New Year, New Perennials

Last week, we talked about the new shrubs we’re most excited about growing this season, so this week we’re following up with our most anticipated new perennials. When we compare shrub and perennial production, one major difference is, of course, time. Most perennials are saleable in as few as four to ten weeks from the planting date, depending on the time of year, variety, and size of the liner. This affords us a tremendous amount of flexibility when it comes to changes in production, so we’re able to adapt much more quickly to fluctuations in demand for perennials than for trees and shrubs. It also allows us to meet last-minute requests more easily, turn space more quickly, and trial more varieties with less risk. All this affects our approach when it comes to marketing new plants to our customers, too. We can typically form fairly strong opinions about perennial trials over the course of a single season, whereas it may take one or two years to evaluate that new Hydrangea or Weigela.

Heuchera 'Timeless Night'

As you’ve probably heard, goth gardening is trending this year - gardeners want plants that are eerie, dark, and dramatic. Heuchera 'Timeless Night' fits the bill perfectly with ruffled, nearly black foliage that is dark as night. When the rosy pink flowers bloom from early to late summer, the contrast is absolutely stunning. The Timeless Collection was bred for its superior, reblooming flower performance, and it also includes varieties with purple, yellow, and silver foliage.  

Hibiscus 'Marshmallow Moon' - Photo courtesy of WaltersGardens, Inc.

One lesson we’ve learned from perennial production over the years is that demand for white-flowering plants can be very hard to predict. But we have a feeling that Hibiscus 'Marshmallow Moon' is going to be a hit. Its large flowers are pure white with thick petals, so they should hold up better to rain and heat than older white varieties, and it has a relatively compact habit with dark green foliage. Although its flowers are pure white and it has green foliage, this variety offers an alternative to ‘French Vanilla’, which has consistently struggled in our region, possibly due to limited cold hardiness.

Nepeta 'Chartreuse on the Loose' - Photo courtesy of WaltersGardens, Inc.

Nepeta 'Chartreuse on the Loose' caught my eye in the trial beds of Walters Gardens last year. It makes an attractive, mat-forming groundcover that looks especially striking in combination with purple-leaved plants. I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve been somewhat biased against plants with chartreuse foliage in the past, but that has changed in recent years with the introduction of some impressive new perennial varieties like this one. In addition to its attractive bright foliage, the lavender blue flowers are said to bloom all summer long without being cut back.

Tricyrtis formosana 'Autumn Glow'

There is something truly special about the subtle, understated beauty of Tricyrtis formosana 'Autumn Glow'. This variegated toad lily delighted us in trials last year with its attractive, yellow leaf margins that brighten up the shade. The delicate, orchid-like flowers are dotted with speckles and will draw you in with their exquisite details. This is a great, underused perennial for late-season color.      

Achillea 'Firefly Sunshine' - Photo courtesy of WaltersGardens, Inc.

Yarrow isn’t usually a plant I get excited about, but Achillea 'Firefly Sunshine' is an exception. When we grew this PW® variety last summer for a custom order, we were immediately impressed by its high bud count and sturdy habit. Although it grows taller than ‘Moonshine’, reaching 28” to 30” in height, it still manages to hold up better without flopping, and it looks fuller and more robust. This is one reason we love custom grows: they give us an excuse to try plants we would otherwise overlook.

Alcea rosea 'Blacknight' - Photo courtesy of WaltersGardens, Inc.

Alcea rosea 'Mars Magic' - Photo courtesy of WaltersGardens, Inc.

At some point, everything old becomes new again; this is just as true for our industry as it is for fashion. There comes a time when we can’t help but feel nostalgic for some of those old-fashioned plants that we stopped growing years ago, and that’s exactly why we decided to add hollyhocks back into production for 2024. Alcea rosea 'Blacknight' and Alcea rosea 'Mars Magic' are both members of the Spotlight series, introduced by Jelitto in 2010. They’re just as charming as those antique varieties from your grandmother’s garden, with their tall, stately flowers. But unlike older introductions, they’re true perennials. ‘Mars Magic’ features bright red single flowers, and ‘Blacknight’ will satisfy the goth gardener with its deep black-purple blooms. Hollyhocks are juglone-tolerant, which means they can be planted under black walnut trees.   

As always, we’ll provide updates on all of these varieties as we evaluate them in the nursery and our new trial garden in the coming years. Trialing new plants is a major factor when it comes to deciding what to grow and, just as importantly, what not to grow. If we can provide consumers with plants that are easier to grow and perform better, they’ll be more successful. This is just one way we will continue to move our industry forward.