2021 New Plants

A 2020 Missouri Botanic Gardens Plant of Merit selection! 3-5" wide light pale pink to purplish pink coneflowers with drooping petals are held well above the rosette of narrow foliage on sturdy stems. Flowering normally occurs in late spring and summer and the nectar rich disk flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. The Pale Purple Coneflower, Echinacea pallida, closely resembles the Sanguin Purple Coneflower, E. sanguinea, and like its cousin it is a taprooted, clump-forming perennial found mainly in the central US in meadows, glades, and other open areas. Its clump forming habit lends it to use in the garden and landscape as well as in naturalistic settings. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a well-drained soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 12392

The huge rounded clusters, to 8" or more wide, composed of rounded sterile florets open pink with a broad white picotee edging in alkaline to neutral soils and a blue with a white picotee edging in acidic soils that contain Aluminum. The blue and pink coloration deepens as the flowers mature. Flowering begins in spring to early summer and is produced on new growth allowing the plants to flower continuously into late summer and fall. Peppermint is a compact growing Bigleaf Hydrangea with rich green rounded foliage whose dense well-branching compact size lend it to use as a container plant as well as in gardens and landscapes of all sizes. As with other Bigleaf Hydrangeas provide Peppermint with a moist, well-drained, fertile soil in an area that receives morning sun and shade during the hottest portion of the day. Images courtesy of Concept Plants, all rights reserved. Item# 12315

The fleshy deep green to reddish green 1/2" diameter, 4-5 angled, branched stems are adorned with small spikey thorns that produces 3-5" wide pale yellow to near white starry flowers that are overlaid with intricate burgundy and dark burgundy variegation reminiscent of a Persian carpet. It can flower any time of year and multiple times per year once fully mature and under good conditions. Like Stapeliads, this plant is pollinated by flies and has a rotten carrion like odor to attract them but you may have to put your nose in the flower to notice it as it does not seem to permeate the air. The Persian Carpet Flower, Edithcolea grandis newly reclassified as Ceropegia sordida, is an evergreen herbaceous succulent from tropical Africa that can build to 4-8"H x 12"W and is typically found growing in partially shaded to occassionally full sun conditions in dry desert-like regions. Its main requirements are soils with excellent drainage and warm temperatures, preferably not below about 60^oF. The Persian Carpet Flower should make an easy summer porch or patio plant or even as a hanging basket where it receives at least some direct sunlight during the day to promote flowering. It can tolerate slightly more moisture when in active growth but should still be allowed to become moderately dry between waterings. Reduce watering in winter, especially if grown under cool conditions. These are well-established young plants that are already branching. Item# 12457

The large, medium-textured, frilly edged, tropical foliage metamorphoses through shades of magenta and purple, pastel yellows, and pastel greens with a contrasting purplish-red reverse and stems. New growth emerges purple to magenta and in sunnier sites the colors tend to be brighter but may lean more toward pastel greens and yellows in shade. Peter's Wonder Coleus is a moderately vigorous upright to rounded growing, heat and shade tolerant cultivar that has long been popular for its unique coloration and texture. In hot summer climates consider providing part shade or shade during the heat of the day. Peter's Wonder mixes well with Impatiens in containers as a thriller or grow it as a specimen container plant. Add it to the garden and landscape for a summer-long spot of color. Provide a well-drained, moist to average moist, fertile soil for optimum vigor. Images courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12535

The upright to arching stems are brightly adorned with hanging clusters of red, red-orange, to rarely yellow tubular flowers beginning in late spring and continuing until late summer. Pine-Leaved Penstemon or Beardtongue, Penstemon pinifolius, is a very low shrub-like perennial whose upright to arching stems are adorned with fine 1" long narrow deep green foliage that arises from what can become a woody base. Pineleaf or Pine-Leaved Penstemon is native to the dry desert regions of SE Arizona and SW New Mexico but is tolerant of moist conditions provided it has a very well-drained sandy to rocky mineral soil. It has been reported to be hardy into zone 3 but may require a 'dry' mulch and a protected area. This is an RHS Award of Garden Merit winner and we feel if it can perform exceptionally well in humid England it should do well in the humid Southeastern US. Item# 12419

Drooping clusters of purplish-pink tinged teardrop shaped buds open to starry white 1" wide flowers that hang from the ends of the softly arching branches of this compact shrub in spring. Pink Minor Deutzia develops into a compact arching mound of coppery colored young stems and dark green foliage. This is an easily grown, tough and adaptable, no-maintenance, small deciduous shrub well-suited to the cottage garden and sunny mixed borders. Provide a full to mostly sunny position in average moist, moderately fertile soils for optimum vigor and flowering. We intended to have this plant available in 2020, but alas it was 2020... Item# 11947

The extra large (for a Phlox) rich pink 1-1/4" wide flowers are centered by a contrasting dark purplish-red eye which is in turn surrounded by a narrow white halo all atop a dense groundcovering mound of rich green foliage. The butterfly attracting flower show of Pink Profusion Phlox begins in late winter to early spring and may continue for up to 8 weeks and at peak flowering the foliage may be nearly completely hidden. This is a dense clump forming slowly spreading hybrid Phlox that is well suited to the front of the border in the garden and landscape. Naturally summer dormant, consider part shade in hot summer climates. Provide a full sun to partly shaded site in a well-drained, humus rich, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Images courtesy of Chicagoland Grows®, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12283

The dense spikes of light periwinkle blue to light lavender pea-like flowers are held above a compact rounded mound of gray green foliage and are produced in spring. Pixie Periwinkle Dwarf Blue False Indigo or Baptisia was selected for its small compact rounded form, early flowering, and unusual light blue to light lavender flower spikes. A selection of Baptisia australis discovered and introduced by David Leiderman of Hoffie Nursery and GET Group Inc. in 2009. The Baptisias or False Indigos are easy and low-maintenance, deer resistant, long-lived, taprooted perennials that produce more and more flowering spikes with each passing year with some plants producing over a 100 spikes on mature plants. Considered a must for the cutflower garden as the spikes have an excellent vase life. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a soil with average or better drainage and moderate fertility. The flowers attract bees, the occassional butterfly, and hummingbirds. Item# 12463

Light pink to lavender 5-petaled flowers are produced in small clusters in spring atop the deep green narrow foliage. Prairie Phlox is a groundcover like native perennial whose butterfly and long-tongued bee pollinated flowers open darker and may fade into lighter tones as they age. Use this low growing perennial as a groundcover at the front of the border, garden, or landscape or in naturalistic settings like roadsides, meadows, and prairies. This Phlox is generally more tolerant of sun and drier conditions than Phlox divaricata and has good resistance to powdery mildew. Provide Prairie Phlox with an average moist, well-drained, fertile soil with ample sunlight. Item# 12351

3-5" wide exotic looking flowers with dark purplish-red petals and sepals are topped by a corona of contrasting indigo, purple, and white filaments that are produced throughout the warmer months or nearly year round under warm frost free conditions. Pura Vida Passionflower is a vigorous growing and exceptionally free flowering tropical vine that may reach 30'H if given support but can be easily maintained on a 3-6'H trellis. The nectar rich flowers are adored by larger bees and the foliage is a host to a variety of butterflies like the Gulf Fritillary and Zebra Longwing. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a moderately fertile, average moist, well-drained soil for optimum vigor and flowering although it seems to flower nearly as vigorously in bright shade to part sun conditions. Click on "More Details and Growing Info" or the image to learn more about growing Passionvines as perennials in containers or in the garden and landscape. Item# 11241

The rich-purple tubular flowers arch outward from the center of the ball like clusters of buds that are perched atop sturdy stems and are produced for weeks in summer often lasting into fall and attract hummingbirds and larger butterflies. Purple Rooster Bee Balm, a selection of the native Monarda didyma, has outstanding disease resistance as well as some of the deepest purple flowers among its peers. This is a slowly spreading, winter deciduous, herbaceous perennial that will prefer a moist, well-drained, fertile soil in a full to mostly sunny site for optimum vigor and flowering. Purple Rooster won high marks in Monarda trials at Mt. Cuba Center, the headquarters for the American Horticulture Society. Item# 12317

Intense orange-red funnel-shaped flowers are produced on sturdy spikes throughout summer on compact, well-branched plants and the flowers are sure to attract hummingbirds, butterflies, bees and other pollinators. Quartz® Red Penstemon or Beardtongue was selected for its neat, well-branched compact habit, sturdy flowering stems, intense red showy flowers, and especially for its ability to flower continuously throughout summer. This a clump-forming, heat loving perennial that is perfectly suited to create fantastic specimen container plants as well as in mixed company or utilize its color show in the garden and landscape for summer-long color. Provide Quartz® Red Penstemon with a full to mostly sunny site in a well-drained, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering potential. Images courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12404

Clusters of bright golden yellow upward facing daisies are produced atop sturdy stems emerging from the rosettes of rounded low growing deep green foliage in early(8B) to late spring or early summer(3) depending on your cold hardiness zone. Roundleaf Golden Groundsel, Packera obovata, is very similar to the cutleaf Golden Groundsel, Packera aurea, but is more tolerant of full sun as well as light shade and drier growing conditions. This stoloniferous native perennial develops into an evergreen to semi-evergreen mat of low rich green foliage and its flowers attract many early season pollinators, especially bees. Use Roundleaf Golden Groundsel as a groundcover in informal and naturalistic garden settings as well as in roadside plantings, meadows, and prairies. It is native to much of the central and eastern US.   Item# 12249

The dark colored nearly black spikes and calyxes provide a dark contrast to the brilliant glowing red two-lipped tubular flowers that are sure to draw hummingbirds for miles from spring to fall! Royal Bumble Salvia, a selection or hybrid of the native Littleleaf Sage, S. microphylla, is a 2015 Royal Horticulture Society Award of Garden Merit winner with excellent vigor and amazing flower power all on a compact well-branched plant. Considered by some to be the best red Salvia x jamensis/S. microphylla hybrid on the planet! Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a fertile well-draining soil for optimum vigor and flower power. In areas that experience hard freezes plant this Salvia out between early spring to midsummer to ensure winter survival. Item# 12476

The dense 18" high flowers spikes are composed deep violet-purple pea-shaped flowers are held well above an among the blue-green foliage on this vigorous Baptisia hybrid. Royal Purple Prairieblues™ Baptisia or False Indigo, is a complex hybrid developed by Dr. Jim Ault of the Chicago Botanic Gardens and Chicagoland Grows that exhibits a strong resemblence to the Wild Blue Indigo, Baptisia australis, including sharing this parent's vigor on this clump-forming herbaceous perennial. The Prairieblues™ Baptisias were selected not only for their unique colors but also for their extra large flower spikes, durability, and vigor. These are easy and low-maintenance, deer resistant, long-lived, taprooted perennials that produce more and more flowering spikes with each passing year with some plants producing over a 100 spikes on mature plants. Considered a must for the cutflower garden as the spikes have an excellent vase life. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a soil with average or better drainage and moderate fertility. Images courtesy of Chicagoland Grows®, all rights reserved.  Item# 12463

The dense medium-sized rounded mopheads to nearly 8" across are composed of rosy pink (in alkaline soils), purple (neutral soils), to deep blue (acidic soils) double sterile florets are produced beginning in late spring to early summer and continuing into fall. Ruby Blossom Bigleaf Hydrangea is a breakthrough in breeding resulting in this double, repeat flowering mophead Hydrangea with exceptional flower power! This deciduous shrub has a naturally compact rounded habit with deep green glossy foliage. The ability to flower on new wood versus old wood ensures that even in the hardest winters this new Hydrangea will still flower in the garden and landscape whereas some of the older Hydrangeas may freeze to the ground and not flower. This is a compact and densly branching deciduous shrub that grows to about as wide as high. As with other Bigleaf Hydrangeas provide a moist, well-drained soil in an area that receives morning sun and shade during the hottest portion of the day. Images courtesy of Star® Roses and Plants, all rights reserved. Item# 12454

Purple, purple tinged to green oblong succulent foliage to about 1" long adorns fine purple stems and is topped by sweet sunny yellow daisies on short fine stems that open on sunny days in late spring, summer, and fall and attract smaller pollinators. This purple to purple tinged form of the Little Pickles Plant, Othonna capensis 'Ruby Necklace', is a suprisingly hardy evergreen perennial, into zone 5!, and develops into a low dense mass of succulent foliage and stems commonly spreading to 12-18" wide or where it is allowed to trail it can reach 36" long. It has the deepest foliage color in full to mostly sunny sites but is also tolerant of partial shade as well as in sunny windows indoors. Use Ruby Necklace in mixed container gardens, as a groundcover, in rock gardens, or allow it to spill from baskets, containers and over rock walls. Super easy and rewarding! It is drought resistant but is also suitable under average moisture conditions as long as it has good drainage. Salt spray, wind, and heat tolerant. Item# 12267