June 11, 2013
New woody plants introduced for 2013

Plant breeders are listening to growers and gardeners, who are asking for low input, drought-tolerant plants that look great. There are some exciting new additions to this year's line up of new plant introductions, including some lovely low-water annuals and tough perennials that perform well all summer.

Look for these plants, and others like them, at your local member garden centre this spring. Keep in mind that plants are a living commodity, and availability depends on more than weather and growing environment. Knowledgeable garden centre staff will be able to suggest similar varieties should the specific one you are searching for be temporarily unavailable.

 

Pucker Up dogwood
Cornus stolonifera ‘Pucker Up!’
This red-stemmed dogwood has unusual, distinctive foliage—thick, glossy and puckered and with a high level of leaf spot resistance. Bright red stems in winter add to this shrub’s year round interest. Grows 90 cm (36 in) and 1.2m (48 in.) high wide in a compact habit. Prefers full to partial sun and well-drained soil. Canadale Nurseries
Summer Ice daphne
Daphne transatlantica ‘Summer Ice’
This daphne has green leaves with white margins that add interest against the star-shaped flowers. Flowers come out as a champagne-white and then produce a sweet pinkish flush. The flowers are very fragrant and bloom from spring to fall. Grows 60 cm (24 in.) tall and 90 cm (36 in.) wide. Prefers full sun and well-drained soil. Canadale Nurseries
Haskap berry
Lonicer caerula edulis
This exciting new crop is gaining popularity across North America. The berries taste like blueberries and raspberries, and are excellent for fresh eating, jams or jellies. ‘Cinderella’, ‘Berry Blue’, ‘Tundra’, ‘Indigo Gem’, ‘Borealis’. Mori Nurseries. ‘Indigo Gem’, ‘Indigo Treat’, ‘ Indigo Yum’. Canadale Nurseries
Mahogany Magic™ Ninebark
Physocarpus opulifolius 'Mahogany Magic'
Sheridan Nurseries 100th Anniversary Introduction. An improved ninebark with neat compact branching and dark crimson-red leaves. This native variety has pinkish-white, button-like flowers in mid-summer. It is very showy and extremely hardy. Prized as a landscape shrub and as a cut flower. Hardy to zone 3. Grows 3 m (9 ft.) tall and 2 m (6 ft.) wide. Sheridan Nurseries
‘Purple Be Dazzled™’ lilac
Syringa pubescens subspecies Patula
Sheridan Nurseries 100th Anniversary Introduction. A new dwarf, compact re-blooming lilac with pale purple flower buds that open pale lavender to white with a delicate fragrance. Zone 4. Grows 100 cm (40 in.) tall and wide. Sheridan Nurseries