New Plants for 2012

We’ve been hard at work all winter to provide the best plants for your gardens.  We’re excited about many of the new introductions that have been trialed and tested in Europe, and will now be available at the farm!  Here are some of the plants that we’ve wanted for our own gardens, and we’re going to share with you!

     Hellebores!  Yes, I know I rave about these in my spring E-newsletters, and again in the winter months, but everyone with a bit of shade needs to grow these tough, reliable plants.  Who can resist flowers in winter when nothing else is in bloom?  We’ll have a limited number of ‘Double Queen’ and lots of young single-flowered plants.

     Tall Garden Phlox:  I’m so excited about the new introductions that I’ve written an entire article, so check the website menu.  There are so many new colors and heights, and the disease resistance is much improved.  These are great plants for summer show, and the butterflies love them, too!  The short ones are nice in containers even when not in bloom, providing good foliage and height.  We’re going to have lots of new offerings including:  “Little Boy,” “Mystic Green,” “Picasso,” “Tiara,” a new double white and others.  Check out the article!

     Sedums:  

Sedum Strawberries & Cream

I can’t get enough of these tough, easy-to-grow, no-work plants.  There are tiny short ones through sturdy tall varieties.  New to us:  “Strawberries and Cream,” which has purple-hued foliage and flowers of red and cream.  “Thundercloud” is extremely tidy and showy with its dense purple foliage and clouds of bloom.  “Harvest Moon: (available the end of April) and “Turkish Delight” (available mid-May)

     Veronicas:  

Veronica Fascination

These vertical accents in the garden add color and style in summer.  I’m adding “Ulster’s Dwarf Blue” for the front of the border and “Fascination” which has amazing bi-color flowers that are purple on top and lilac pink on the bottom.  This is a showy flower for the mid-to-back of the border (40”.)

     Toad Lilies:  Amazing plants for shade that bloom in late summer and early fall with exceptionally intricate orchid-like flowers.  Some have golden or variegated foliage.  Plant these beauties near a path or bench so you can view the exotic flowers closely. Look for “Blue Wonder,” and many, many others!

     Poker Plant:  I’m beefing up the Hummingbird & Butterfly Garden this year to plants that are low-maintenance and easy-to-grow for decades, but now breeders have increased the color range, increased the bloom size and time, and given us some different heights.  “Nancy’s Red” is shorter (24”) than most types and has bright red cone-shaped blooms.  “Cobra” is an unusual flower that begins soft coral and ages to cream, for those who would rather have a more restful palette that does not include bright oranges, red, or electric yellows that are common to tritomas.

     Yarrow:  The old country plant that was once only available in yellow or white has blossomed!  In recent years, deep reds, romantic pinks, soft primrose and other shades have been introduced.  Now, the famous plantsman, Allen Armitage has selected this outstanding plant that outperformed other yarrows in terms of blooms.  Of course, since it’s my favorite color, a warm peach called “Peachy Sensation,” I couldn’t resist!

     Echinacea:  We’ve brought you “Hot Papaya,” “Tomato Soup,” “Pink Poodle,” “Coconut Ice,” and many more of the newest coneflower introductions over the years.  Now, one of the newest in the dozens of amazing coneflowers, “Marmalade” an extra-fluffy bright orange with strong stems is on our benches.  All I can say is “Hurrah!” (available mid May)

     Foxglove:

Polka Dot Polly

Snapdragons:
     Baptisia:  I’ve loved the deep blue baptisias, graduated to “Purple Smoke,” and then I saw “Carolina Moonlight” with its soft, creamy yellow cloud of flowers in early summer, and I was lost.  Yum!
     Hollyhock:  The “Queeny” series blooms the first year and remains knee-high for containers or to fill the mid-border.  I’m growing “Queeny Salmon” for my own personal garden and the Sunrise Garden, but I’ll share a few.  We’ll also have the Antwerp Series, a true perennial with single flowers in luscious, unusual shades.
     Dianthus:  I love dianthus, for their spikey, tidy foliage, their fragrant flowers, and their reliability.  This year, I’m adding two new ones:  “Black Adder,” an outstanding cultivar with maroon tinged foliage and deep purple-black blooms.  This will be an excellent plant for the border or for containers.  I’m always looking for tiny, miniature plants for my fairy gardens and “Baby Doll,” a 6” perennial is perfect for a sunny location with good drainage.  The flowers appear early and are giant singles in a wide range of colors.