Sep 9, 2014

Award-Winning Perennials

Are you familiar with the International Hardy Plant Union (ISU)? The organization was founded in 1965 by German, Dutch and Swiss nurserymen and is now comprised of perennial plant growers and related professionals from 18 European countries as well as the United States, Canada and Argentina. This worldwide association’s objective is to connect professionals, encourage discussion in the field of crop cultivation and use, and promote the development of product assortments.

Every other year the ISU awards newly introduced perennials that are evaluated by an international jury. These perennials have not been on the market more than five years, and they are planted between one and two years in advance in an evaluation garden. Plants are judged on cultivation suitability and garden value.

This year’s winners were recently announced at the ISU’s Summerdays meeting in Switzerland. And the winners are:

Phlox amplifolia ‘Shemeneto’

Brunnera macrophylla ‘Caucasian Carpet’

Kniphofia ‘Papaya Popsicle’

Miscanthus sinensis var. condensatus ‘Luc André Lepagé’

Molinia ‘Les Ponts de Cé’

Panicum virgatum ‘Buffalo Green’

Rodgersia henricii ‘Cherry Blush’

Echinacea ‘Meditation White’

Veronica longifolia ‘Marietta’

Anemone ‘Fantasy Pocahontas’

How much of your production is dedicated to perennials? Have you grown any of the above varieties? Which new perennials have been your best sellers? Shoot me an e-mail at jdolce@greatamericanpublish.com, and let me know!

Speaking of Perennials…

GPN columnist and regular contributor Paul Pilon, owner of Perennial Solutions Consulting, will be presenting a free one-hour webinar – Strategies for Growing Healthy Perennials – on Sept. 16 at 2 p.m. eastern time. Click here to learn more about the webinar and to register.

– Jasmina