1011 N. Woodlawn

Kirkwood, Missouri

63122

314-965-3070

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Michael Dirr, the "modern father of woody plants," was a featured speaker at the Southern Illinois Grounds Maintenance School and Trade Show in Collinsville last week.  He talked about his extensive and exciting work breeding new varieties of hydrangeas for the American garden.  Of more than 20,000 hydrangea seedlings that he has grown in recent years, only eight had characteristics that were"great" enough to be selected, named, and patent protected.  "The journey," Dirr says, "is to reach biological perfection.  We continue to try!"

More than 700 local industry experts turned out to hear Dirr talk about his work and view a slide show featuring some of his new plants, along with the old standbys. 

The University of Georgia’s breeding program, headed by Dirr, has released or is working on the following new introductions:

·         Lady in Red – A lacecap, pink to blue, with red pigmentation in leaves and stem with red fall color; excellent cold hardiness and mildew resistant.  Flowers start out green, turn mauve, then pale blue (AVAILABLE AT SUGAR CREEK)

·         Blushing Bride – a remontant mophead with semi-double petals, white to pink/blue; flowered in St. Paul, Minn., after extreme cold last year; available this year from Bailey Nurseries, Inc. (a cross of Veitchii and Endless Summer) (AVAILABLE AT SUGAR CREEK)

·         Mini Penny – A remontant mophead, pink to blue, with lustrous, dark green foliage (an open-pollinated seedling of Penny Mac)

·         Nigra (possible name Midnight Lace) – A lacecap, soft pink with lustrous dark green leaves and purple-black stems (an open-pollinated seedling of Nigra) (AVAILABLE AT SUGAR CREEK)

·         Veitchii – a lacecap, with to pink/blue, with magnificent large, lustrous dark green foliage, strong stems, and extremely vigorous (AVAILABLE AT SUGAR CREEK)

·         Little Honey – Oakleaf hydrangea with yellow foliage, orange-red fall color, a variation of Pee Wee (ON THE MARKET)

·         Turkey Hill – Oakleaf hydrangea with more rounded, largely sterile flowered inflorescences (ON THE MARKET)

·         Vaughn’s Lillie – Oakleaf hydrangea, will flower on new growth (AVAILABLE AT SUGAR CREEK)

In addition, Dr. Dirr signed copies of his book, Hydrangeas for American Gardens, which was released in 2004.  You can check out details on his book here.

Are you ready to add a new hydrangea to your garden yet?  Click here to see the variety of hydrangeas that Sugar Creek will have this spring for you to select from.