Oct 10, 2018

Stand Out With These New Perennials By Jasmina Dolce

Over the past few years, breeders have been and continue to focus on perennial breeding. They are introducing new and exciting varieties that strengthen their popularity at the consumer level.

In the September issue of GPN, industry consultant Paul Pilon shared some of his favorite perennial introductions with our readers. He says it has been exciting over the years to observe how there has continually been more and more of a focus on perennial breeding.

According to Pilon, plant selection and breeding efforts largely focus on improving flowering attributes, including extending the blooming season, decreasing the vernalization and photoperiod requirements, and selecting pereninals that rebloom.

Each year, he takes note of all the new varieties at various trials, events and grower locations. Here’s a few that caught his eye and are worthy of your consideration.

To read Pilon’s full article, click here.

Heuchera ‘Dolce Wildberry’
Proven Winners

This stunning purple perennial is stunning, with large scalloped leaves and charcoal veins that stand out in sunny locations. While the foliage is the main selling point, it does produce white flowers held on dark stems with rosy pink calyxes.

Heliopsis ‘Burning Hearts’
Jelitto Perennial Seeds

Not your ordinary heliopsis, this new introduction has deep-purple foliage and an abundance of contrasting dynamic yellow daisy-like flowers with orange centers. Hardy to Zone 3, it has a sturdy, upright habit that reaches around 3 feet tall while blooming.

Agastache ‘Poquito Dark Blue’
Terra Nova Nurseries

This fast-growing perennial produces a constant supply of purple-blue flower spikes from June to October in most locations. The compact clumps reach 14 inches tall when they are in full bloom. This fragrant plant attracts pollinators to the landscape and makes a great cut flower.

Amsonia ‘Butterscotch’
Emerald Coast Growers

A great multi-season native, ‘Butterscotch’ has an improved form with reddish stems and develops attractive steel blue flowers in the summer. It is also resistant to tip dieback many other amsonia experience. The rich fall appearance brings life to any landscape.

Helenium ‘Salud Embers’
Darwin Perennials

With its compact 14- to 16-inch habit, attractive flowers and late season bloom, ‘Salud Embers’ is perfect for fall programs. It produces yellow-tipped red flowers with unique eyes in the late summer that continue into the fall.

Rudbeckia ‘Glitters Like Gold’
Intrinsic Perennial Gardens

‘Glitters Like Gold’ is not your industry standard. It has thinner and hairy foliage, providing excellent resistance to leaf spots. It produces loads of yellow 3-inch Black Eyed Susan blooms from late July through September, but the intensity and bloom volume are greater that other rudbeckias on the market.

What are your top-selling perennial varieties? Why new introductions are your customers requesting? Are you growing any of the above selections? Shoot me an email at jdolce@greatamericanpublish.com, and let me know. I’d love to hear from you.

— Jasmina