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| Lo & Behold Dwarf Butterfly Bush |
In my last post I wrote about new breakthrough plants that have changed the evolution of flowering shrubs. This post continues the discussion, and I've listed the shrubs that I think have changed the way we think about, and use them in our gardens and landscapes.
Have I left anything off the list? Send me your thoughts and comments.
Plant Name - Significance to the Industry
Abelia mosenensis
A Zone 4 Abelia with better fragrance than Viburnum carlesii
A Zone 4 Abelia with better fragrance than Viburnum carlesii
Berberis thun. ‘Concorde’
Dwarf, grape purple foliage, that’s nearly sterile
Dwarf, grape purple foliage, that’s nearly sterile
Buddleia davidii
English Butterfly Series™
A new series with dwarf growth. They actually look good in a one gallon.
English Butterfly Series™
A new series with dwarf growth. They actually look good in a one gallon.
Caryopteris incana Sunshine Blue®
A hardy, strong growing Caryopteris with bright yellow foliage and rich blue flowers. Move over Worchester Gold. Move over Gold Mound Spiraea?
A hardy, strong growing Caryopteris with bright yellow foliage and rich blue flowers. Move over Worchester Gold. Move over Gold Mound Spiraea?
Caryopteris Petit Bleu™
A dwarf Caryopteris with dark glossy leaves
Clethra ‘Hummingbird’
Sixteen Candles may be the best, but it was Hummingbird that started it all.
Clethra ‘Ruby Spice’
Andy Brand discovers the first pink Clethra that actually stays pink.
Andy Brand discovers the first pink Clethra that actually stays pink.
Corylus a. ‘Red Majestic’ pp#16,048
The first contorted filbert with red foliage. Year round excitement.
The first contorted filbert with red foliage. Year round excitement.
Deutzia gracilis Chardonnay Pearls®
The first Deutzia with season long color. Bright lemon yellow foliage rivals Spiraea
The first Deutzia with season long color. Bright lemon yellow foliage rivals Spiraea
Diervilla ‘Butterfly’
Landscaper know the Diervilla is as tough as nails but Butterfly is attractive enough for retail
Landscaper know the Diervilla is as tough as nails but Butterfly is attractive enough for retail
Euonymus alatus ‘Rudy Haag’
Grow this dwarf selection to be environmentally proactive in the fight against invasives.
Grow this dwarf selection to be environmentally proactive in the fight against invasives.
Forsythia ‘Golden Peep’
Who has room for a 12 foot Forsythia? Not me, nor do many people. This is a great plant for around the deck
Who has room for a 12 foot Forsythia? Not me, nor do many people. This is a great plant for around the deck
Fothergilla major ‘Blue Shadows’
A blue leafed Fothergilla that actually lives. Yes it’s true. Gary Handy discovers a Blue Mount Airy.
A blue leafed Fothergilla that actually lives. Yes it’s true. Gary Handy discovers a Blue Mount Airy.
Hibiscus syriacus Chiffon™ Series
A vigorous rose of Sharon that will make money for nurseries and flowers like crazy. Unique Lacy flowers
A vigorous rose of Sharon that will make money for nurseries and flowers like crazy. Unique Lacy flowers
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| Pink Chiffon |
Hydrangea arborescens ‘Hayes Starburst’
A first! Hayes Jackson discovers a double flowered form of arborescens.
Hydrangea Endless Summer™
Great news for us in the Midwest with Hydrangea envy. Blooms on new wood. More to come.
Great news for us in the Midwest with Hydrangea envy. Blooms on new wood. More to come.
Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight’
A Pee Gee with bright green flowers, strong stems. Does not flop like Pee Gee and finishes fast.
A Pee Gee with bright green flowers, strong stems. Does not flop like Pee Gee and finishes fast.
Hydrangea paniculata Little Lime
The best. A dwarf with strong stems and full flower heads
Hydrangea paniculata Quick Fire™The best. A dwarf with strong stems and full flower heads
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| Little Lime |
Why wait until August for Blooms. Quick Fire flowers in June and turns pink before Pink Diamond even flowers.
Hydrangea ‘Snowflake’
The best oakleaf with it doubled, hose in hose blooms that turn pink as they age. Very healthy and great fall color.
The best oakleaf with it doubled, hose in hose blooms that turn pink as they age. Very healthy and great fall color.
Hypericum ‘Blue Velvet’
Blue Leaves on a Hypericum, yes. Paul Cappiello delivers a hit.
Blue Leaves on a Hypericum, yes. Paul Cappiello delivers a hit.
Indigofera ‘Rose Carpet’
Rich pink blooms from Late June until frost. Hugs the ground like a rug. I mean carpet.
Rich pink blooms from Late June until frost. Hugs the ground like a rug. I mean carpet.
Itea Little Henry®
The first dwarf Sweetspire.
The first dwarf Sweetspire.
Kerria ‘Honshu’
A hard to find Kerria with big flowers and superior stem hardiness. The only selection with fragrant flowers.
A hard to find Kerria with big flowers and superior stem hardiness. The only selection with fragrant flowers.
Leptodermis oblonga
A neat little known treasure with vivid pink flowers that keep on coming all season long.
A neat little known treasure with vivid pink flowers that keep on coming all season long.
Physocarpus Diabolo®
The first ninebark with purple foliage.
The first ninebark with purple foliage.
Physocarpus Summer Wine®
The first compact ninebark with purple foliage. Who has room for a 15 foot ninebark? Not me. A cross between Diabolo® and ‘Nana’.
The first compact ninebark with purple foliage. Who has room for a 15 foot ninebark? Not me. A cross between Diabolo® and ‘Nana’.
Physocarpus Coppertina™
The first ninebark with orange red foliage.
The first ninebark with orange red foliage.
Potentilla Pink Beauty
A pink Potentilla that actually comes out pink and lives more than a year.
A pink Potentilla that actually comes out pink and lives more than a year.
Rhamnus Fine Line®
An environmentally friendly Rhamnus with cut leaves and narrow columnar growth. Remember how many Tall Hedge you used to sell.
An environmentally friendly Rhamnus with cut leaves and narrow columnar growth. Remember how many Tall Hedge you used to sell.
Rosa Knock Out®
It proved that a rose can be grown without having to spray
It proved that a rose can be grown without having to spray
Rosa Home Run®
The most disease resistant, most attractive rose on the market. Comes in Red and Pink.
The most disease resistant, most attractive rose on the market. Comes in Red and Pink.
Rosa Morden Sunrise
Yes, a strong growing, healthy yellow rose.
Yes, a strong growing, healthy yellow rose.
Sambucus Black Beauty™
The first black leaf elder with pink flowers.
The first black leaf elder with pink flowers.
Sambucus Black Lace™
The first cut leaf black elder with pink flowers. Incredible texture. As elegant as a Japanese Maple.
Sambucus ‘Sutherland Gold’
The first cut leaf black elder with pink flowers. Incredible texture. As elegant as a Japanese Maple.
Sambucus ‘Sutherland Gold’
The best yellow leafed elder.
Spiraea ‘Gold Mound’ / 'Goldflame'
The plant that started it all. Lime Mound was first but never caught on.
The plant that started it all. Lime Mound was first but never caught on.
Spiraea Pink Parasols®
The first pink flowered Spiraea fritscheriana. Ground covering habit. Landscapers forget about Rhus ‘Gro-low’ this plant is great for mass planting and it has large pink flowers.
The first pink flowered Spiraea fritscheriana. Ground covering habit. Landscapers forget about Rhus ‘Gro-low’ this plant is great for mass planting and it has large pink flowers.
Thuja Spring Grove®
A hardy northern selection that is deer resistant.
A hardy northern selection that is deer resistant.
Viburnum ‘Cayuga’
An improved fragrant Viburnum with disease resistance.
An improved fragrant Viburnum with disease resistance.
Viburnum Cardinal Candy™
The best plant in the garden in late summer. Loads of tightly packed cardinal red fruit. No pollinator necessary.
The best plant in the garden in late summer. Loads of tightly packed cardinal red fruit. No pollinator necessary.
Viburnum nudum BRANDYWINE™
A new variety that does not need a pollinator to enhance fruit set.
A new variety that does not need a pollinator to enhance fruit set.
Viburnum plicatum ‘Popcorn’
A hardy, heat tolerant snowball Viburnum.
A hardy, heat tolerant snowball Viburnum.
Viburnum p. tomentosum ‘Summer Snowflake’
What’s better than a Viburnum? A continuous blooming Viburnum
What’s better than a Viburnum? A continuous blooming Viburnum
Viburnum ‘Mary Milton’
A Snowball Viburnum with pink flowers.
A Snowball Viburnum with pink flowers.
Weigela Midnight Wine®
The first dwarf purple leafed Weigela.
Weigela My Monet™
The first dwarf variegated Weigela. Very hardy, bright pink
The first dwarf variegated Weigela. Very hardy, bright pink
Weigela 'White Knight’
The best reblooming Weigela. White flowers with a touch of pink.
The best reblooming Weigela. White flowers with a touch of pink.
Weigela Wine & Roses®
Dark burgundy foliage and vivid pink flowers.
Dark burgundy foliage and vivid pink flowers.
Tim,
ReplyDeleteCould you please contact us regarding a possible television series. allen@chameleontv.com
How long do you think it will be before these are all widely available? I love Fothergilla, for instance, but could nit find 'blue Shadows' at any of the wholesalers in Cincinnati. Euonymus 'Rudy Haag' sounds like a huge improvement, too, because it really is compact, unlike 'Compactus' -- but not widely out there yet.
ReplyDeleteMany of these varieties are avaiable at better garden centers and at better mail order / internet nurseries.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately many retailers and growers for that matter, still carry older varieties, not knowing that there are great improvments avaialble. That's part of the reason I write this blog - to inform people that better plants are available.
The more times people ask for these plants the more likely a nurseries begins to understand they are missing out. Let your reailer know what you are interested in buying and they will begin stocking them. That's what I do at my local grocier.
Tim
Dear Tim,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your vast knowledge. I am learning so much from you! I have been researching a small shrub all winter for my porch area (36" or less at maturity) with a neat growth habit such as compact, that will be continuous blooming. I am zone 6, and facing east. Lots of sun. Wanted to try Disco Bell Red Hibiscus, had difficulty locating it and one nursery owner told me it got 4"tall and was weedy looking. He was disappointed in it. Could you please help me? I want to quit putting the wrong plants in the wrong places!!! Thank you so much! J Wood
Disco Bell Red Hibiscus is not a shrub but rather a large perennial. It does have beautiful large red flower but the plant can be a bit course. I would recommend it for the back of the pernnial border.
ReplyDeleteA couple of suggestions:
Spriaea japonica 'Neon Flash'
Weigela Fine Wine
Knockout Rose
Clethra Hummingbird
Good Luck.