May 10, 2016

New Perennial Standouts By Jasmina Dolce

The demand for perennial varieties continues to grow. I don’t know if they happen to be going through another cycle of popularity; it seems like every few years, they make a comeback. Or perhaps it’s just the fact that new gardeners want constant satisfaction year after year; maybe they want to make one big investment and enjoy the fruits of their labor for years to come.

Or, and this is my suspicion, breeders are just introducing really exciting, breakthrough perennial varieties — plants that really make a statement in the garden, are easy to care for, and boast season-long color and performance. Judging by all the new perennial introductions we saw at the 2016 California Spring Trials, I think that’s it. Gardeners just can’t ignore these eye-catching perennial performers!

Breeders are definitely focusing on their perennial offerings and doing new and unique things with them — making combinations with them, using them in premium containers, introducing never-before-seen colors. They’re also making many improvements to already existing varieties. Gardeners want their perennials to stand out, and breeders are listening.

Here are some of the latest and greatest perennial introductions we found at Spring Trials this year:

Echinacea ‘Prairie Splendor Rose Compact’ (Syngenta Flowers)

This first-year flowering echinacea requires no vernalization and offers easy production scheduling. It flowers up to three weeks earlier than other traditional varieties, and the new compact breeding reduces the need for PGR application.

Veronica ‘Magic Show Pink Potion’ (Proven Winners)

Hardy to Zones 4 through 9, this new veronica showcases improved vigor and flowering. Baby pink flowers cover the top half of the plant in early summer to midsummer, and deep green foliage forms a low, wide mound.

Agapanthus ‘Indigo Frost’ (Southern Living Plant Collection)

‘Indigo Frost’ features multiple spikes of large bicolor flowers that change from blue in the throat to white on the petal’s edge. Blooms open in spring and rebloom through the summer.

Coreopsis ‘Uptick Yellow & Red’ (Darwin Perennials)

This new coreopsis is hardy to Zones 5 through 9 and grows 12 to 14 inches tall. It presents large flowers on a tidy, mounded habit, making it easy to ship and attractive in the landscape.

Heucherella ‘Plum Cascade’ (Terra Nova Nurseries)

This trailing heucherella is great as a ground cover or in a hanging basket. It features deeply lobed, purple silver leaves and free-flowering light pink flowers. It is hardy to Zones 4 through 9 and prefers shade to part shade.

Leucanthemum ‘Sweet Daisy Christine’ (Dümmen Orange)

A naturally compact leucanthemum, ‘Sweet Daisy Christine’ requires no PGRs and no vernalization. It has clear white flowers that are held on strong stems.

Do perennial plants make up a large portion of your production? What are your top sellers? Which new perennial varieties do you plan to add to your lineup next season? Shoot me an email and let me know; I’d love to hear from you.

— Jasmina