New Perennials for 2008

Dianthus ‘Cranberry Ice’ has intricately patterned 1 1/2 inch pink flowers with a purple eye and pink frilled edge with mounded blue-green foliage. It is truly a superb addition to any perennial garden and is a favorite as a border plant or in rock gardens. Excellent cut flowers and a heady perfume.  Foliage gives four season interest.

Dianthus ‘Desmond’ is considered by many to be the best red Dianthus. This prolific bloomer bears 2", full double blooms that are fragrant all summer. Accented with silver evergreen foliage, that makes the plant spectacular.

Echinacea ‘Coconut Lime’ produces totally distinctive flowers that are shaped like pompoms which start out green in the center and age to pale lime green. The outer ring of lower ray petals is pure white. The flowers are wonderfully fragrant and make excellent cut flowers! Echinacea 'Coconut Lime' blooms profusely from mid through late summer atop strong, well branched stems.

Heuchera ‘Caramel’ sports large, copper-caramel foliage with red undersides. Has excellent coloring and is also a very strong grower with large leaves and good heat tolerance. Cream flowers.

Heuchera ‘Miracle’ produces pink flowers in midsummer. Its young foliage is chartreuse with a heavy smattering of reddish purple in the center. As the foliage matures, it turns brick red with bright chartreuse to gold edge and silvered undersides.

Heuchera ‘Obsidian’ foliage exhibits a glassy sheen and is closer to black than any other heuchera. The surface and edges of the rounded leaves are so smooth they look like they have been polished. Their undersides are deep purple and exhibit the same glassy finish.  Its ornamental value is enhanced by the 24-inch tall scapes, which bear smoky purple buds that open to cream flowers.

Oriental Lily ‘Montezuma’ display dark raspberry red flowers with ruby red spots and thin lavender edges on stems to four feet. The lavender edge is visible on the richly colored buds giving an interesting and unusual "striped" effect. Perhaps the boldest, richest color yet seen in the oriental hybrids.  Yes, all that and an intoxicating fragrance.

Malva sylvestris ‘Zebrina’ has huge 3" lovely flowers that are lavender pink with deep purple veining. Spring through fall blooming!  Reseeds readily.

Phlox paniculata ‘Purple Kiss’ a new dwarf phlox with intense, deep purple petals and a pure white eye.  Blooms July-September.

Salvia ‘Sensation Rose’ is perfect for the front of the border with its shorter 12” stature.  Bright rose pink flowers are borne on short, upright spikes above the green, mounded foliage in early through midsummer.

Sedum ‘Autumn Charm’s leathery green leaves with cream-gold edges have fantastic decorative appeal, even long before the cream buds open into umbels of dusty pink flowers which mature to bronze-red. A brightly variegated form of the ever-popular 'Autumn Joy'.

Sedum ‘Xenox’ is a dark-leaved Stonecrop with colors to keep you guessing. The leaves have a thick, waxy coating which creates a blue tinge over the dark-green surface. Clusters of pink flowers open at the end of summer, deepening in color as they mature. A very sturdy variety.

Veronica ‘Fairytale’ heralds summer with pale pink flowers with protruding deep-pink stamens that give the flowers a subtle two-tone effect. Attractive silver-green foliage right to the bottom of the stems.  Plants don't fall open.

New Shrubs

Kolkwitzia ‘Dream Catcher’ Everyone agrees that Beauty Bush is spectacular in bloom but it traditionally goes into hiding for the rest of the year. This is no longer the case with Dream Catcher with its golden yellow foliage with orange highlights. Loads of soft pink blooms in early spring are icing on the cake.

Salix integra ‘Flamingo’ erupts with spectacular deep pink foliage in spring and this cultivar retains a strong pink color throughout the growing season. Produces an enormous range of contrasting colors in the garden.  May be pruned several times during summer to produce new shoots that make the plant bushier and to produce a new flush of vibrant color.

Syringa ‘Josee’ is an outstanding variety with a dwarf habit, reblooming flowers, and superb mildew resistance. At just 4-6' tall and wide, 'Josee' is the perfect choice for smaller gardens.  The delightfully fragrant, lavender-pink flowers erupt into bloom in late spring. Unlike other lilacs though, the show is not over in early summer! Syringa 'Josee' will surprise northern gardeners with reliable rebloom all summer and fall.

Weigela ‘My Monet’ at only 12-18 inches high by 12-15 inches wide, make it the perfect artistic accent for flower gardens, landscape beds or even patio containers. Fabulous green and white variegated foliage with just a slight pink tinge to the newly emerging foliage provides a splash of color to semi-shaded areas. Couple that with tiny pink flowers in late May to early June and you’ve got a dwarf masterpiece! We believe this plant will perform best in a filtered sun location protected from the very hot afternoon sun that may scorch the beautiful variegated leaves. My Monet is sure to please the most artistic gardeners!