There are few things more exciting for gardeners at this time of year than dreaming of new plants. Ill focus on a few of the better plants in the next few weeks but lets start with the best example of new breeding. Our old North American native friend Echinacea or purple coneflower is really letting loose this coming spring. The work of several major plant-breeding houses is coming to the market and while the plants will be expensive, they are wonderful. The double flowering Razzmatazz with its double pink flowers are quite hardy as well as gorgeous. It will be complemented by Doppelganger a coneflower that puts one blossom right on top of the first, resembling an apartment of flowers rather than a single bloom. Note that this double-decker flower usually comes into its own in the second year. This one has caught the imagination of the nursery trade almost as much as Sparkler a variegated leaf coneflower. The variegation in Sparkler is flecked throughout the leaf while the variegation in the equally new Prairie Frost is a broad band of cream around each leaf. Im also looking forward to having Fragrant Angel in my garden as its large white blooms are extremely fragrant. Add the Rocky Top Hybrids to this list of coneflowers (mauve flowers and compact growth) and you have an entire menu of new Echinacea to find this coming summer. Two dwarf plants Kims Mophead and Kims Knee High will find themselves in my clay pots along with the Rocky Top Hybrids. Echinacea Big Sky Sunrise has soft lemon-yellow blooms and is a knock out plant in my garden while its cousin Big Sky Sunset has wide, very bright orange petals. These are both plants to watch for and pay the price. Hardy in my zone 4 garden. Plant all these in full sun in well-drained soils and youll enjoy them for years. Theyre trouble free and easy to grow plants! |
