I just got back from a week in the Netherlands looking at new plants. Here are a few that I found interesting. Which do you like?
This is a greenhouse bench filled with Lo & Behold 'Blue Chip' Buddleia. It will be introduced in Europe next spring. I've never seen so many butterflies in one place in all my life. The Boskoop Royal Horticlture Society has it awared it a gold medal. 
Chasmanthium 'River Mist' is acutally an American plant but it won a Gold Medal from the Boskoop Royal Horticulture Society. It was developed by Itsaul plants.
Echinacea 'Irresistible' is just one of may new Coneflowers on the market. Below is a vase shot of one assortment now on the market.
This is a new larged variety of Hibiscus moscheutos called GH7 or Guido Oak Red. 
This is one the the best red leafed grasses I've ever seen. It's not hardy but can be used as an annual in the North. It's called Pennisetum setaceum 'Fireworks' and I love the contrast with the green interior leaves. 
Pretty Much Picasso petunia is available here in the US but it has made a big splash in Europe as well. It won a metal from the Boskoop Roayl Horiculture Society for one of the best new plants for 2009.
I have Fireworks and really like it. Nice and compact.
ReplyDeleteI'm very interested in Blue Chip, but someone at my local nursery said they look awful when young. I'm biding my time with coneflowers. Sounds like some of the cool new colors available here are lacking in vigor or quick to fade. I've seen pictures of flopping Double Delight. Glad to see there are others in the pipeline.
ReplyDeleteseriously... a favorite?! I love buddleia. I have several that attract butterflies, moths, flying creatures, and hummingbird moths. And they smell so wonderful. I love the shape and color of the single echinacea.
ReplyDeleteHi Tim~~ I do believe Proven Winners was selling 'Blue Chip' but, of course not here in Oregon. Darn. I like the dwarf-ness of it. I have Pennisetum s. 'Fireworks' and am completely blown away by its fabulous color. Or "colors" I should say. I'm going to try and winter it indoors. [Fingers crossed.] In my opinion, Echinacea 'Irresistible' looks suspiciously similar to my 'Razzmatazz' a flower I love.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fascinating post. Glad you had a good trip, looks really interesting.
ReplyDeleteI've got a question about the blue chip buddlia. Here in Oregon, buddlias are now declared an invasive weed. You can see them taking over vacant fields and lining the freeway from Portland to Seattle.
ReplyDeleteA good reason never to buy them. What's the fertility of the new introductions such as blue chip?
Absolutely lovin' the Pennisetum setaceum Fireworks.....to bad we can't get a rockin' red like that hardy.....folks would eat it up!
ReplyDeleteUniversity studies have shown that Lo & Behold 'Blue Chip' is non-invasive. This buddleia is not Buddleia davidii but rather a compex hybrid that contains three species. It is male sterile (produces no pollin) and produces just trace amounts of seed (even when grown in close proximity to other cultivars) compared to millions of seed on a typical Buddleia davidii. Based on these studies and the fact it is not Buddleia davidii - it's a great plant for the North West and should be exempt from the Buddleia davidii ban in Oregon.
ReplyDeleteThe blue chip is pretty and I would love to try them. That Hibiscus is a wonderful color I really want one. Are they available here in the United States? And if so where can I fine them?
ReplyDeleteI love them all! I have to say I do favor the Coneflowers and Pennisetum. I will be headed to Holland next week, I was just looking for nurseries I should visit, got any suggestions? I am looking to head to Boskoop and Aalsmeer for sure. Keep up the informative posts!
ReplyDeleteI am nuts about the Lo and Behold and can't wait to get Pretty Much Picaso.
ReplyDeleteWhere in America can you buy Echinacea 'Irresistible'???? I sure dont think it has been released as of yet!
ReplyDeletevery, very interesting plants - hope to be stocking some of them in 2010, if not sooner!
ReplyDeleteChris - www.GardeningExpress.co.uk
Yead fantastic plants we would love to stock these also very healthy and well tended.
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