New perennials for 2018
Achillea millefolium ‘Ritzy Ruby’ Yarrow
Naturally compact yarrow with flowers that begin ruby-red then mature to pink; a repeat bloomer beginning in late May to early June. Mounding habit, 25-35 cm tall and wide.
Hardiness: 4a-8b. Must Have Perennials
Dendranthema ‘Firedance Igloo’ Garden mum
Hardy chrysanthemum that has fire-engine-red daisy blooms with a hot yellow eye; covered with loads of 2-in. blooms atop a rounded plant habit. Grows 45-50 cm tall and wide.
Hardiness: 4. Must Have Perennials
Cephalanthus occidentalis ‘Bailoptics’ Fibre Optics
With creamy white, compact flowers, this buttonbush tolerates wet conditions well and is native to Ontario and Nova Scotia.
Hardiness: 4. First Editions
Salvia nemorosa ‘Rose Marvel’
Large, rich rose coloured sage with a long flowering window and reblooming without being cut back.
Hardiness: 4a. Darwin Perennials
Dianthus hybrid ‘Mountain Frost Pink Pompom’
Double rose-pink flowers rebloom consistently from early spring until fall, this china pinks has a tidy mounding habit and is tolerant of wet conditions. Part of the Mountain Frost collection which includes six colours. Grows 15-20 cm tall and 25-30 cm wide.
Hardiness: 5a. Darwin Perennials
Armeria pseudarmeria ‘Armeria Dreameria Sweet Dreams’
Heat tolerant and easy to grow, this thrift provides frost-to-frost lavender-mauve flowering with a tidy habit.
Hardiness: 6a. Darwin Perennials
Verbena peruviana ‘Balendluim’ Endurascape Blue improved
The Blue Improved verbena is one of eight colour selections in the Endurascape series. Hardy on the hottest days of summer, these verbenas can also withstand cold spring nights. Grows 20-30 cm. tall and 46-61 cm wide with better center flower fill and a more upright habit.
Hardiness Degree: -17.8 Celcius. FloraPlant
Dianthus x barbatus interspecific ‘Rockin’ Red’
‘Rockin’ Red’ dianthus overwinter in zone five and feature striking red, lacy flowers. Grows 46-61 cm tall and 25-30 cm wide.
Hardiness: 5a. PanAmerican Seed
Achillea millefolium ‘Ritzy Ruby’ Yarrow
Schizachyrium scoparium ‘Smoke Signal’ Little bluestem This selection features sturdy, tight, upright stems in blue-green and offers an amazing fall colour when it turns deep red-purple. Grows to a height of 1.2 m with a spread of 60 cm.
Hardiness: 3. Hillen Nursery
Schizachyrium scoparium ‘Twilight Zone’ Little bluestem
Twilight Zone stands out among little bluestems for its iridescent, silvery mauve colour that appears in midsummer and intensifies in the fall when bright purple highlights appear. Winter colour is a tawny gold. Grows to a height of 1.5 m with a spread of 60 cm.
Hardiness: 3. Hillen Nursery
Salvia pratensis ‘Midnight Model’ Fashionista Sage
The new Fashionista collection of salvia from Walters Gardens features big, bold blooms and bold colours. The series includes ‘Ballerina Pink’ and ‘Pretty in Pink.’
Hardiness: 3. Walter’s Gardens, Sheridan Nurseries
Hibiscus ‘Airbrush Effect’ Rose mallow
This new rose mallow has vibrant pink flowers with salmon tones that have an airbrushed central white halo and a small dark red eye. Overlapping petals create a three dimensional look to the flowers, and the rich, dark green foliage forms a compact habit.
Hardiness: 4. Walter’s Gardens, Sheridan Nurseries
Heucherella ‘Onyx’ Foamy bells
True black, glossy, deeply cut leaves on a dense medium-sized mound make this a great landscape plant.
Hardiness: 4. Terra Nova Nurseries, Valleybrook – B.C.
Echinacea 'Kismet Intense Orange’ Coneflower
Intense orange blooms that remain attractive for weeks and great bloom size on an upright, compact habit.
Hardiness: 4. Terra Nova Nurseries
Echinacea purpurea ‘Green Twister’ Coneflower
Lemon green petals with increasing carmine-red centres give these blooms their ‘twister’ look. Count on an abundance of summer flowers on sturdy stems when grown in full sun in average soils.
Hardiness: 3. Grows to 100 cm tall with a spread between 60-100 cm. Valleybrook – B.C. and Ont.
Hemerocallis ‘Spacecoast Freaky Tiki’ Daylily
This reblooming daylily has flowers that are a mottled medley of red, yellow and orange. Plants grow 50 cm tall.
Hardiness: 3. Valleybrook – Ont.
Hosta ‘Munchkin Fire’
This new miniature yellow hosta is ideal for fairy gardens or smaller landscapes. Plants grow 20 cm tall and form a clump about 50 cm wide.
Hardiness: 2. Valleybrook – Ont., Walters Gardens