plants we love 2014

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Plants We LOVE HOT NEW VARIETIES & AWARD WINNERS FOR 2014

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See the exciting new ornamental and edible plants being introduced to the market in 2014, plus tried-and-true plants worth growing.

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Page 1: Plants We Love 2014

Plants We LOVE

HOT NEW VARIETIES & AWARD WINNERS FOR 2014

Page 4: Plants We Love 2014

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New IntrosTHE PLANT WIZARDS have been

at it again. Here are some of the ex-citing new varieties they’ve cooked up for release in 2014. What will you seek for your garden?

compiled by Meghan Shinn

Noteworthy plants of 2014

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FROM DAVID AUSTIN:‘BOSCOBEL’ ENGLISH ROSE ‘Boscobel’ bears beautifully formed fl owers of a rich salmon coloring that changes with age to a rich, deep pink. The flow-ers start as red buds that open to pretty cups and develop into perfectly formed blooms of clas-sic rosette formation. The nu-merous small petals are of vary-ing shades, mingling to provide a most pleasing effect. The de-lightful, medium to strong myrrh fragrance has a hawthorn char-acter with hints of elderflow-er, pear and almond. ‘Boscobel’ forms an upright, 3-foot shrub that is strong and healthy with dark green, glossy foliage. Full sun. Zones 5–9.

‘HEATHCLIFF’ ENGLISH ROSE There are few roses as popular as those of deep crimson col-oring—and none so difficult to breed. ‘Heathcliff ’ is a stunning 13th addition to Austin’s collec-tion of red/scarlet English roses. It has large, fully double fl owers of rosette shape. The color is a true deep crimson, with a certain softness reminiscent of some of the old red Gallica roses. Its love-ly fragrance is unusual: Tea Rose imbued with Old Rose, played beautifully off a minor base note of earthy, elegant, dry woody ce-dar. Grows roughly 3 feet tall and wide. Full sun. Zones 5–9.

FROM UPSHOOT HORT:SHOW TIME CRABAPPLEMalus ‘Shotizam’ Show Time has the most prolific fuchsia-red fl owers of any crabapple on the market—they’re practically fluorescent! It matures to ap-proximately 25 feet in height and

15 to 20 feet in width. The bright spring blooms give way to dark green foliage with a red over-cast. In the fall, small cherry-red fruits appear. This is an alterna-tive to the popular ‘Prairifire’ with better disease resistance. Hardy to Zone 4.

FIREBIRD VARIEGATED DOGWOODCornus fl orida rubra ‘Fircomz’. A fabulous new dogwood with col-orful fl owers and foliage! A sport from Cherokee Brave, Firebird has red flowers and white cen-ters. However, its fi nest attribute is its green-and-white variegated foliage, which also shows red to burgundy new growth all sea-son long. As the nights cool and fall approaches, these red tones overtake the entire leaf. This selection of a native tree grows more slowly than other cultivars and reaches a mature height of approximately 20 to 25 feet with a 20-foot spread. Zone 5.

Above right, top to bottom: 'Boscobel' English rose; 'Heathcliff' English rose; spring flowers of Show Time crabapple. Below: Firebird dogwood's variegated foliage.

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FROM PROVEN WINNERS COLORCHOICE SHRUBS:‘SWEET SUMMER LOVE’ CLEMATISThis is a new type of sweet au-tumn clematis, with a longer bloom time and brilliant color. Fragrant cranberry-violet flow-ers start blooming more than a month earlier than other va-rieties and cover the plant in summer. Easy to grow and deer-resistant, it is a very showy 10-foot vine for a trellis or stake in the ground or a large container. It prefers deep, well-drained soil and full sun. USDA Zones 4–9.

SWEET LIFEBERRY GOJI BERRY Lycium barbarum ‘SMNDSL’. Easy-to-grow goji berries are popular for their antioxidants and other potential health ben-efits. This is an extra-sweet se-lection of the superfruit you can grow in your own backyard. Bright red berries cover the plant in summer. Grow it in vegetable gardens or patio containers in full sun for best production. It can reach 10 feet tall and 5 feet

wide, and it may be cut back each winter. Zones 5–9.

TINY WINE NINEBARK P h y s o c a r p u s o p u l i f o l i u s ‘SMPOTW’. This new dwarf ninebark is smaller than oth-ers in the market. Dark bronze-maroon foliage is colorful all season; white flowers make a very showy display in late spring. This variety is extra bushy with small, refi ned leaves. An attrac-tive native plant for mixed bor-ders or containers, it takes to most well-drained soils and does best in full sun. Grows 3 to 4 feet tall and wide. Zones 3–8.

FROM GREATPLANTS:‘FONTANELLE’ FLAG IRISIris spuria ‘Fontanelle’. This unique iris was discovered on an old farmstead near Fonta-nelle, Neb., by plantsman Harlan Hamernik. It blooms the first two weeks of June and has up-right, sword-like foliage. The falls, or lower petals, are two-toned in color, with a lovely pink-

ish-lavender style crest and pale blue sepals with prominent blue veins and a bright yellow signal (spot). The upright, or standard, petals are royal blue. The fl ow-ers and stalks are tough—they won’t break as easily as those of tall bearded irises. Grows 36 to 40 inches high with an 18-inch spread. Zone 4.

This page, clockwise from top left: 'Sweet Summer Love' clematis; Tiny Wine ninebark; 'Fontanelle' iris Sweet Lifeberry; Lycium barbarum goji berries. Opposite page, left: 'Standing Ovation' bluestem. Right, from top: Peppermint Swirl hydrangea; 'So Lovely! Pink' geranium; 'Windbreaker' sacaton.

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FROM THE HGTV HOME PLANT COLLECTION:PEPPERMINT SWIRL BIGLEAF HYDRANGEAHydrangea macrophylla ‘Danc-ing Angel’. This re-blooming mophead displays a unique “peppermint candy” variegation on each fl oret within the fl ower head. Blooms are just as striking whether they are blue or pink (which depends on soil makeup). Peppermint Swirl is ideal for containers, mixed borders or massing in the landscape. It has a rounded habit 3 feet high and wide. It prefers partial shade and moist, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Making the soil more acid will turn the fl owers from pink to blue. Zones 5–9. ‘SO LOVELY! PINK’ GERANIUMPelargonium ‘So Lovely! Pink’. This is one of four new introduc-tions in the So Gorgeous! Gera-nium series. ‘So Lovely! Pink’ is a heat-tolerant geranium with a vigorous growth habit and an extra-large umbel (fl ower clus-

ter)—similar in size to that of a Hydrangea macrophylla head! Its leaves have that beautiful dark ring admired in zonal geraniums. In full sun, the plant will reach approximately 12 to 18 inches in height and width. Annual.

FROM NORTH CREEK NURSERIES:‘STANDING OVATION’ LITTLE BLUESTEMSchizachyrium scoparium ‘Stand-ing Ovation’. A North Creek dis-covery sure to give an applause-worthy performance. This thick-bladed bluestem keeps a tight, upright habit throughout the entire season. A warm-sea-son grass, it does well in poor, dry soils, but it has stood strong even in rich soils. Spiky bluish-green stems and leaves transition to a sizzling display of oranges, reds, yellows and purplish browns in the autumn. It should be cut back in early spring to make way for new growth. Reaches 4 feet tall and 12 inches wide. Full sun to part shade. Zones 3–8.

‘WINDBREAKER’ BIG SACATONSporobolus wrightii ‘Wind-breaker’. Formerly named ‘Mesa Form’, this statuesque Southwest native comes to us from the Los Lunas Plant Materials Center in New Mexico, where it was origi-nally bred to be a wind barrier. This form has a commanding presence with its sturdy, upright habit and very showy summer flower spikes. An herbaceous alternative to expensive fenc-ing, ‘Windbreaker’ is also a ter-rifi c native substitute for pampas grass. Grows 7 to 8 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide. Sun to part shade. Zones 5–9.

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FROM COLORBLENDS:CARNAVAL TULIP MIXLight and bright, cheerful and happy, these tulips hold a party wherever they are planted—and they welcome everyone to join in. You can almost hear the cry of trumpets, feel the pulsing beat, see the floats and the crowds dancing in the street.

SVEN SKA TULIP MIXThis blend creates a two-story tulip display. Densely petaled doubles in purple and yellow

mingle below, while a purple lily-flowered tulip floats above. Together they create a chromat-ic and dynamic feast for the eye.

FROM GARDENER’S CONFIDENCE:BLOOM ’N AGAIN PINK EXPLOSION AZALEAAzalea בMNIHAR015’. The new Bloom ’N Again Azaleas will reach garden centers in spring 2014. One exceptional variety, Bloom ’N Again Pink Explo-sion, off ers stunning, dark pink fl owers with a consistent repeat bloom in spring and fall. The compact evergreen shrub grows 3 to 4 feet tall and wide, mak-ing it an ideal choice for masses of color in shrub borders. Best grown in sun to partial shade, it has great pest and disease resis-tance for low maintenance and easy care. Zones 6b–9.

PEARLIFIC VIBURNUMViburnum ‘PIIVIB-I’. This com-pact shrub cultivates elegance and leaves gardeners wanting more. Even as a young plant, Pearlific viburnum impresses gardeners with beautiful pink-tinged buds that open to white fl owers off ering a mild fragrance. It extends the season with a pop of color from red berries in the fall and winter. The delightful fruit provides a sweet treat for birds and wildlife at a time of year when food can be scarce. The attractive evergreen foliage also maintains its color year-round. With its low maintenance and ability to adapt quickly to the landscape, Pearlifi c is an ide-al selection that reachs 5 to 6 feet tall and wide. Full sun to part shade. Zones 6–9.

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FROM SANTA ROSA GARDENS:‘RED OCTOBER’ BIG BLUESTEMAndropogon ‘Red October’. This variety ’s deep green foliage darkens to purple in late sum-mer, then turns vivid scarlet in autumn for spectacular late-sea-son color. ‘Red October’ loves sun and reaches heights of 5 to 6 feet. Zones 3–8.

FROM PRIDE OF PLACE PLANTS:'GLIMMER' HEATWAVE SALVIASalvia microphylla ‘Glimmer’. This variety’s creamy white flowers pop against their black stems. Part of the Heatwave se-ries bred in Australia, it’s hap-py even in hot, dry conditions. Reaches 2 feet tall and 3 feet wide. Zones 6–10.

VALENTINE BLEEDING HEARTDicentra spectabilis ‘Hordival’. Amazing red fl owers, gray-pur-ple mature leaves and a com-pact size set this award-winning bleeding heart apart. It likes

shade or part shade and grows just about 2 feet tall and wide. Zones 3–9.

FROM LOGEE’S GREENHOUSES:‘SCORPIUS’ EASTER CACTUSRhipsalidopsis gaertneri ‘Scorpius’. Beautiful, bright red, 2-inch blooms adorn this Easter cactus between March and May. Each fl ower lasts for several weeks, opening every morning after sunrise and closing at sundown. These tree-dwelling rain-forest natives like fi ltered light, well-drained soil and moderate watering and fertilization. Keep the plant cool and moist while it’s in bloom to extend the fl owering season. Part sun to shade. Houseplant.

Opposite page, top: Carnaval tulip mix. Middle, left to right: Sven Ska tulip mix; Pearlific viburnum. This page, top, left to right: 'Glimmer' salvia; Valentine bleeding heart. Bottom, left to right: 'Red October' big bluestem; 'Scorpius' Easter cactus.

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FROM CONARD-PYLE:LOOK-A-LIKES BOUGAINFEELYA ROSERosa ‘Meickinava’. The Look-A-Likes series is a new line of roses that fool the eye. The non-traditional blooms of these roses resemble those of other plants. BougainFeelYa is the newest edi-tion—joining Phloxy Baby and Hydrangealicious—with dark red, non-fading blooms shaped similar to those of a bougainvil-lea. Flowers form continuously throughout the season, and the plant is covered with bright red hips in the fall. BougainFeelYa is very resistant to rust and mil-dews and has a decent tolerance for black spot. Zones 5–9. MOODY BLUES VERONICAS The Moody Blues series is a new series of veronica that includes four colors: Dark Blue, Light Blue, Mauve and Pink (shown). All are excellent garden plants that remain naturally compact and tidy. They will naturally re-bloom spring through fall in the garden. Zones 6–9. JUNIOR WALKER CATMINT Nepeta ‘Novanepjun’. This com-pact catmint retains the non-reseeding quality of its popular parent, ‘Walker’s Low’, at one-third the size. (Junior Walker reaches just 18 inches.) Blue-green foliage contrasts nicely with lavender-blue fl owers for a long blooming window of mid-May through September. Full sun. Zones 5–9. FIRE CHIEF GLOBE ARBORVITAEThuja occidentalis ‘Congabe’. Fire Chief is an excellent land-scape plant that offers year-

round interest. The coloration of its red-tipped foliage looks most pronounced in spring and fall. This variety forms a naturally rounded habit in the landscape with minimal splitting. Reaches 4 feet tall and wide when ma-ture. Full sun. Zones 4–8.

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FROM SUNTORY:‘SURFINIA HEAVENLY BLUE’ PETUNIAIf you like ‘Surfinia Sky Blue’ petunia, you’ll really love ‘Heav-enly Blue’. It represents the next generation of petunia breeding, creating the perfect marriage of color, habit and performance. Plants fi ll out pots, baskets and beds quickly and perform all summer through fall until frost. Full to part sun. Annual.

CRACKLING FIRE RED BEGONIASuntory’s Crackling Fire bego-nias offer the best color range and uniformity in boliviensis genetics. They are loaded with flowers, easy to grow and have

a sturdy compact and upright habit that prevents breakage. Crackling Fire is more sun toler-ant than other begonias. Full to part sun. Annual.

SUN PARASOL PRETTY DEEP RED MANDEVILLASun Parasol varieties combine the best of dipladenia character-istics with mandevilla growth. The Pretty group is distinguished by its superior branching and shorter distances between fl ow-ers—yet it still maintains vig-orous growth. Full to part sun. Needs regular feeding. Annual.

FROM BRAZELBERRIES:BLUEBERRY GLAZE BLUEBERRYVaccinium ×Blueberry Glaze. The newest addition to the Bra-zelBerries line of garden-friendly berry bushes is Blueberry Glaze, a blueberry bush that looks a lot like a boxwood, with its glossy, dark green leaves and small stat-ure. White spring flowers give way to dark-colored blueberries in midsummer. These have an intense fl avor similar to that of wild blueberries. Great as a low hedge or in pots. It grows 2 to 3 feet tall and wide. Full sun. Zones 5–8.

Left: BougainFeelYa rose. First row, from far left: Pink Moody Blues veronica; 'Surfinia Heavenly Blue' petunia; Blueberry Glaze blueberry. Second row, from left: Junior Walker catmint; Crackling Fire red begonia. Bottom row, from left: Fire Chief globe arborvitae; Pretty Deep Red mandevilla.

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FROM PROVEN WINNERS PERENNIALS:DOLCE SERIES CINNAMON CURLS CORAL BELLSHeuchera ‘Inheuredfu’. Dress up your patio pots or make a neat edging for your fl ower beds with this classy new coral bells. Cinnamon Curls forms a tidy, compact, rounded mound of glossy, leathery, dissected leaves with ruffled edges. They are a unique blend of coppery orange, red and purple tones on the top and brilliant magenta red on the undersides of the leaves. This new variety is prized for its foli-age; its fl owers are insignifi cant. Grows 8 to 12 inches tall and 16 to 20 inches wide. Sun (North) to shade (South). Zones 4–9.

‘CAT’S MEOW’ CATMINTNepeta faassenii ‘Cat’s Meow’. Truly the “cat ’s meow”—the best nepeta we’ve seen yet! Un-like most, which have a bit of a wild, unkempt look, this first-class selection keeps its tidy, dense, rounded shape all sea-son long. Its small, gray-green, aromatic leaves are topped with well-branched stems of sky-blue fl owers from early summer into early fall. ‘Cat’s Meow’ has ev-erything today’s gardeners want; it’s a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant, deer-resistant, long-blooming perennial that looks great all season. Reachs up to 20 inches tall and 2 to 3 feet wide. Full sun. Zones 3–8.

FROM WALTERS GARDENS:‘GLAMOUR GIRL’ BORDER PHLOXPhlox paniculata ‘Glamour Girl’. If you’re going to choose only one new tall phlox this year, make it ‘Glamour Girl’. You won’t be

disappointed! It powers through hot, humid summers with ease, shaking off any sign of powdery mildew. Large panicles of hot coral-pink flowers appear on tall, dark purple stems from mid- through late summer, and even the oldest fl owers in the panicles retain a beautiful shade of light coral pink. Plants grow 32 inches tall and 18 to 24 inches wide. Full sun. Zones 3–8.

NEW MILLENNIUM ‘DWARF STARS’ DELPHINIUM If you love the look of traditional

delphiniums but they’re just too tall for your use, you’re in luck! This brand-new series of truly dwarf delphs has all the beauti-ful characteristics of taller cous-ins, except their height. Topping out under 24 inches tall, these perennials never need staking. They can be grown in the front or middle of the border, and they work better in windy sites than taller varieties. ‘Dwarf Stars’ is a mixed color strain with a variety of purple, blue, mauve, pink, lilac and cream flowers. Full sun to part shade. Zones 3–7.

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FROM PROVEN WINNERS ANNUALS:POMEGRANATE PUNCH SUPERBELLSSuperbells Pomegranate Punch calibrachoa has true deep red blooms with a black-red center and a hint of a yellow throat. It offers a mounding habit with a height of 10 to 14 inches and a spread of 14 to 18 inches. It looks stunning in containers and win-dow boxes. Like all Superbells varieties, Pomegranate Punch makes gardening easy! Super-bells have superbly colored large blooms, and they’re resistant to disease and heat tolerant. Full sun. Annual.

FLAMINGO SUPERTUNIASupertunia Flamingo petunia has sugary pink blooms which offer the same heat tolerance and disease resistance as our other Supertunia petunias, with performance similar to the Prov-en Winners Vista series of Su-pertunia. This variety is vigorous with a flat landscape habit and it will do well when the season heats up. It will reach 8 to 16 inches in height and will spread 18 to 24 inches. Full sun. Annual.

CATALINA GRAPE-O-LICIOUS TORENIAThe newest addition to the award-winning Catalina series from Proven Winners offers a unique color for torenia—over-sized white blooms with dark purple throats. The variety has an upright habit and strong heat tolerance. It’s an excellent ac-cent plant in mixed containers, window boxes and the land-scape. It will reach 10 to 12 inch-es in height and will spread 14 to

24 inches. Full sun to part shade. Annual.

FROM TESSELAAR PLANTS:SWEET SPOT DECORATOR ROSES A completely new category of roses—“decorator roses.” The fi rst plants in this line of compact shrub roses off er four colors, each punctuated in the center by a deep, contrasting hue. They are Calypso (pinkish

red and yellow with red/pink center), Peach (soft peach with red/pink center), Ruby (ruby-pink with red/pink center) and Yellow (golden yellow with orange/red center). Any of the colors can be used in the same space, because the combinations all complement one another. They bloom from mid-spring to early fall. These shrubs top out at 16 to 24 inches tall and about as wide. Full sun. Zones 5–9.

Opposite, clockwise from top: Cinnamon Curls coral bells; 'Glamour Girl' phlox; 'Dwarf Stars' delphiniums; 'Cat's Meow' catmint. This page, clockwise from right: Grape-O-Licious torenia; Ruby, Yellow and Calypso roses; Flamingo Supertunia; Pomegranate Punch Superbells.

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FROM SKAGIT GARDENS: BEYOND BLUE FESCUEFestuca glauca ‘Casca11’. In-troduced by Concept Plants, this fescue has a vivid blue color that stays blue—without browning later in the season. It forms a dense tuft of intense color. Showy, upright, blue green spring flowers age to a straw color and remain attractive for

months. Delicate in looks but tough in performance, Beyond Blue is easy to grow. Grows 9 to 12 inches tall with an 18-inch spread. Full sun. Zones 4–8.

‘SHORT ’N’ SASSY’ HELEN’S FLOWERHelenium ‘Short ’n’ Sassy’. A shorter version of the stately Helen’s flower, or sneezeweed, this cultivar has bright gold and orange flowers with chocolate center cones. It starts blooming about two weeks earlier than other varieties, putting it in fl ow-er from midsummer through fall. Even better, new blossoms open above spent flowers for a tidy look. It grows just 12 to 18 inches tall and 24 inches wide. Full sun. Zones 4–9.

SHOOTING STAR HELLEBOREHelleborus ×ericsmithii ‘COSEH 790’. From the groundbreaking

Gold Collection of hellebores (hybridized by Heuger), Shoot-ing Star is a prolific bloomer with outward-facing flowers and handsome, disease-resistant foliage. From winter into early spring, dusty rose buds open to white blossoms that fade to a sage green. The fl owers rise up from the center in a unique bou-quet formation. The deep green leaves have prominent veins and dark red stems. Grows 18 to 22 inches tall and 24 inches wide. Sun to shade. Zones 4–9.

FROM BLOOMS OF BRESSINGHAM:‘SUPREME CANTALOUPE’ CONEFLOWEREchinacea purpurea ‘Supreme Cantaloupe’. Absolutely the col-or of a ripe cantaloupe, double anemone, non-fading, fragrant blooms last and last from summer into fall. This is a heavy bloomer with the strong, straight stems and branching habit typical of the Supreme echinacea series. Foli-age height is 26 inches and width is 15 inches; fl owering height is 29 inches. Full sun. Zones 4–9. ‘BUTTERED RUM’ FOAMY BELLSHeucherella ‘Buttered Rum’. Lus-cious, buttery caramel color and gorgeous maple-like foliage pro-vide all-season interest. White fl owers appear in spring. Glossy foliage changes to a lovely rose red as temperatures cool in fall, making a perfect complement to fall-planted containers and landscapes. Habit is compact and mounding, with foliage height to 7 inches and width to 15 inches. This variety is cold, heat and hu-midity tolerant. Sun (North) to shade (South). Zones 4–9.

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FROM SUNNY BORDER NURSERIES:‘DAYBREAK’ TICKSEEDCoreopsis ‘Daybreak’. The first member of the Li’l Bang series, this coreopsis features golden yellow blooms with broad red banding surrounding a yellow center. It blooms from late May through October (periodic prun-ing will promote this rebloom-ing). Bred by Darrell Probst, Li’l Bang tickseeds are an off shoot of the Big Bang series. They have the same unique flower colors but they grow just 8 to 10 inches

tall—perfect for use in contain-ers, as edging or at the front of the border. Full sun. Zones 4–9.

‘RED SATIN’ TICKSEEDCoreopsis ‘Red Satin’. The first member of the new Permathread series from coreopsis breeder Darrell Probst! Deep wine-red to ruby-red fl owers with orange centers bloom early through late summer on plants with a tight, clump-forming habit. They keep that solid red coloration even in the heat of Southern summers. ‘Red Satin’ is closely related to the verticillatas but with much better, darker green foliage and without rhizomes, so it blooms heavy. In addition, it is sterile, giving it exceptional disease re-sistance and longevity of bloom. Grows 15 to 18 inches tall with a spread of 18 to 22 inches. Cut the plant back in midsummer to refresh it or extend bloom time until frost. Full sun. Zones 4–9.

‘GOLDEN GEISHA’ FAIRY BELLSDisporum sessile ‘Golden Gei-sha’. Discovered in Japan by Da-vid Culp. This plant has ovate, golden-chartreuse foliage that’s

wider than other gold-leafed varieties. It shows more gold in the spring but maintains its chartreuse coloring through-out the season. It has elegant white, nodding blooms, tinged in green, like that of other genus members. Grows 18 to 24 inches tall and wide, though it may get taller in warmer climates. Shade. Zones 5–9.

FROM PLANT DELIGHTS NURSERY:‘SUMMER FROST’ HYDRANGEAHydrangea ‘Summer Frost’. This unique Ozzie Johnson creation, a cross of H. macrophylla and H. serrata, has lacecap flowers in June (in North Carolina), which are blue in acidic soils and pink in alkaline conditions. The most unique aspect of ‘Summer Frost’, however, occurs during July, when the green leaves mysteri-ously turn a lovely cream. (Be-cause this is a heat-based change, those in cool climates will not see it happen.) In 5 years, our plants have reached 5 feet tall and 6 feet wide. Part sun to light shade. Likely Zones 5–8.

Opposite, clockwise from top: Beyond Blue fescue; Shooting Star hellebore; 'Supreme Cantloupe' coneflower; 'Short 'n' Sassy' Helen's flower. This page, clockwise from bottom left: 'Daybreak' tickseed; 'Buttered Rum' foamy bells; 'Red Satin' tickseed; 'Golden Geisha' fairy bells; 'Summer Frost' hydrangea.

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‘ADORNED’ DWARF VARIEGATED JAPANESE HOLLYIlex crenata ‘Adorned’. This is a Pat McCracken discovery of a sport of the popular Japanese holly I. c. ‘Hoogendorn’. At Plant Delights, ‘Adorned’ has made an 18-inch-tall by 5-foot-wide ever-green mound in 10 years—with no pruning. Each leaf is bright gold with a small green fleck in the middle. We think it’s a superb rock garden plant in ad-dition to being a bright addition to foundation plantings. Full sun. Zones 6–9.

‘WHITE LAVA’ ELEPHANT EARColocasia escuelenta ‘White Lava’. This elephant ear is the latest from the breeding work of Hawaii’s Dr. John Cho. Several years ago, we shared Colocasia ‘Nancy’s Revenge’ with John in the hope he could create an improved, non-running version and, in 2013, he unveiled ‘White Lava’. It’s a clumping elephant ear with large glossy green leaves that, as the season progresses, are adorned with a wide band of

creamy white down their cen-ters. This later radiates out into the side veins. Each amazing leaf is further highlighted by a large purple spot where it attaches to the stalk. Grows to 3 feet tall. Full to part sun. Zones 7b–10.

FROM MONROVIA:SCARLETT TORCH BOTTLEBRUSH Callistemon rigidus ‘RutCall’. From breeder Dr. John Ruter at the University of Georgia. This new variety has the largest bright red fl owers we’ve seen on any bottlebrush, and it’s irresist-ible to hummingbirds. It blooms from late spring through sum-mer—and intermittently year-round in frost-free climates. This easy-care evergreen shrub makes a fantastic hedge or it can be pruned as a small tree. It will reach 9 feet tall and 12 feet wide in 10 years. Full sun. Zones 8–11.

‘NIKKO BLUSH’ DEUTZIADeutzia בNikko Blush’. A de-lightful new hybrid from the U.S. National Arboretum, this blush-ing beauty will herald spring

with a profusion of soft pink blooms. A compact shrub with an excellent, multi-branched form, it is perfect for founda-tion plantings or as a low hedge. Bright green deciduous foliage on arching branches turns deep burgundy in fall. Grows to 6 to 8 feet tall and 6 feet wide. Full to part sun. Zones 5–8.

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TASMAN RUFFLES PITTOSPORUMPittosporum tenuifolium ‘Tas-man Ruffl es’. One of the best and hardiest selections of this New Zealand native, this evergreen shrub has cream-margined foli-age on a conical frame reaching 10 feet tall. A great addition to our Dan Hinkley Collection, it is certainly one of the most distinc-tive, tidy and low-maintenance hedging plants for a contempo-rary garden setting. Zones 7–10.

GOLDEN DUCHESS EASTERN HEMLOCKTsuga canadensis ‘MonKinn’. The crowning glory of Golden Duchess is its golden foliage and arching branches. A wonderful choice for the woodland or rock garden, or as a container speci-men, it will reach 3 to 4 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide. Prefers a dappled shade position in the garden. This selection was dis-covered at Monrovia’s Oregon nursery by craftsman Ron Kin-ney as a sport of Tsuga canaden-sis. Light shade. Zones 4–7.

FROM TERRA NOVA NURSERIES:‘VIOLET VISION’ HUMMINGBIRD MINTAgastache ‘Violet Vision’. This hummingbird mint was bred for its great hardiness and short habit. It off ers luxurious purple flower spikes to 24 inches tall, over foliage to 18 inches. Full sun. Zones 5–10.

‘ALEXANDER’S GREAT’ BUGLOSSBrunnera macrophylla ‘Alexan-der’s Great’. A vigorous grower, this bugloss has unusually large white-veiled leaves and nice sky-blue spring fl owers. It mounds to 12 inches tall and 28 inches wide. Sun to shade. Zones 4–8.

Opposite, clockwise from far left: 'Adorned' holly; 'White Lava' elephant ear; Scarlett Torch bottlebrush; 'Nikko Blush' deutzia. This page, clockwise from top left: 'Tasman Ruffles' pittosporum; Golden Duchess hemlock; 'Violet Vision' hummingbird mint; 'Alexander's Great' bugloss.

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‘METEOR PINK’ CONEFLOWEREchinacea purpurea ‘Meteor Pink’. Anenome-type pink fl ow-ers appear on a compact plant with great branching. This up-right grower reaches 19 inches tall and wide; fl ower stems can be up to 2 feet tall. Others in the Meteor series include ‘Meteor Red’ and ‘Meteor Yellow’. Full sun. Zones 4–10.

‘COPPER CASCADE’ FOAMY BELLSHeucherella ‘Copper Cascade’. This unique small-leaved variety has lovely rosy-copper foliage on trailing stems. It holds its color year-round and can be grown as a groundcover or in a hanging bas-ket. It grows to 8 inches tall and trails to 32 inches. Sun to shade. Zones 4–9.

FROM PLANTHAVEN:‘AURORA APRICOT’ DIASCIADiascia hybrida ‘Aurora Apricot’. This diascia has a unique upright habit, with spikes of triangular flower clusters appearing over

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its rich green foliage from early spring to fall. It grows 12 inches tall and wide, making it great for borders, containers or mass plantings. Full sun. Annual.

‘CELEBRATION’ BLANKETFLOWERGaillardia ×grandifl ora ‘Celebra-tion’. This elegant blanketfl ower offers solid red single flowers on very strong stems. These age very well and appear over a long time period, from early spring until the fall. The plant has a tight habit to 16 inches tall and 14 inches wide. Full sun. Zones 5–9.

FROM BAILEY NURSERIES:FIRST EDITIONS ‘CENTENNIAL BLUSH’ STAR MAGNOLIAMagnolia stellata ‘Centennial Blush’. Bred by Dr. Michael Dirr, this compact magnolia offers beautiful pink buds that open to fragrant double flowers in early spring. In summer, ‘Centennial Blush’ makes a good small shade tree. It grows 12 to 18 feet tall with a 10- to 15-foot spread. Full

sun to part shade. Bud and bloom hardy in Zones 4–9.

FIRST EDITIONS JETSTREAM OAKLEAF HYDRANGEAHydrangea quercifolia ‘PIIHQ-I’. This oakleaf hydrangea is dense and compact, with white cone-shaped summer flowers that shift to dark pink as they age. The dark green foliage turns orange-red in fall. Peeling bark adds winter interest. Grows 5 to 6 feet tall and 4 to 5 feet wide. Full sun to part shade. Zones 5–8.

FIRST EDITIONS LOTUS MOON PEARLBUSHExochorda ×macrantha ‘Bailm-oon’. Perfectly round flower buds—the pearls of the pearl-bush—open up to bright white fl owers in spring. This is a great low-maintenance shrub that stays 4 to 5 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide. Full sun to part shade. Zones 4–7. �

Opposite page, top to bottom: 'Aurora Apricot' diascia; Lotus Moon pearlbush. This page, clockwise from left: 'Meteor Pink' coneflower; 'Copper Cascade' foamy bells; 'Celebration' blanketflower; 'Centennial Blush' star magnolia; Jetstream oakleaf hydrangea.

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The spotlight shines on these special plants in 2014

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The spotlight shines on these special plants in 2014

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ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE United States select certain plants to highlight each year as particularly garden worthy. Why not try one of the following special plants in your garden in 2014?

compiled by Meghan Shinn

Award Wınners

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ALL-AMERICA SELECTIONSFor nearly 80 years, All-Amer-ica Selections (all-americaselections.org) has tested new garden seed varieties in national test plots. Their awards promote new varieties that have demon-strated superior performance in the gardens.

‘MASCOTTE’ BUSH BEAN‘Mascotte’ is the fi rst bean to win an All-America Selections award since 1991. This compact bush bean fits well in today’s small-space gardens, and it works well in containers, too. Showy white fl owers give way to long, slender pods that stay above the foliage for easy harvest. Judges appreci-ated the bean’s crunch and fl avor, as well as the plentiful harvest all season long. What’s with the name? ‘Mascotte’ is French for mascot, a symbol of good luck. The name matches this variety’s gardener-friendly habit.

‘SPARKLE WHITE’ GAURAPerennial ‘Sparkle White’ gaura (Guara lindheimeri ‘Sparkle White’) brings airy elegance to the garden. Dainty white flow-ers line its long, slender stems, which are held in dense clus-ters. ‘Sparkle White’ guara can be grouped in a mass planting or mixed with other perennials, and it also takes well to large con-tainers. It blooms from spring to fall, with excellent heat and drought tolerance and a more uniform flowering habit than other gauras grown from seed. Blooms the fi rst year grown from seed. Reaches 12 to 24 inches tall and 12 to 20 inches wide. Full sun. USDA Zones 6–9.

ZINNIA ‘PROFUSION DOUBLE DEEP SALMON’'Profusion Double Deep Salmon' zinnia features intensely vibrant pink-orange flowers with dou-

ble petals. Like other Profusion zinnias, it fl owers continuously from spring through frost. Self-cleaning and disease resistant, it grows well in a range of climates, even those with hot nighttime temperatures. The flowers can be 3 inches across, on plants growing 14 inches tall and 24 inches wide. Full sun. Annual.

ZINNIA ‘PROFUSION DOUBLE HOT CHERRY’This zinnia blooms in rich rose, with double-petaled flowers appearing continuously from spring through frost. The bright color does not fade, even in high heat. ‘Profusion Double Hot Cherry' is easy to grow, sharing the same characteristics as ‘Dou-ble Deep Salmon’. The plants grow 8 to 14 inches tall and 24 inches wide, with fl owers up to 3 inches in diameter. Full sun. Annual.

Clockwise from far left: 'Mascotte' bush bean, 'Sparkle White' guara, 'Profusion Double Hot Cherry' zinnia and 'Profusion Double Deep Salmon' zinnnia. All have been deemed All-America Selections for 2014.

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THE CARY AWARDThe Cary Award (caryaward.org) promotes outstanding plants for New England gardens. Named in honor of plantsman Ed Cary, it highlights a diverse selection of proven performers for the Northeast. For the Cary Award, 2014 is "The Year of the Vine."

‘ARCTIC BEAUTY’ KIWI VINEActinidia kolomikta ‘Arctic Beau-ty’ is a hardy kiwi vine for the North. A male plant, it does not fruit, and its small early-sum-mer fl owers are obscured by its leaves, but its ornamental foliage more than makes up for all that. This quick grower boasts large heart-shaped green leaves with splotches of white and pink. It grows 15 to 20 feet with a twin-ing habit. It can pollinate up to six female hardy kiwi vines, if you have them. These bear fruit that tastes similar to tropical kiwi, but it is smaller and berry-like. Most gardeners treat hardy kiwi vines as strictly ornamental plants. Deciduous. Full sun to part shade. Zones 4–8.

‘BETTY CORNING’ CLEMATISClematis ‘Betty Corning’ is well loved for its procession of nod-ding purple flowers from mid-summer to autumn. Its C. vi-ticella parentage lends it good resistance to clematis wilt. It is a vigorous grower, but it won’t take over the garden, and it looks great twining through a shrub or small tree. This deciduous vine grows to 12 feet long. Full sun to light shade. Zones 3–9.

AMERICAN WISTERIAJapanese and Chinese wisterias (Wisteria floribunda and W. si-

nensis, respectively) have given the genus a bad rap with their aggressive, invasive tendencies. American wisteria (W. frutes-cens), however, can be a great garden vine. Native to the east-ern United States, it minds its manners while offering those trademark drooping fl owers. Its fragrant blossom attracts but-terfl ies and the plant also plays larval host to several kinds. This deer-resistant deciduous woody vine is a great option for those who want the beauty of wisteria without the headaches of the Asian species. ‘Amethyst Falls’ is a great purple cultivar, or try ‘Nivea’ if you prefer white fl ow-ers. Full sun. Zones 5–9.

The Cary Award is honoring great vines in 2014. Below, top to bottom: 'Arctic Beauty' hardy kiwi, 'Betty Corning' clematis, 'Amethyst Falls' American wisteria.

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PLANT SELECT PETITESThe Plant Select Petites program (plantselectpetites.org), an off-shoot of Colorado-based Plant Select (see page 48), lauds note-worthy yet lesser-known plants of small stature. The program also promotes innovative ways to enjoy these treasures in garden situations where gem-like but tough small plants are best suited: troughs, permanent containers, rock gardens, patio gardens, fairy gardens, green roofs and smaller gardens. Three plants are being promoted for 2014.

DALMATIAN PINK CRANESBILLGeranium dalmaticum. This di-minutive perennial is covered with clear pink flowers in late spring to early summer. Dainty aromatic leaves turn red in fall and persist into early winter before drying and dropping. It grows 4 to 6 inches tall by 10 to 15 inches wide. Full sun to part shade. Zones 5–7.

DWARF BEACH-HEAD IRIS Iris hookeri. This is a compact iris with large, porcelain-blue flowers in late spring and ear-ly summer. It is one of North America’s most beautiful native irises, and its attractive green foliage provides an excellent tex-tural accent for small gardens. Grows 8 to 12 inches tall and wide. Zones 3–8.

DWARF FORMS OF PIÑON PINE Jerry Morris of Denver has se-lected forms of Pinus edulis that grow extremely slowly, forming tight mounds over many years. These very drought-tolerant dwarf conifers adapt well to harsh conditions and make an excellent evergreen choice for small-space gardeners. Plants grow 1 to 3 inches each year, making a 20- to 30-inch mound in 10 years. Full sun to part shade. Zones 4–7.

Plant Select Petites celebrates the Davids among the Goliaths of the plant world. Above: Dalmatian pink cranesbill. Right, top to bottom: Dwarf beach-head iris; detail of a dwarf piñon pine.

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PRAIRIE STARWinners of the Prairie Star (prairiestarflowers.com) are fl owers best adapted to the chal-lenging prairie climate. They have shown superior performance for two or more years in the trial beds of Kansas State University, where they’re rated on vigor, sub-stance and fl oriferousness.

‘SAUCY RED’ SALVIASalvia splendens ‘Saucy Red’. These striking red fl owers keep on blooming right up until the fi rst frost. These extremely vig-orous 2- to 3-foot plants are well suited for both the landscape and large containers. Full sun to part shade. Zones 7–10, or grown as an annual.

'MIGHTY MOSAIC' COLEUSSolenostemon scutellariodes ‘Mighty Mosaic’. This is a well-branched coleus with varied leaf color. When it’s planted in full sun, a beautiful coppery gold overlay appears on the foliage. This striking color adds a whole new dimension and off ers many design options to the gardener. It is late to bloom, meaning the focus stays on the foliage longer. Grows to 2 feet tall and not quite as wide. Full sun. Annual.

‘SPRING CELEBRITIES CARMINE-ROSE’ HOLLYHOCKAlcea rosea annua ‘Spring Celeb-rities Carmine-Rose’. This holly-hock is loaded with blooms even in its fi rst year from seed. At three feet tall but just a foot wide, it can easily be slipped into smaller gar-dens. Full sun. Zones 5–9.

'SUPERTUNIA PINK CHARM' PETUNIAThe fl owers on this petunia are a little small, but it’s a strong grow-er that packs a large punch of col-or because they appear in profu-sion. It’s great in the landscape or containers, and it tolerates heat and drought well. Trails to four feet. Full sun. Annual.

'GIGA WHITE' ALYSSUMLobularia maritima ‘Giga White’. This cultivar was impressive in the container trials for having a very dense display of white fl owers and keeping a tight form all season. It is 4 to 6 inches tall, with a spread up to 12 inches. Sun to part shade. Annual.

'BRIDESMAID' ZINNIAThis is a unique zinnia in its class—it has large fully double flowers, yet it also has a short and compact growth habit, at up to 18 inches tall and 14 inches wide. The bright yellow color is hard to miss! Sun. Annual.

'SURDIVA BLUE' FAN FLOWER Scaevola ‘Surdiva Blue’. Un-fazed by the heat, this scaevola blooms all summer and into the fall. Beautiful fan-shaped fl ow-ers cover the plant whether it’s in containers or the landscape. With its mounding, semi-trailing habit, it can reach 10 inches tall and 24 inches wide. Full sun. Annual.

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'COLORBLAZE KEYSTONE KOPPER' COLEUSSolenostemon scutellariodes ‘Col-orBlaze Keystone Kopper’. A great addition to the ColorBlaze series, this one’s well branched and late to fl ower. The terracotta color holds in sun and shade; a green border appears in lower light conditions. It’s 3 feet tall, 2 feet wide. Sun to shade. Annual.

Top row, left to right: 'Saucy Red' salvia; 'Mighty Mosaic' coleus; 'Spring Celebrities Carmine-Rose' hollyhock; 'Supertunia Pink Charm'. Middle row: 'Giga White' alyssum; 'Bridesmaid' zinnia. Bottom row: 'Surdiva Blue' fan flower; 'Keystone Kopper' coleus.

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PLANT SELECTPlant Select (plantselect.org), a collaborative eff ort of the Den-ver Botanic Gardens, Colorado State University and regional and national horticulture pro-fessionals, seeks the best plants for mountain landscapes. Se-lected plants thrive throughout the challenging Rocky Mountain region, demonstrate resistance to diseases and pests, fl ourish in dry conditions and show a long season of beauty.

‘MARIAN SAMPSON’ HUMMINGBIRD TRUMPET MINT Monardella macrantha ‘Marian Sampson’. An intensely aromatic perennial from the mountains of California, it forms low mounds of semi-evergreen leaves. Ex-otic-looking clusters of scarlet trumpets appear just above the foliage late spring through sum-mer. It accepts many types of soil, but it performs best in dap-pled shade, out of the heat of the sun. It grows 3 to 6 inches tall and 8 to 12 inches wide. Zones 5b–9.

UNDAUNTED RUBY MUHLYGRASS Muhlenbergia reverchonii. This selection of a long-lived na-tive grass was brought from the southern Great Plains by Lauren and Scott Ogden. Its fine-tex-tured 15-inch gray-green mounds are topped in late summer by clouds of tiny ruby flowers on 30-inch stems. These glow bril-liantly when backlit in autumn. It off ers persistent winter beauty and drought tolerance, and it can be used in mass plantings, as an accent or for erosion control. This plant is first in a series of UNDAUNTED® plants from the Ogdens. Full sun. Zones 5–10.

‘CAROLYN’S HOPE’ PINK PENSTEMON Penstemon ×mexicali ‘Carolyn’s Hope’. This new penstemon blooms medium-pink flowers with white throats nearly all summer long. They burst forth from dark pink buds. Narrow, glossy green leaves form an at-tractive 15-inch mound. A hybrid between Mexican and Ameri-can wild penstemons, this plant was developed by Brian Core in honor of his wife. A portion of proceeds from all sales benefit breast-cancer research. Full sun to part shade. Zones 4b–8.

WINDWALKER GARNET PENSTEMON Penstemon ×mexicali WIND-WALKER Garnet. The fifth new Mexican-American hybrid penstemon introduced through Plant Select, this plant shows ruby- or garnet-colored tubu-lar fl owers with striped throats nearly all summer long, on an at-tractive 15-inch mound of glossy foliage. This selection was devel-oped by Kelly Grummons. Full sun to part shade. Zones 4b–8.

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‘AUTUMN AMBER’ SUMAC Rhus trilobata ‘Autumn Amber’. An ideal groundcover shrub for terraced walls, large open spaces and dry shrub areas. It is graceful and delicate look-ing, yet tough enough to be used in harsh planting sites. This low-growing selection of native three-leaf sumac was developed at the USDA’s Los Lunas Plant Materials Center, New Mexico. In summer its leaves are a glossy, bright green; in fall they turn amber to reddish. It grows 6 to 18 inches tall by 6 to 8 feet wide and requires little to no additional moisture once established. Full sun. Zones 4–8.

‘SMOKY HILLS’ SKULLCAP Scutelliaria resinosa ‘Smoky Hills’. In early summer, bright purple-blue fl owers tipped with white appear over its greenish-gray leaves. Thrives in hot, sun-ny locations with well-drained soil. This durable native from the Smoky Hills of north-central Kansas thrives in hot, sunny lo-cations with well-drained soil. Plants grow 8 to 10 inches tall and 10 to 14 inches wide. Full sun. Zones 4–9.

‘GOLD ON BLUE’ PRAIRIE ZINNIA Zinnia grandifl ora ‘Gold on Blue’. This outstanding selection of native prairie zinnia was chosen for its vigor, blue-green foliage and large golden fl owers. Excel-lent for hot, dry sites, it thrives in all soils, even dry clay. Plant it on slopes, along a drive and other places where it can spread as a large-scale 10-inch-tall groundcover. Developed by Da-vid Salman. Full sun. Zones 4–8.

Opposite page, far left: 'Marian Sampson' hummingbird trumpet mint. Opposite, bottom center: 'Carolyn's Hope' pink penstemon. Opposite, near left, top to bottom: UNDAUNTED ruby muhlygrass; WINDWALKER Garnet penstemon. This page, right: 'Autumn Amber' sumac. Bottom left: 'Smoky Hills' skullcap. Bottom right" Gold on Blue' prairie zinnia. All are drought-tolerant plants with long-running interest for Rocky Mountain gardens.

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GREATPLANTSSummers in the Great Plains can be too short and harsh to focus on that season alone, so the GreatPlants program (arboretum.unl.edu/greatplants-great-plains) focuses on plants that earn their spot year-round. From a sedge with large, per-sistent seed heads and semi-ev-ergreen foliage to an extrava-gant black-eyed Susan, the 2014 GreatPlants can hold their place in the landscape any time of year.

GRASS OF THE YEAR: GRAY’S SEDGECarex grayi. This is a wonderful sedge for winter interest. The half-inch wide leaves are semi-

evergreen. Large, spiky seed heads appear in early summer and last through winter. It can handle light shade and grows best in moist, fertile soil, so it’s a wonderful border plant for the edges of ponds. Seeds provide food for waterfowl, game birds and songbirds. Grows 2 to 3 feet tall and about half as wide. Full sun to light shade. Zones 5–9.

PERENNIAL OF THE YEAR: SHOWY BLACK-EYED SUSANRudbeckia fulgida var. speciosa. A dependable, hardy perennial, it blooms abundantly and looks similar to ‘Goldsturm’ rudbeckia but tolerates drought better. It’s

taller and longer blooming, too. The very vibrant yellow fl owers with dark centers will also last long in a vase. Grows 2 to 3 feet tall. Full sun. Zones 3–9.

TREE OF THE YEAR: TULIPTREELiriodendron tulipifera. This tree can grow to 80 feet high with a crown up to 50 feet wide. Its yel-low-green fl owers bloom in early summer; cone-shaped brownish fruits persist into winter. Both the leaves and the flowers are large and tulip-shaped. It pre-fers deep, moist, fertile soil, so it is not a good selection for hot, dry sites. Fall foliage is yellow or gold. Full sun. Zones 4–9.

Above left: Gray's sedge first shows its curious-looking seed heads in early summer; they persist through winter. Above right, top to bottom: Tulip tree has unique summer flowers and large leaves; purple beautyberry shines in late summer and onward.

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SHRUB OF THE YEARPURPLE BEAUTYBERRYCallicarpa dichotoma. This 5-foot arching shrub is primarily grown for its showy fall display of violet berries. Best fruit production oc-curs when the shrubs are planted in mass. For fresh new growth, stems can be cut back to 6 inches in late winter (fl owers and berries are produced on both new and old stems). The foliage takes on a nice yellow color in fall. Plants can tolerate drought. Full sun or part shade. Zones 5–8.

EVERGREEN OF THE YEAR: KOREAN FIRAbies koreana. This conifer

grows to 30 feet high and 12 feet wide, a manageable size for most landscapes. The needle texture is soft and the cones are a beauti-ful purple. It grows best in rich, well-drained soil in full sun; avoid windswept areas, poor-ly drained clay soils and over-watering. Full sun to part shade. Zones 5–7.

PERENNIAL PLANT OF THE YEARThe nationwide Perennial Plant Association (perennialplant.org) singles out one plant each year that suits many climates, requires little maintenance and off ers several seasons of interest.

The honor in 2014 goes to a na-tive perennial ornamental grass.

‘NORTHWIND’ SWITCH GRASSPanicum virgatum ‘Northwind’. This strongly vertical switch grass grows to 5 feet tall and half as wide, with olive- or blue-green foliage and airy yellow fl ower panicles in late summer. The grass provides winter inter-est as its leaves turn tan and its seed heads persist with a beige tinge. It tolerates a wide range of soils. For maintenance, sim-ply cut the plant to the ground in late winter. Full sun for best form, though it tolerates some shade. Zones 5–9. �

Above left: Korean fir, the GreatPlants Evergreen of the Year for 2014. Above right: The Perennial Plant Association is promoting 'Northwind' switch grass as a great choice for many climates. It's a selection of a tall-grass prairie native made by Roy Diblik.

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