Plant trends 2008

1011 N. Woodlawn

Kirkwood, Missouri

63122

314-965-3070

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Succulents: sedums, sempervivum, echeveria
Gardeners are being challenged to find ways to balance the need to conserve precious water with their desire to create lush gardens and landscapes.  Most garden-worthy sedum are easygoing, adaptable, and hardy from USDA Zones 4 to 9, though some species are tenders and demand temperatures above freezing point in the winter.  Generally they prefer full sun or light shade and moderately fertile, well-drained soil.  They are low-maintenance and excellent in containers.  Look for 'Ogon' sedum, 'Blue Spruce' sedum, 'Pork and Beans' stonecrop.

Heuchera villosa
Recent breeding efforts with the native heuchera villosa species have resulted in amazing new selections and are now offering an opportunity for you to add sizzling color to your gardens this year.  Dramatic foliage colors, late summer blooming for the garden, vigorous habit, and much more tolerant of heat and humidity than other varieties.

'Caramel' has glowing apricot new growth fading to soft amber by summer.  Fall color is an intense salmon red.  Its lobed fuzzy foliage typical of H. villosa stays clean.  An eastern U.S. native species that is plenty hardy and unsurpassed for longevity, even in the prolonged heat and humidity of the south.  Long panicles of creamy white flowers in the late summer.

'Brownies,' an extremely strong grower with huge crinkled leaves (almost 5") of chocolate brown that curl up revealing plum undersides.  Forming a large dome-shaped mound, 'Brownies' is wonderful paired with gold or chartreuse plants in the garden.

A perfect companion, 'Citronelle,' has exceptional bright chartreuse foliage with tidy, compact habit.  Although 'Citronelle' has the characteristic robust traits of this species, it does appreciate a little more protection from a strong sun exposure.

Possibly the largest dark foliage available, 'Mocha' forms massive mounds of foliage in the garden.  Its copper-brown foliage darkens to nearly black, creating an interesting transition for this plant throughout the year.

Tropicals
Ensete maurelii is a superb dwarf ornamental banana from the high mountains of East Africa.  Growing to only 10' tall in temperate climates (20' tall in tropical areas), Ensete maurelii makes a superb ornamental for the summer border.  Each leaf can reach gigantic proportions of

10' long.  The most ornamental characteristic is that the foliage is flushed with burgundy-red, especially concentrated as the new growth emerges.  The higher the light levels, the stronger the coloration.

A New Look for Old Favorites
Repeat-blooming 'Encore' azaleas are new to St. Louis, and the miniature petunias, or million bells, are coming out in a double form this year.

Full-Grown Plants
Fully grown plants and trees are expected to be hot sellers this year, as well.  More people are becoming impatient with the process of waiting for trees to bloom over several years.  Nurseries are reporting that they are nearly sold out of fully grown trees and shrubs.

Native Plants
The desire for native plants continues to rise and you'll have easier access to them.

Other Fun/Unusual Plants
'Candy Mountain' foxglove has upright flowers

'Parsley' male fern is a clumping fern that looks like parsley

'Full Moon' coreopsis is the largest coreopsis flower with 3" flowers

'Morris Midget' boxwood is only 12-18" tall

'Butterfly Heaven' butterfly bush has 12" flower panicles; lavender with orange eyes

'Little One' is a dwarf verbena bonariensis

'Spooky' dianthus has fringed petals in white, pink and roses

'Night Heron' fairy bells disporum is an extremely rare and awesome shade plant.

Plant Awards
Each year the Perennial Plant Association picks a perennial of note.  This year it's Geranium 'Rozanne,' a strong performing hardy geranium that makes a dynamic ground cover of attractive specimen plant. Its energetic growing habit and non-stop blooming make it a good candidate as a perennial container plant, including window boxes and hanging planters.  Blooms are large, five-petaled, and violet-blue with small white centers.  The foliage is deeply cut and slightly marbled.

The International Herb Association has selected one of my favorites to represent 2008.  Calendula, also known as pot marigold, self-seeds quite dependably and blooms far into the fall to brighten up dark days with its gold and orange flowers.  Ingredients in calendula have several healing properties, including anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antibacterial.  Dried petals have typically been used in tinctures, ointments, and washes for the healing of burns, bruises, and cuts, as well as minor infections they cause.

From the National Garden Bureau we have two selections for 2008 -- they've declared it the Year of the Rudbeckia and the Year of the Eggplant.  The NGB is dedicated to educating home gardeners about flowers and vegetables.

For information on more hot plants, check out our website.