet flowers start blooming more than a month earlier than other varieties and cover the plant in summer. Easy to grow and deerresistant, it is a very showy 10foot vine for a trellis or stake in the ground or a large container. It prefers deep, well-drained soil and full sun. USDA Zones 4–9. SWEET LIFEBERRY GOJI BERRY

Lycium barbarum ‘SMNDSL’. Easy-to-grow goji berries are popular for their antioxidants and other potential health benefits. This is an extra-sweet selection of the superfruit you can grow in your own backyard. Bright red berries cover the plant in summer. Grow it in vegetable gardens or patio containers in full sun for best production. It can reach 10 feet tall and 5 feet 28

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TINY WINE NINEBARK

Physocarpus opulifolius ‘SMPOTW’. This new dwarf ninebark is smaller than others in the market. Dark bronzemaroon foliage is colorful all season; white flowers make a very showy display in late spring. This variety is extra bushy with small, reﬁned leaves. An attractive native plant for mixed borders or containers, it takes to most well-drained soils and does best in full sun. Grows 3 to 4 feet tall and wide. Zones 3–8.

This page, clockwise from top left: 'Sweet Summer Love' clematis; Tiny Wine ninebark; 'Fontanelle' iris Sweet Lifeberry; Lycium barbarum goji berries. Opposite page, left: 'Standing Ovation' bluestem. Right, from top: Peppermint Swirl hydrangea; 'So Lovely! Pink' geranium; 'Windbreaker' sacaton.

FROM GREATPLANTS: ‘FONTANELLE’ FLAG IRIS

Iris spuria ‘Fontanelle’. This unique iris was discovered on an old farmstead near Fontanelle, Neb., by plantsman Harlan Hamernik. It blooms the first two weeks of June and has upright, sword-like foliage. The falls, or lower petals, are twotoned in color, with a lovely pink-

ish-lavender style crest and pale blue sepals with prominent blue veins and a bright yellow signal (spot). The upright, or standard, petals are royal blue. The ﬂowers and stalks are tough—they won’t break as easily as those of tall bearded irises. Grows 36 to 40 inches high with an 18-inch spread. Zone 4.

FROM THE HGTV HOME PLANT COLLECTION: PEPPERMINT SWIRL BIGLEAF HYDRANGEA

Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Dancing Angel’. This re-blooming mophead displays a unique “peppermint candy” variegation on each floret within the flower head. Blooms are just as striking whether they are blue or pink (which depends on soil makeup). Peppermint Swirl is ideal for containers, mixed borders or massing in the landscape. It has a rounded habit 3 feet high and wide. It prefers partial shade and moist, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Making the soil more acid will turn the flowers from pink to blue. Zones 5–9. ‘SO LOVELY! PINK’ GERANIUM

Pelargonium ‘So Lovely! Pink’. This is one of four new introductions in the So Gorgeous! Geranium series. ‘So Lovely! Pink’ is a heat-tolerant geranium with a vigorous growth habit and an extra-large umbel (ﬂower clus-

ter)—similar in size to that of a Hydrangea macrophylla head! Its leaves have that beautiful dark ring admired in zonal geraniums. In full sun, the plant will reach approximately 12 to 18 inches in height and width. Annual.

FROM NORTH CREEK NURSERIES: ‘STANDING OVATION’ LITTLE BLUESTEM

Schizachyrium scoparium ‘Standing Ovation’. A North Creek discovery sure to give an applausewo r t hy p e r f o r m a n c e. T h i s thick-bladed bluestem keeps a tight, upright habit throughout the entire season. A warm-season grass, it does well in poor, dry soils, but it has stood strong even in rich soils. Spiky bluish-green stems and leaves transition to a sizzling display of oranges, reds, yellows and purplish browns in the autumn. It should be cut back in early spring to make way for new growth. Reaches 4 feet tall and 12 inches wide. Full sun to part shade. Zones 3–8.

‘WINDBREAKER’ BIG SACATON

Sporobolus wrightii ‘Windbreaker’. Formerly named ‘Mesa Form’, this statuesque Southwest native comes to us from the Los Lunas Plant Materials Center in New Mexico, where it was originally bred to be a wind barrier. This form has a commanding presence with its sturdy, upright habit and very showy summer flower spikes. An herbaceous alternative to expensive fencing, ‘Windbreaker’ is also a terriﬁc native substitute for pampas grass. Grows 7 to 8 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide. Sun to part shade. Zones 5–9.

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mingle below, while a purple lily-flowered tulip floats above. Together they create a chromatic and dynamic feast for the eye.

FROM GARDENER’S CONFIDENCE: BLOOM ’N AGAIN PINK EXPLOSION AZALEA

Azalea ×‘MNIHAR015’. The new Bloom ’N Again Azaleas will reach garden centers in spring 2014. One exceptional variety, Bloom ’N Again Pink Explosion, offers stunning, dark pink ﬂowers with a consistent repeat bloom in spring and fall. The compact evergreen shrub grows 3 to 4 feet tall and wide, making it an ideal choice for masses of color in shrub borders. Best grown in sun to partial shade, it has great pest and disease resistance for low maintenance and easy care. Zones 6b–9. PEARLIFIC VIBURNUM

FROM COLORBLENDS: CARNAVAL TULIP MIX

Light and bright, cheerful and happy, these tulips hold a party wherever they are planted—and they welcome everyone to join in. You can almost hear the cry of trumpets, feel the pulsing beat, see the floats and the crowds dancing in the street. SVEN SKA TULIP MIX

This blend creates a two-story tulip display. Densely petaled doubles in purple and yellow 30

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Viburnum ‘PIIVIB-I’. This compact shrub cultivates elegance and leaves gardeners wanting more. Even as a young plant, Pearlific viburnum impresses gardeners with beautiful pinktinged buds that open to white ﬂowers offering a mild fragrance. It extends the season with a pop of color from red berries in the fall and winter. The delightful fruit provides a sweet treat for birds and wildlife at a time of year when food can be scarce. The attractive evergreen foliage also maintains its color yearround. With its low maintenance and ability to adapt quickly to the landscape, Pearliﬁc is an ideal selection that reachs 5 to 6 feet tall and wide. Full sun to part shade. Zones 6–9.

Opposite page, top: Carnaval tulip mix. Middle, left to right: Sven Ska tulip mix; Pearlific viburnum. This page, top, left to right: 'Glimmer' salvia; Valentine bleeding heart. Bottom, left to right: 'Red October' big bluestem; 'Scorpius' Easter cactus.

FROM SANTA ROSA GARDENS: ‘RED OCTOBER’ BIG BLUESTEM

Andropogon ‘Red October’. This variety ’s deep green foliage darkens to purple in late summer, then turns vivid scarlet in autumn for spectacular late-season color. ‘Red October’ loves sun and reaches heights of 5 to 6 feet. Zones 3–8.

shade or part shade and grows just about 2 feet tall and wide. Zones 3–9.

FROM PRIDE OF PLACE PLANTS:

FROM LOGEE’S GREENHOUSES:

'GLIMMER' HEATWAVE SALVIA

‘SCORPIUS’ EASTER CACTUS

Salvia microphylla ‘Glimmer’. This variety’s creamy white flowers pop against their black stems. Part of the Heatwave series bred in Australia, it’s happy even in hot, dry conditions. Reaches 2 feet tall and 3 feet wide. Zones 6–10.

Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri ‘Scorpius’. Beautiful, bright red, 2-inch blooms adorn this Easter cactus between March and May. Each flower lasts for several weeks, opening every morning after sunrise and closing at sundown. These tree-dwelling rain-forest natives like filtered light, well-drained soil and moderate watering and fertilization. Keep the plant cool and moist while it’s in bloom to extend the flowering season. Part sun to shade. Houseplant.

VALENTINE BLEEDING HEART

Dicentra spectabilis ‘Hordival’. Amazing red ﬂowers, gray-purple mature leaves and a compact size set this award-winning bleeding heart apart. It likes

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FROM CONARD-PYLE: LOOK-A-LIKES BOUGAINFEELYA ROSE

Rosa ‘Meickinava’. The LookA-Likes series is a new line of roses that fool the eye. The nontraditional blooms of these roses resemble those of other plants. BougainFeelYa is the newest edition—joining Phloxy Baby and Hydrangealicious—with dark red, non-fading blooms shaped similar to those of a bougainvillea. Flowers form continuously throughout the season, and the plant is covered with bright red hips in the fall. BougainFeelYa is very resistant to rust and mildews and has a decent tolerance for black spot. Zones 5–9. MOODY BLUES VERONICAS

The Moody Blues series is a new series of veronica that includes four colors: Dark Blue, Light Blue, Mauve and Pink (shown). All are excellent garden plants that remain naturally compact and tidy. They will naturally rebloom spring through fall in the garden. Zones 6–9. JUNIOR WALKER CATMINT

Nepeta ‘Novanepjun’. This compact catmint retains the nonreseeding quality of its popular parent, ‘Walker’s Low’, at onethird the size. (Junior Walker reaches just 18 inches.) Bluegreen foliage contrasts nicely with lavender-blue ﬂowers for a long blooming window of midMay through September. Full sun. Zones 5–9. FIRE CHIEF GLOBE ARBORVITAE

Thuja occidentalis ‘Congabe’. Fire Chief is an excellent landscape plant that offers year32

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round interest. The coloration of its red-tipped foliage looks most pronounced in spring and fall. This variety forms a naturally rounded habit in the landscape with minimal splitting. Reaches 4 feet tall and wide when mature. Full sun. Zones 4–8.

Left: BougainFeelYa rose. First row, from far left: Pink Moody Blues veronica; 'Surfinia Heavenly Blue' petunia; Blueberry Glaze blueberry. Second row, from left: Junior Walker catmint; Crackling Fire red begonia. Bottom row, from left: Fire Chief globe arborvitae; Pretty Deep Red mandevilla.

a sturdy compact and upright habit that prevents breakage. Crackling Fire is more sun tolerant than other begonias. Full to part sun. Annual. SUN PARASOL PRETTY DEEP RED MANDEVILLA

FROM SUNTORY: ‘SURFINIA HEAVENLY BLUE’ PETUNIA

If you like ‘Surfinia Sky Blue’ petunia, you’ll really love ‘Heavenly Blue’. It represents the next generation of petunia breeding, creating the perfect marriage of color, habit and performance. Plants ﬁll out pots, baskets and beds quickly and perform all summer through fall until frost. Full to part sun. Annual. CRACKLING FIRE RED BEGONIA

Suntory’s Crackling Fire begonias offer the best color range and uniformity in boliviensis genetics. They are loaded with flowers, easy to grow and have

Sun Parasol varieties combine the best of dipladenia characteristics with mandevilla growth. The Pretty group is distinguished by its superior branching and shorter distances between ﬂowers—yet it still maintains vigorous growth. Full to part sun. Needs regular feeding. Annual.

FROM BRAZELBERRIES: BLUEBERRY GLAZE BLUEBERRY

Vaccinium ×Blueberry Glaze. The newest addition to the BrazelBerries line of garden-friendly berry bushes is Blueberry Glaze, a blueberry bush that looks a lot like a boxwood, with its glossy, dark green leaves and small stature. White spring flowers give way to dark-colored blueberries in midsummer. These have an intense ﬂavor similar to that of wild blueberries. Great as a low hedge or in pots. It grows 2 to 3 feet tall and wide. Full sun. Zones 5–8.

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FROM PROVEN WINNERS PERENNIALS: DOLCE SERIES CINNAMON CURLS CORAL BELLS

Heuchera ‘Inheuredfu’. Dress up your patio pots or make a neat edging for your flower beds with this classy new coral bells. Cinnamon Curls forms a tidy, compact, rounded mound of glossy, leathery, dissected leaves with ruffled edges. They are a unique blend of coppery orange, red and purple tones on the top and brilliant magenta red on the undersides of the leaves. This new variety is prized for its foliage; its flowers are insignificant. Grows 8 to 12 inches tall and 16 to 20 inches wide. Sun (North) to shade (South). Zones 4–9. ‘CAT’S MEOW’ CATMINT

Nepeta faassenii ‘Cat’s Meow’. Truly the “cat’s meow”—the best nepeta we’ve seen yet! Unlike most, which have a bit of a wild, unkempt look, this firstclass selection keeps its tidy, dense, rounded shape all season long. Its small, gray-green, aromatic leaves are topped with well-branched stems of sky-blue ﬂowers from early summer into early fall. ‘Cat’s Meow’ has everything today’s gardeners want; it’s a low-maintenance, droughttolerant, deer-resistant, longblooming perennial that looks great all season. Reachs up to 20 inches tall and 2 to 3 feet wide. Full sun. Zones 3–8.

FROM WALTERS GARDENS: ‘GLAMOUR GIRL’ BORDER PHLOX

Phlox paniculata ‘Glamour Girl’. If you’re going to choose only one new tall phlox this year, make it ‘Glamour Girl’. You won’t be 34

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disappointed! It powers through hot, humid summers with ease, shaking off any sign of powdery mildew. Large panicles of hot coral-pink flowers appear on tall, dark purple stems from midthrough late summer, and even the oldest ﬂowers in the panicles retain a beautiful shade of light coral pink. Plants grow 32 inches tall and 18 to 24 inches wide. Full sun. Zones 3–8. NEW MILLENNIUM ‘DWARF STARS’ DELPHINIUM

If you love the look of traditional

delphiniums but they’re just too tall for your use, you’re in luck! This brand-new series of truly dwarf delphs has all the beautiful characteristics of taller cousins, except their height. Topping out under 24 inches tall, these perennials never need staking. They can be grown in the front or middle of the border, and they work better in windy sites than taller varieties. ‘Dwarf Stars’ is a mixed color strain with a variety of purple, blue, mauve, pink, lilac and cream flowers. Full sun to part shade. Zones 3–7.

FROM PROVEN WINNERS ANNUALS: POMEGRANATE PUNCH SUPERBELLS

Superbells Pomegranate Punch calibrachoa has true deep red blooms with a black-red center and a hint of a yellow throat. It offers a mounding habit with a height of 10 to 14 inches and a spread of 14 to 18 inches. It looks stunning in containers and window boxes. Like all Superbells varieties, Pomegranate Punch makes gardening easy! Superbells have superbly colored large blooms, and they’re resistant to disease and heat tolerant. Full sun. Annual.

Opposite, clockwise from top: Cinnamon Curls coral bells; 'Glamour Girl' phlox; 'Dwarf Stars' delphiniums; 'Cat's Meow' catmint. This page, clockwise from right: Grape-O-Licious torenia; Ruby, Yellow and Calypso roses; Flamingo Supertunia; Pomegranate Punch Superbells.

FLAMINGO SUPERTUNIA

Supertunia Flamingo petunia has sugary pink blooms which offer the same heat tolerance and disease resistance as our other Supertunia petunias, with performance similar to the Proven Winners Vista series of Supertunia. This variety is vigorous with a flat landscape habit and it will do well when the season heats up. It will reach 8 to 16 inches in height and will spread 18 to 24 inches. Full sun. Annual.

24 inches. Full sun to part shade. Annual.

FROM TESSELAAR PLANTS: SWEET SPOT DECORATOR ROSES

A completely new category of roses—“decorator roses.” The ﬁrst plants in this line of compact shrub roses offer four colors, each punctuated in the center by a deep, contrasting hue. They are Calypso (pinkish

red and yellow with red/pink center), Peach (soft peach with red/pink center), Ruby (rubypink with red/pink center) and Yellow (golden yellow with orange/red center). Any of the colors can be used in the same space, because the combinations all complement one another. They bloom from mid-spring to early fall. These shrubs top out at 16 to 24 inches tall and about as wide. Full sun. Zones 5–9.

CATALINA GRAPE-O-LICIOUS TORENIA

The newest addition to the award-winning Catalina series from Proven Winners offers a unique color for torenia—oversized white blooms with dark purple throats. The variety has an upright habit and strong heat tolerance. It’s an excellent accent plant in mixed containers, window boxes and the landscape. It will reach 10 to 12 inches in height and will spread 14 to

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FROM SKAGIT GARDENS: BEYOND BLUE FESCUE

Festuca glauca ‘Casca11’. Introduced by Concept Plants, this fescue has a vivid blue color that stays blue—without browning later in the season. It forms a dense tuft of intense color. Showy, upright, blue green spring flowers age to a straw color and remain attractive for

months. Delicate in looks but tough in performance, Beyond Blue is easy to grow. Grows 9 to 12 inches tall with an 18-inch spread. Full sun. Zones 4–8. ‘SHORT ’N’ SASSY’ HELEN’S FLOWER

Helenium ‘Short ’n’ Sassy’. A shorter version of the stately Helen’s flower, or sneezeweed, this cultivar has bright gold and orange flowers with chocolate center cones. It starts blooming about two weeks earlier than other varieties, putting it in ﬂower from midsummer through fall. Even better, new blossoms open above spent flowers for a tidy look. It grows just 12 to 18 inches tall and 24 inches wide. Full sun. Zones 4–9. SHOOTING STAR HELLEBORE

Helleborus ×ericsmithii ‘COSEH 790’. From the groundbreaking

Gold Collection of hellebores (hybridized by Heuger), Shooting Star is a prolific bloomer with outward-facing flowers and handsome, disease-resistant foliage. From winter into early spring, dusty rose buds open to white blossoms that fade to a sage green. The ﬂowers rise up from the center in a unique bouquet formation. The deep green leaves have prominent veins and dark red stems. Grows 18 to 22 inches tall and 24 inches wide. Sun to shade. Zones 4–9.

FROM BLOOMS OF BRESSINGHAM: ‘SUPREME CANTALOUPE’ CONEFLOWER

Echinacea purpurea ‘Supreme Cantaloupe’. Absolutely the color of a ripe cantaloupe, double anemone, non-fading, fragrant blooms last and last from summer into fall. This is a heavy bloomer with the strong, straight stems and branching habit typical of the Supreme echinacea series. Foliage height is 26 inches and width is 15 inches; ﬂowering height is 29 inches. Full sun. Zones 4–9. ‘BUTTERED RUM’ FOAMY BELLS

Heucherella ‘Buttered Rum’. Luscious, buttery caramel color and gorgeous maple-like foliage provide all-season interest. White ﬂowers appear in spring. Glossy foliage changes to a lovely rose red as temperatures cool in fall, making a perfect complement to fall-planted containers and landscapes. Habit is compact and mounding, with foliage height to 7 inches and width to 15 inches. This variety is cold, heat and humidity tolerant. Sun (North) to shade (South). Zones 4–9. 36

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Opposite, clockwise from top: Beyond Blue fescue; Shooting Star hellebore; 'Supreme Cantloupe' coneflower; 'Short 'n' Sassy' Helen's flower. This page, clockwise from bottom left: 'Daybreak' tickseed; 'Buttered Rum' foamy bells; 'Red Satin' tickseed; 'Golden Geisha' fairy bells; 'Summer Frost' hydrangea.

tall—perfect for use in containers, as edging or at the front of the border. Full sun. Zones 4–9. ‘RED SATIN’ TICKSEED

FROM SUNNY BORDER NURSERIES: ‘DAYBREAK’ TICKSEED

Coreopsis ‘Daybreak’. The first member of the Li’l Bang series, this coreopsis features golden yellow blooms with broad red banding surrounding a yellow center. It blooms from late May through October (periodic pruning will promote this reblooming). Bred by Darrell Probst, Li’l Bang tickseeds are an offshoot of the Big Bang series. They have the same unique flower colors but they grow just 8 to 10 inches

Coreopsis ‘Red Satin’. The first member of the new Permathread series from coreopsis breeder Darrell Probst! Deep wine-red to ruby-red ﬂowers with orange centers bloom early through late summer on plants with a tight, clump-forming habit. They keep that solid red coloration even in the heat of Southern summers. ‘Red Satin’ is closely related to the verticillatas but with much better, darker green foliage and without rhizomes, so it blooms heavy. In addition, it is sterile, giving it exceptional disease resistance and longevity of bloom. Grows 15 to 18 inches tall with a spread of 18 to 22 inches. Cut the plant back in midsummer to refresh it or extend bloom time until frost. Full sun. Zones 4–9. ‘GOLDEN GEISHA’ FAIRY BELLS

Disporum sessile ‘Golden Geisha’. Discovered in Japan by David Culp. This plant has ovate, golden-chartreuse foliage that’s

wider than other gold-leafed varieties. It shows more gold in the spring but maintains its chartreuse coloring throughout the season. It has elegant white, nodding blooms, tinged in green, like that of other genus members. Grows 18 to 24 inches tall and wide, though it may get taller in warmer climates. Shade. Zones 5–9.

FROM PLANT DELIGHTS NURSERY: ‘SUMMER FROST’ HYDRANGEA

Hydrangea ‘Summer Frost’. This unique Ozzie Johnson creation, a cross of H. macrophylla and H. serrata, has lacecap flowers in June (in North Carolina), which are blue in acidic soils and pink in alkaline conditions. The most unique aspect of ‘Summer Frost’, however, occurs during July, when the green leaves mysteriously turn a lovely cream. (Because this is a heat-based change, those in cool climates will not see it happen.) In 5 years, our plants have reached 5 feet tall and 6 feet wide. Part sun to light shade. Likely Zones 5–8.

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‘ADORNED’ DWARF VARIEGATED JAPANESE HOLLY

Ilex crenata ‘Adorned’. This is a Pat McCracken discovery of a sport of the popular Japanese holly I. c. ‘Hoogendorn’. At Plant Delights, ‘Adorned’ has made an 18-inch-tall by 5-foot-wide evergreen mound in 10 years—with no pruning. Each leaf is bright gold with a small green fleck in the middle. We think it’s a superb rock garden plant in addition to being a bright addition to foundation plantings. Full sun. Zones 6–9. ‘WHITE LAVA’ ELEPHANT EAR

Colocasia escuelenta ‘White Lava’. This elephant ear is the latest from the breeding work of Hawaii’s Dr. John Cho. Several years ago, we shared Colocasia ‘Nancy’s Revenge’ with John in the hope he could create an improved, non-running version and, in 2013, he unveiled ‘White Lava’. It’s a clumping elephant ear with large glossy green leaves that, as the season progresses, are adorned with a wide band of 38

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creamy white down their centers. This later radiates out into the side veins. Each amazing leaf is further highlighted by a large purple spot where it attaches to the stalk. Grows to 3 feet tall. Full to part sun. Zones 7b–10.

FROM MONROVIA: SCARLETT TORCH BOTTLEBRUSH

Callistemon rigidus ‘RutCall’. From breeder Dr. John Ruter at the University of Georgia. This new variety has the largest bright red ﬂowers we’ve seen on any bottlebrush, and it’s irresistible to hummingbirds. It blooms from late spring through summer—and intermittently yearround in frost-free climates. This easy-care evergreen shrub makes a fantastic hedge or it can be pruned as a small tree. It will reach 9 feet tall and 12 feet wide in 10 years. Full sun. Zones 8–11. ‘NIKKO BLUSH’ DEUTZIA

Deutzia ×‘Nikko Blush’. A delightful new hybrid from the U.S. National Arboretum, this blushing beauty will herald spring

with a profusion of soft pink blooms. A compact shrub with an excellent, multi-branched form, it is perfect for foundation plantings or as a low hedge. Bright green deciduous foliage on arching branches turns deep burgundy in fall. Grows to 6 to 8 feet tall and 6 feet wide. Full to part sun. Zones 5–8.

TASMAN RUFFLES PITTOSPORUM

Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Tasman Ruffles’. One of the best and hardiest selections of this New Zealand native, this evergreen shrub has cream-margined foliage on a conical frame reaching 10 feet tall. A great addition to our Dan Hinkley Collection, it is certainly one of the most distinctive, tidy and low-maintenance hedging plants for a contemporary garden setting. Zones 7–10. GOLDEN DUCHESS EASTERN HEMLOCK

Tsuga canadensis ‘MonKinn’. The crowning glory of Golden Duchess is its golden foliage and arching branches. A wonderful choice for the woodland or rock garden, or as a container specimen, it will reach 3 to 4 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide. Prefers a dappled shade position in the garden. This selection was discovered at Monrovia’s Oregon nursery by craftsman Ron Kinney as a sport of Tsuga canadensis. Light shade. Zones 4–7.

FROM TERRA NOVA NURSERIES: ‘VIOLET VISION’ HUMMINGBIRD MINT

Agastache ‘Violet Vision’. This hummingbird mint was bred for its great hardiness and short habit. It offers luxurious purple flower spikes to 24 inches tall, over foliage to 18 inches. Full sun. Zones 5–10. ‘ALEXANDER’S GREAT’ BUGLOSS

Brunnera macrophylla ‘Alexander’s Great’. A vigorous grower, this bugloss has unusually large white-veiled leaves and nice skyblue spring ﬂowers. It mounds to 12 inches tall and 28 inches wide. Sun to shade. Zones 4–8.

Opposite, clockwise from far left: 'Adorned' holly; 'White Lava' elephant ear; Scarlett Torch bottlebrush; 'Nikko Blush' deutzia. This page, clockwise from top left: 'Tasman Ruffles' pittosporum; Golden Duchess hemlock; 'Violet Vision' hummingbird mint; 'Alexander's Great' bugloss.

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‘METEOR PINK’ CONEFLOWER

Echinacea purpurea ‘Meteor Pink’. Anenome-type pink ﬂowers appear on a compact plant with great branching. This upright grower reaches 19 inches tall and wide; ﬂower stems can be up to 2 feet tall. Others in the Meteor series include ‘Meteor Red’ and ‘Meteor Yellow’. Full sun. Zones 4–10. ‘COPPER CASCADE’ FOAMY BELLS

Heucherella ‘Copper Cascade’. This unique small-leaved variety has lovely rosy-copper foliage on trailing stems. It holds its color year-round and can be grown as a groundcover or in a hanging basket. It grows to 8 inches tall and trails to 32 inches. Sun to shade. Zones 4–9.

FROM PLANTHAVEN: ‘AURORA APRICOT’ DIASCIA

Diascia hybrida ‘Aurora Apricot’. This diascia has a unique upright habit, with spikes of triangular flower clusters appearing over 40

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Opposite page, top to bottom: 'Aurora Apricot' diascia; Lotus Moon pearlbush. This page, clockwise from left: 'Meteor Pink' coneflower; 'Copper Cascade' foamy bells; 'Celebration' blanketflower; 'Centennial Blush' star magnolia; Jetstream oakleaf hydrangea.

its rich green foliage from early spring to fall. It grows 12 inches tall and wide, making it great for borders, containers or mass plantings. Full sun. Annual. ‘CELEBRATION’ BLANKETFLOWER

Gaillardia ×grandiﬂora ‘Celebration’. This elegant blanketﬂower offers solid red single flowers on very strong stems. These age very well and appear over a long time period, from early spring until the fall. The plant has a tight habit to 16 inches tall and 14 inches wide. Full sun. Zones 5–9.

FROM BAILEY NURSERIES: FIRST EDITIONS ‘CENTENNIAL BLUSH’ STAR MAGNOLIA

Magnolia stellata ‘Centennial Blush’. Bred by Dr. Michael Dirr, this compact magnolia offers beautiful pink buds that open to fragrant double flowers in early spring. In summer, ‘Centennial Blush’ makes a good small shade tree. It grows 12 to 18 feet tall with a 10- to 15-foot spread. Full

sun to part shade. Bud and bloom hardy in Zones 4–9. FIRST EDITIONS JETSTREAM OAKLEAF HYDRANGEA

Hydrangea quercifolia ‘PIIHQI’. This oakleaf hydrangea is dense and compact, with white cone-shaped summer flowers that shift to dark pink as they age. The dark green foliage turns orange-red in fall. Peeling bark adds winter interest. Grows 5 to 6 feet tall and 4 to 5 feet wide. Full sun to part shade. Zones 5–8. FIRST EDITIONS LOTUS MOON PEARLBUSH

Exochorda ×macrantha ‘Bailmoon’. Perfectly round flower buds—the pearls of the pearlbush—open up to bright white ﬂowers in spring. This is a great low-maintenance shrub that stays 4 to 5 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide. Full sun to part shade. Zones 4–7.

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Award W覺nners compiled by Meghan Shinn

The spotlight shines on these special plants in 2014

RGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE United States select certain plants to highlight each year as particularly garden worthy. Why not try one of the following special plants in your garden in 2014?

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Clockwise from far left: 'Mascotte' bush bean, 'Sparkle White' guara, 'Profusion Double Hot Cherry' zinnia and 'Profusion Double Deep Salmon' zinnnia. All have been deemed All-America Selections for 2014.

ALL-AMERICA SELECTIONS For nearly 80 years, All-America Selections (all-america selections.org) has tested new garden seed varieties in national test plots. Their awards promote new varieties that have demonstrated superior performance in the gardens. ‘MASCOTTE’ BUSH BEAN

‘Mascotte’ is the first bean to win an All-America Selections award since 1991. This compact bush bean fits well in today’s smallspace gardens, and it works well in containers, too. Showy white flowers give way to long, slender pods that stay above the foliage for easy harvest. Judges appreciated the bean’s crunch and flavor, as well as the plentiful harvest all season long. What’s with the name? ‘Mascotte’ is French for mascot, a symbol of good luck. The name matches this variety’s gardener-friendly habit.

‘SPARKLE WHITE’ GAURA

Perennial ‘Sparkle White’ gaura (Guara lindheimeri ‘Sparkle White’) brings airy elegance to the garden. Dainty white flowers line its long, slender stems, which are held in dense clusters. ‘Sparkle White’ guara can be grouped in a mass planting or mixed with other perennials, and it also takes well to large containers. It blooms from spring to fall, with excellent heat and drought tolerance and a more uniform flowering habit than other gauras grown from seed. Blooms the ﬁrst year grown from seed. Reaches 12 to 24 inches tall and 12 to 20 inches wide. Full sun. USDA Zones 6–9. ZINNIA ‘PROFUSION DOUBLE DEEP SALMON’

'Profusion Double Deep Salmon' zinnia features intensely vibrant pink-orange flowers with dou-

ble petals. Like other Profusion zinnias, it ﬂowers continuously from spring through frost. Selfcleaning and disease resistant, it grows well in a range of climates, even those with hot nighttime temperatures. The flowers can be 3 inches across, on plants growing 14 inches tall and 24 inches wide. Full sun. Annual. ZINNIA ‘PROFUSION DOUBLE HOT CHERRY’

This zinnia blooms in rich rose, with double-petaled flowers appearing continuously from spring through frost. The bright color does not fade, even in high heat. ‘Profusion Double Hot Cherry' is easy to grow, sharing the same characteristics as ‘Double Deep Salmon’. The plants grow 8 to 14 inches tall and 24 inches wide, with ﬂowers up to 3 inches in diameter. Full sun. Annual.

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The Cary Award is honoring great vines in 2014. Below, top to bottom: 'Arctic Beauty' hardy kiwi, 'Betty Corning' clematis, 'Amethyst Falls' American wisteria.

THE CARY AWARD The Cary Award (caryaward.org) promotes outstanding plants for New England gardens. Named in honor of plantsman Ed Cary, it highlights a diverse selection of proven performers for the Northeast. For the Cary Award, 2014 is "The Year of the Vine." ‘ARCTIC BEAUTY’ KIWI VINE

Actinidia kolomikta ‘Arctic Beauty’ is a hardy kiwi vine for the North. A male plant, it does not fruit, and its small early-summer ﬂowers are obscured by its leaves, but its ornamental foliage more than makes up for all that. This quick grower boasts large heart-shaped green leaves with splotches of white and pink. It grows 15 to 20 feet with a twining habit. It can pollinate up to six female hardy kiwi vines, if you have them. These bear fruit that tastes similar to tropical kiwi, but it is smaller and berrylike. Most gardeners treat hardy kiwi vines as strictly ornamental plants. Deciduous. Full sun to part shade. Zones 4–8. ‘BETTY CORNING’ CLEMATIS

Clematis ‘Betty Corning’ is well loved for its procession of nodding purple flowers from midsummer to autumn. Its C. viticella parentage lends it good resistance to clematis wilt. It is a vigorous grower, but it won’t take over the garden, and it looks great twining through a shrub or small tree. This deciduous vine grows to 12 feet long. Full sun to light shade. Zones 3–9. AMERICAN WISTERIA

Japanese and Chinese wisterias (Wisteria floribunda and W. si44

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nensis, respectively) have given the genus a bad rap with their aggressive, invasive tendencies. American wisteria (W. frutescens), however, can be a great garden vine. Native to the eastern United States, it minds its manners while offering those trademark drooping flowers. Its fragrant blossom attracts butterflies and the plant also plays larval host to several kinds. This deer-resistant deciduous woody vine is a great option for those who want the beauty of wisteria without the headaches of the Asian species. ‘Amethyst Falls’ is a great purple cultivar, or try ‘Nivea’ if you prefer white flowers. Full sun. Zones 5–9.

PLANT SELECT PETITES The Plant Select Petites program (plantselectpetites.org), an offshoot of Colorado-based Plant Select (see page 48), lauds noteworthy yet lesser-known plants of small stature. The program also promotes innovative ways to enjoy these treasures in garden situations where gem-like but tough small plants are best suited: troughs, permanent containers, rock gardens, patio gardens, fairy gardens, green roofs and smaller gardens. Three plants are being promoted for 2014. DALMATIAN PINK CRANESBILL

Iris hookeri. This is a compact iris with large, porcelain-blue flowers in late spring and early summer. It is one of North America’s most beautiful native irises, and its attractive green foliage provides an excellent textural accent for small gardens. Grows 8 to 12 inches tall and wide. Zones 3–8. DWARF FORMS OF PIÑON PINE

Jerry Morris of Denver has selected forms of Pinus edulis that grow extremely slowly, forming tight mounds over many years. These very drought-tolerant dwarf conifers adapt well to harsh conditions and make an excellent evergreen choice for small-space gardeners. Plants grow 1 to 3 inches each year, making a 20- to 30-inch mound in 10 years. Full sun to part shade. Zones 4–7.

Geranium dalmaticum. This diminutive perennial is covered with clear pink flowers in late spring to early summer. Dainty aromatic leaves turn red in fall and persist into early winter before drying and dropping. It grows 4 to 6 inches tall by 10 to 15 inches wide. Full sun to part shade. Zones 5–7.

DWARF BEACH-HEAD IRIS

Plant Select Petites celebrates the Davids among the Goliaths of the plant world. Above: Dalmatian pink cranesbill. Right, top to bottom: Dwarf beach-head iris; detail of a dwarf piñon pine.

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PRAIRIE STAR Winners of the Prairie Star (prairiestarflowers.com) are ﬂowers best adapted to the challenging prairie climate. They have shown superior performance for two or more years in the trial beds of Kansas State University, where they’re rated on vigor, substance and ﬂoriferousness. ‘SAUCY RED’ SALVIA

Salvia splendens ‘Saucy Red’. These striking red ﬂowers keep on blooming right up until the ﬁrst frost. These extremely vigorous 2- to 3-foot plants are well suited for both the landscape and large containers. Full sun to part shade. Zones 7–10, or grown as an annual. 'MIGHTY MOSAIC' COLEUS

Solenostemon scutellariodes ‘Mighty Mosaic’. This is a wellbranched coleus with varied leaf color. When it’s planted in full sun, a beautiful coppery gold overlay appears on the foliage. This striking color adds a whole new dimension and offers many design options to the gardener. It is late to bloom, meaning the focus stays on the foliage longer. Grows to 2 feet tall and not quite as wide. Full sun. Annual. ‘SPRING CELEBRITIES CARMINEROSE’ HOLLYHOCK

Alcea rosea annua ‘Spring Celebrities Carmine-Rose’. This hollyhock is loaded with blooms even in its ﬁrst year from seed. At three feet tall but just a foot wide, it can easily be slipped into smaller gardens. Full sun. Zones 5–9. 46

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'SUPERTUNIA PINK CHARM' PETUNIA

The ﬂowers on this petunia are a little small, but it’s a strong grower that packs a large punch of color because they appear in profusion. It’s great in the landscape or containers, and it tolerates heat and drought well. Trails to four feet. Full sun. Annual. 'GIGA WHITE' ALYSSUM

Lobularia maritima ‘Giga White’. This cultivar was impressive in the container trials for having a very dense display of white ﬂowers and keeping a tight form all season. It is 4 to 6 inches tall, with a spread up to 12 inches. Sun to part shade. Annual.

'BRIDESMAID' ZINNIA

This is a unique zinnia in its class—it has large fully double flowers, yet it also has a short and compact growth habit, at up to 18 inches tall and 14 inches wide. The bright yellow color is hard to miss! Sun. Annual. 'SURDIVA BLUE' FAN FLOWER

Scaevola ‘Surdiva Blue’. Unfazed by the heat, this scaevola blooms all summer and into the fall. Beautiful fan-shaped ﬂowers cover the plant whether it’s in containers or the landscape. With its mounding, semi-trailing habit, it can reach 10 inches tall and 24 inches wide. Full sun. Annual.

'COLORBLAZE KEYSTONE KOPPER' COLEUS

Solenostemon scutellariodes ‘ColorBlaze Keystone Kopper’. A great addition to the ColorBlaze series, this one’s well branched and late to ﬂower. The terracotta color holds in sun and shade; a green border appears in lower light conditions. It’s 3 feet tall, 2 feet wide. Sun to shade. Annual. Top row, left to right: 'Saucy Red' salvia; 'Mighty Mosaic' coleus; 'Spring Celebrities Carmine-Rose' hollyhock; 'Supertunia Pink Charm'. Middle row: 'Giga White' alyssum; 'Bridesmaid' zinnia. Bottom row: 'Surdiva Blue' fan flower; 'Keystone Kopper' coleus.

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PLANT SELECT Plant Select (plantselect.org), a collaborative effort of the Denver Botanic Gardens, Colorado State University and regional and national horticulture professionals, seeks the best plants for mountain landscapes. Selected plants thrive throughout the challenging Rocky Mountain region, demonstrate resistance to diseases and pests, ﬂourish in dry conditions and show a long season of beauty. ‘MARIAN SAMPSON’ HUMMINGBIRD TRUMPET MINT

Monardella macrantha ‘Marian Sampson’. An intensely aromatic perennial from the mountains of California, it forms low mounds of semi-evergreen leaves. Exotic-looking clusters of scarlet trumpets appear just above the foliage late spring through summer. It accepts many types of soil, but it performs best in dappled shade, out of the heat of the sun. It grows 3 to 6 inches tall and 8 to 12 inches wide. Zones 5b–9.

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UNDAUNTED RUBY MUHLYGRASS

Muhlenbergia reverchonii. This selection of a long-lived native grass was brought from the southern Great Plains by Lauren and Scott Ogden. Its fine-textured 15-inch gray-green mounds are topped in late summer by clouds of tiny ruby flowers on 30-inch stems. These glow brilliantly when backlit in autumn. It offers persistent winter beauty and drought tolerance, and it can be used in mass plantings, as an accent or for erosion control. This plant is first in a series of UNDAUNTED® plants from the Ogdens. Full sun. Zones 5–10. ‘CAROLYN’S HOPE’ PINK PENSTEMON

Penstemon ×mexicali ‘Carolyn’s Hope’. This new penstemon blooms medium-pink flowers with white throats nearly all summer long. They burst forth from dark pink buds. Narrow, glossy green leaves form an attractive 15-inch mound. A hybrid between Mexican and American wild penstemons, this plant was developed by Brian Core in honor of his wife. A portion of proceeds from all sales benefit breast-cancer research. Full sun to part shade. Zones 4b–8.

WINDWALKER GARNET PENSTEMON

Penstemon ×mexicali WINDWALKER Garnet. The fifth new Mexican-American hybrid penstemon introduced through Plant Select, this plant shows ruby- or garnet-colored tubular ﬂowers with striped throats nearly all summer long, on an attractive 15-inch mound of glossy foliage. This selection was developed by Kelly Grummons. Full sun to part shade. Zones 4b–8.

hummingbird tumpet and muhlygrass © Panayoti Kelaidis; penstemons and skullcap © Pat Hayward; zinnia © David Salman; sumac © Ross Shrigley

‘AUTUMN AMBER’ SUMAC

Rhus trilobata ‘Autumn Amber’. An ideal groundcover shrub for terraced walls, large open spaces and dry shrub areas. It is graceful and delicate looking, yet tough enough to be used in harsh planting sites. This low-growing selection of native three-leaf sumac was developed at the USDA’s Los Lunas Plant Materials Center, New Mexico. In summer its leaves are a glossy, bright green; in fall they turn amber to reddish. It grows 6 to 18 inches tall by 6 to 8 feet wide and requires little to no additional moisture once established. Full sun. Zones 4–8. ‘SMOKY HILLS’ SKULLCAP

Scutelliaria resinosa ‘Smoky Hills’. In early summer, bright purple-blue ﬂowers tipped with white appear over its greenishgray leaves. Thrives in hot, sunny locations with well-drained soil. This durable native from the Smoky Hills of north-central Kansas thrives in hot, sunny locations with well-drained soil. Plants grow 8 to 10 inches tall and 10 to 14 inches wide. Full sun. Zones 4–9.

Opposite page, far left: 'Marian Sampson' hummingbird trumpet mint. Opposite, bottom center: 'Carolyn's Hope' pink penstemon. Opposite, near left, top to bottom: UNDAUNTED ruby muhlygrass; WINDWALKER Garnet penstemon. This page, right: 'Autumn Amber' sumac. Bottom left: 'Smoky Hills' skullcap. Bottom right" Gold on Blue' prairie zinnia. All are droughttolerant plants with long-running interest for Rocky Mountain gardens.

‘GOLD ON BLUE’ PRAIRIE ZINNIA

Zinnia grandiﬂora ‘Gold on Blue’. This outstanding selection of native prairie zinnia was chosen for its vigor, blue-green foliage and large golden ﬂowers. Excellent for hot, dry sites, it thrives in all soils, even dry clay. Plant it on slopes, along a drive and other places where it can spread as a large-scale 10-inch-tall groundcover. Developed by David Salman. Full sun. Zones 4–8.

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Above left: Gray's sedge first shows its curious-looking seed heads in early summer; they persist through winter. Above right, top to bottom: Tulip tree has unique summer flowers and large leaves; purple beautyberry shines in late summer and onward.

GREATPLANTS Summers in the Great Plains can be too short and harsh to focus on that season alone, so the GreatPlants program (arboretum.unl.edu/greatplants -great-plains) focuses on plants that earn their spot year-round. From a sedge with large, persistent seed heads and semi-evergreen foliage to an extravagant black-eyed Susan, the 2014 GreatPlants can hold their place in the landscape any time of year. GRASS OF THE YEAR: GRAY’S SEDGE

Carex grayi. This is a wonderful sedge for winter interest. The half-inch wide leaves are semi50

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evergreen. Large, spiky seed heads appear in early summer and last through winter. It can handle light shade and grows best in moist, fertile soil, so it’s a wonderful border plant for the edges of ponds. Seeds provide food for waterfowl, game birds and songbirds. Grows 2 to 3 feet tall and about half as wide. Full sun to light shade. Zones 5–9. PERENNIAL OF THE YEAR: SHOWY BLACK-EYED SUSAN

Rudbeckia fulgida var. speciosa. A dependable, hardy perennial, it blooms abundantly and looks similar to ‘Goldsturm’ rudbeckia but tolerates drought better. It’s

taller and longer blooming, too. The very vibrant yellow ﬂowers with dark centers will also last long in a vase. Grows 2 to 3 feet tall. Full sun. Zones 3–9. TREE OF THE YEAR: TULIPTREE

Liriodendron tulipifera. This tree can grow to 80 feet high with a crown up to 50 feet wide. Its yellow-green ﬂowers bloom in early summer; cone-shaped brownish fruits persist into winter. Both the leaves and the flowers are large and tulip-shaped. It prefers deep, moist, fertile soil, so it is not a good selection for hot, dry sites. Fall foliage is yellow or gold. Full sun. Zones 4–9.

Above left: Korean fir, the GreatPlants Evergreen of the Year for 2014. Above right: The Perennial Plant Association is promoting 'Northwind' switch grass as a great choice for many climates. It's a selection of a tall-grass prairie native made by Roy Diblik.

SHRUB OF THE YEAR PURPLE BEAUTYBERRY

Callicarpa dichotoma. This 5-foot arching shrub is primarily grown for its showy fall display of violet berries. Best fruit production occurs when the shrubs are planted in mass. For fresh new growth, stems can be cut back to 6 inches in late winter (ﬂowers and berries are produced on both new and old stems). The foliage takes on a nice yellow color in fall. Plants can tolerate drought. Full sun or part shade. Zones 5–8. EVERGREEN OF THE YEAR: KOREAN FIR

Abies koreana. This conifer

grows to 30 feet high and 12 feet wide, a manageable size for most landscapes. The needle texture is soft and the cones are a beautiful purple. It grows best in rich, well-drained soil in full sun; avoid windswept areas, poorly drained clay soils and overwatering. Full sun to part shade. Zones 5–7.

PERENNIAL PLANT OF THE YEAR The nationwide Perennial Plant Association (perennialplant. org) singles out one plant each year that suits many climates, requires little maintenance and offers several seasons of interest.

The honor in 2014 goes to a native perennial ornamental grass. ‘NORTHWIND’ SWITCH GRASS

Panicum virgatum ‘Northwind’. This strongly vertical switch grass grows to 5 feet tall and half as wide, with olive- or bluegreen foliage and airy yellow ﬂower panicles in late summer. The grass provides winter interest as its leaves turn tan and its seed heads persist with a beige tinge. It tolerates a wide range of soils. For maintenance, simply cut the plant to the ground in late winter. Full sun for best form, though it tolerates some shade. Zones 5–9. HORTICULTUR E {HORTMAG .COM}