Line up for the plant world's hottest new stars

01/15/04

Can't wait to start digging, can you? Sorry. We can't hurry spring. But we can give you even more reason to anticipate the gardening season: a bounty of new plants to drool over.

What exactly does "new" mean? Some of these plants truly are new in the sense they were bred by some passionate plantsperson in a greenhouse somewhere. Or, they could be new natural sports, something that just popped up and another passionate plant nerd (this is a compliment, really) noticed and decided to propagate.

Sometimes "new" plants are those that are new to our state, region or even country. Much excitement is flowing our way from New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Japan and South America. Often, new plants have actually been around for a while, but no one's given them the proper notice. So the big growers and seed companies decide to push them again.

But, really, for those of us who love plants -- new, old or in between -- it doesn't make that much difference. In fact, we'd wager that once you get a gander at the following photos, you won't be asking, "Is it new?" No, you'll be demanding, "Where can I get it?"

Speaking of that, most of these plants are introduced by growers or wholesale nurseries that do not sell directly to the public. Check the Sources box for more information. And remember to leave some room in the garden and checkbook. Today, it's all about perennials. Next week we take a look at new annuals and vegetables; then trees and shrubs.

Kym Pokorny: 503-221-8205; kympokorny@news.oregonian.com

Perennial favorites

Echinacea 'Orange Meadowbrite' syn. E. 'Art's Pride'

No hemming or hawing here, this echinacea is brand new, a breakthrough in color made by the breeding program of Dr. Jim Ault of the Chicagoland Grows program. The first-ever orange-blooming echinacea has blooms 3 to 4 inches across and a large, rusty-brown cone. The color seems to glow -- lighter tangerine as it opens, darkening to a sunset orange. Sweet, orange-tea fragrance. Vigorous, drought tolerant and free flowering, 'Orange Meadowbrite' wants full sun and well-draining soil. Butterflies love it, and birds go for the seed heads. Blooms late summer to fall. 2 to 3 feet tall, 2 feet wide. Zone 4. (Blooming Nursery, Monrovia)

Geum 'Mango Lassi'

Bred and introduced by Blooming Nursery, this geum is another true new. The flower color mingles shades of apricot, soft orange, gold and mango, inspiring the name 'Mango Lassi' after a tropical drink made with mango and yogurt. Long stems hold up the fully double flowers, which are framed by the emerald green, slightly furry leaves. Full to part sun, moist, well-drained soil. 12 inches tall and wide. Zone 5. (Blooming Nursery)

Aquilegia chrysantha v. chaplinei 'Little Treasure'

The upward-facing flowers of this new columbine seem to cup the light of the sun. Bred at High Country Gardens from seed collected in south-central Mexico, 'Little Treasure' is the result of many years of work to create a small-growing plant with lots of flowers. Growing to only 15 inches, the plant holds 1-inch-wide flowers with their long spurs above its mound of graceful foliage that looks a lot like maidenhair fern. Best in compost-enriched soils with neutral to alkaline pH in semi-shady sites. Zone 5. (High Country Gardens)

Dianthus pinifolius

An unusual dianthus with showy, dark red flowers held high on wiry stems over tufts of blue-green foliage. Grows easily in most soil types and thrives in hot, sunny spots. Great partner for yellow or white flowers. 12 inches tall and wide. Zone 4. (High Country Gardens)

Dicksonia squarosa

It might take a lifetime, but here's a hardy tree fern that could eventually reach 15 feet or more. And, did we say, it's hardy. Portlander Burl Mostel of Rare Plant Research found this tree fern in New Zealand, where they grow to 20 feet. He's bringing in some large plants, up to about 5 feet, and will do some cutting so he'll have some smaller ones to sell. He estimates them to do well in Zone 8 and maybe even lower. On the South Island of New Zealand at about 1,000 feet, Dicksonia squarosa survived three weeks of 3-foot-deep snow and another year when the ponds froze so hard cars could drive over them. If it does freeze, Mostel says, the fronds will die off but grow back in spring. Plant in shade, at least afternoon shade. If you plant it in a pot, keep it well watered. Even in the ground, it should be watered about as much as you water your lawn. The more water it gets, the faster this slow-growing tree fern will grow. Zone 8. (Rare Plant Research)

Manihot esculenta 'Variegata'

People can't help but stare when they see the spectacular variegation of this tropical tapioca. Red petioles put a fine spotlight on the light-yellow leaves margined in light green. It's quite a combination. Although the plant isn't hardy here, it makes a great annual, especially in a container. Three stalks per pot will produce a 3-foot plant by the end of the season. Give it plenty of water, and if the bottom leaves start to drop off, pinch it back and it'll flesh out quickly. Zone 11 (Rare Plant Research)

Hibiscus moscheutos 'Luna Red' and 'Luna Blush'

Bring the tropics home to the Northwest with this hardy, yes hardy, hibiscus series. Well-branched, compact plants pop out some pretty dramatic hibiscus flowers: One is red and about 8 inches wide; the other a soft blush about 7 inches across. Bushy plants get 2 to 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide. Plants die to the ground in cooler climates, but resume in spring. Drought tolerant when established. Full sun. Zone 4. (Ball Seed Co.)

Mukdenia rossii 'Crimson Fans'

Changing foliage color, long bloom time and very hardy -- what more could you want? This fabulous plant, a deciduous Heuchera relative from China, has large, maplelike leaves that come out bronze-green in spring, then age to a midgreen splashed with bright red as the summer progresses. The red stays even when the green part of the leaves turn gold in fall, making a striking statement. White, bell-shaped flowers are held in panicles for several weeks from February to April. Even moisture. Part shade. Zone 4. (Terra Nova Nurseries)

Verbascum 'Sugar Plum'

Dan Heims of Terra Nova says this is his favorite Verbascum. And no wonder. The spikes of flowers are a luscious clear plum, and the plant is a nice, well-behaving dwarf, growing to only 8 inches tall (18 with flowers), 12 inches wide. Will rebloom for months in full sun with good drainage. Zone 5. (Terra Nova Nurseries)

x Heucherella 'Sunspot'

With foliage of electric yellow shot with veins of blood red, this Heucherella is more than a stunner; you can't take your eyes off it. The bright pink flowers are almost an afterthought, if that's possible. Very floriferous. Part shade. 7 inches tall, 14 inches wide. Zone 4. (Terra Nova Nurseries)

Primula polyanthus 'Penumbra'

The first silver-laced primrose to be commercially available, 'Penumbra' is a dramatic companion for the old-fashioned, gold-laced primrose that has been available for centuries. Named by Log House for the curious slim edge of cool light that shows around the moon during an eclipse, 'Penumbra' grows to 10 inches and is heavenly in woodland gardens. Fragrant flowers from February to June. Zone 4. (Log House Plants exclusive)

Scabiosa atropurpurea 'Fata Morgana'

An outrageous new color for perennial sweet scabiosa, this yellowish-salmon shade combines importantly in mixed arrangements in the garden or the vase. A strong, vigorous plant, especially if planted in gravel in full sun. Grows 4 to 5 feet tall in the sun. (Log House Plants exclusive.)

Aquilegia vulgaris 'Lime Sorbet'

This unique perennial columbine bears prolific, unusual, all lime-green, clematislike double flowers that nod elegantly from June through July. Grows 48 inches tall in the sun. (Log House Plants exclusive)

Bidens sp. 'Madame Ganna Walska'

Destined to fill a leading role in gardens, this rediscovered species has 11/2- to 2-inch opera-pink flowers that seem to glow. Some are a vibrant, two-shaded pink picotee and stipled. The plant grows 4 feet tall with narrow, dark green, straplike leaves similar to chocolate cosmos. 'Madame Ganna Walska' can be used as filler in the garden with dramatic background foliage and as a hardy cut-flower perennial. All summer and early fall, 'Madame Ganna Walska' is smothered with flowers that are magnets for flying pollinators. This Bidens was rediscovered by Log House Plants in the butterfly garden at Lotusland, an extraordinary garden in Santa Barbara founded by opera singer Ganna Walska.

Kniphofia northiae

Who needs flowers when you can have the august foliage of Kniphofia northiae, which Sean Hogan of Cistus Design Nursery says is "about the closest thing we'll ever get to a large aloe to do well here." This evergreen plant, grown from seed collected in South Africa by Cistus, has leaves to 6 inches wide and 2 feet long, and even gets a bit of a trunk. Icing the cake are the very thick flowers of creamy yellow topped with salmon that appear in early spring and often again in fall. Full sun to partial shade. Heavy to light soil. Not fussy about drainage. Drought tolerant but looks really good when given summer water. In other words, pretty darn adaptable. Zone 6. (Cistus Design Nursery)

Nerine bowdenii 'Wayne's Rose'

Introduced by Wayne Roderick, a respected plantsman in the Bay Area who died last year, this Nerine bowdenii hybrid is one of about a dozen species that hail from South Africa. It's related to and has the same needs as Amaryllis belladonna (naked ladies), but is even less fussy. 'Wayne's Rose' doesn't get leaves until winter and keeps them through summer if given water. Plant in dappled shade to full sun. At the end of August you'll be rewarded with 5- to 6-inch clusters of 3-inch flowers in frosty pink. They'll often last well into September. Quick to multiply. Zone 8. (Cistus Design Nursery)

SOURCES

Most plants featured in this article are grown by wholesale nurseries that then sell to retail nurseries. Most of the better garden centers and nurseries buy from these growers, but the best way to find out if your favorite nursery carries a plant is to call ahead. Often, if they don't have it and you can provide the name and the grower's name, they'll order it for you.

There are two exceptions:

Cistus Design Nursery, which is open to the public: 22711 N.W. Gillihan Road, Sauvie Island; 503-621-2233; www.cistus.com

High Country Gardens, a mail-order nursery, 800-925-9387, www.highcountrygardens.com

Rare Plant Research has an open house direct to the public once a year. This year it will be 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 23, 13245 S.E. Harold St., Portland.

Blooming Nursery, Log House Plants and Terra Nova Nurseries have Web sites that list their retail customers. Check www.bloomingnursery.com, www.loghouseplants.com and www.terranovanurseries.