Dig in!

Earlier this year, several of the nation’s top growers showcased their new varieties at American Nursery & Landscape Association’s Management Clinic. The New Plant Pavilion, sponsored and hosted by Lawn & Landscape sister publication Nursery Management & Production, offered landscapers a sneak peek at hot varieties hitting the market in 2010. Take a look at these unique plant offerings that will certainly set your landscape installations apart.

Acer
Acer palmatum ‘Ryusen’
This unique variety from Japan is unlike any that precede it. Green palmate leaves are generally characteristic of upright forms. ‘Ryusen’ is a weeping form with a rapid rate of growth that shoots straight up and cascades over. Excellent for narrow spaces, ‘Ryusen’ matures at 5 feet wide. Bright yellow and orange fall colors contribute to its beauty. ‘Ryusen’ grows best in full sun to partial shade and in moist, well-drained soil. It’s hardy in USDA Hardiness Zones 5-8.

From Novalis.

Acer truncatum × platanoides
‘JFS-KW202’ Crimson Sunset
A superior performer selected from a 20-plus year hybridization program by Keith Warren. Deep purple foliage emerges dark and glossy and retains its deep, rich color through the heat of summer. This medium size shade tree is an excellent substitute for Acer platanoides ‘Crimson King’ in climates where hot summer temperatures and high humidity make trees with purple foliage a rarity. Crimson Sunset grows to  30 feet high and 20 feet wide. It’s drought-tolerant and heat-resistant. Adaptable and tolerant of varied pH conditions, Crimson Sunset performs well in a variety of growing conditions including heavy soils.

It’s hardy in USDA Hardiness Zone 5.

From J. Frank Schmidt.

Berberis
Berberis thunbergii ‘Goruzam’ Golden Ruby
Golden Ruby stands out with its unique color transformation. Spring foliage emerges a striking fluorescent orange, with leaves maturing to a burgundy maroon with a gold ring around the outer leaf margin in summer. Fall color is a flame-orange to brick-red.  It’s hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 4. This very slow growing selection reaches approximately 15 inches high and 24 inches wide. Fruit set is sparse. It performs best in full sun and in well-drained soil.

From LCN Selections.

Coreopsis
Coreopsis Big Bang ‘Cosmic Eye’
The flowers of this dramatic, claret-colored coreopsis are tipped in golden, sunshine yellow. Well-branched plants produce masses of flowers, blooming continuously from midsummer into fall. Pleasingly compact for the smaller garden, it is an ideal coreopsis for containers with a height of 12 to 15 inches. Hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 5, it thrives in a wide range of growing conditions.

From Skagit Gardens.
 

Camellia
Camellia sasanqua ‘Marge Miller’
Although presented in the form of a patio tree or staked to 3 feet tall, this Australian introduction is the first prostrate camellia in the world. ‘Marge Miller’ camellia makes a superb groundcover, spilling over walls or even from a hanging basket. When trained on a stake or wall, it will cascade down for a lovely weeping shape. Full, soft pink flowers appear in fall along the stems against the deep-green, glossy foliage. Prefers filtered sun.  Hardy to USDA Hardiness Zones 7-10.

A Monrovia exclusive.

 

Echinacea
Echinacea ‘Marmalade’
‘Marmalade’ is a strong plant that supports truly double marmalade orange blooms. The color of the blooms is two-toned. On some days, and in different light, it will look more tangerine-orange, but on most, it will look just like fresh marmalade from the jar spread onto your Sunday morning toast. With blooms the color of tart orange marmalade and stems as sturdy as the strongest selection, ‘Marmalade’ will add another dimension to the garden. Layered with selections like ‘Hot Papaya,’ ‘Milkshake’ and ‘Meringue,’ consumers will be able to create a cutting garden that’s the envy of their neighborhood. ‘Marmalade’ is a medium-sized plant with large, fully double pompom blooms that won’t disappoint.

From Plants Nouveau.

Gardenia
Jubilation Gardenia
Southern Living Plant Collection’s Jubilation gardenia was introduced 2009. A charming improvement on a Southern favorite, Jubilation re-blooms fragrantly through summer and fall. Enjoy milky white double blooms and rich aroma with this compact, evergreen shrub. Hardy to USDA Hardiness Zones 7-10, this shrub is easily maintained, growing only 3-4 feet tall by 3 feet wide. Jubilation grows best in full sun to part shade.

From PDSI.
 

Hawthorne
Rhaphiolepis umbellata ‘Rutrhaph1’ Southern Moon
A significantly improved selection from noted plantsman John Ruter at the University of Georgia. Close to a decade of evaluation has shown this plant to exhibit exceptional disease resistance combined with a compact, self-mounding habit remaining just 4-5 feet tall, unlike Rhaphiolepis umbellata ‘Minor.’ Dark green, glossy foliage and wavy margins add interest. An abundant white flower display appears in spring prior to emerging new growth. Excellent for foundation plantings. Southern Moon is a great choice for anyone seeking an easy-care flowering hedge that will turn heads. Hardy to USDA Hardiness Zones 7-10.

From Monrovia.

Lilac
Bloomerang Purple Lilac
This new reblooming lilac produces its highly fragrant flowers in the spring and then again in mid-summer. The lavender flowers continue right up until frost. It has a compact, full growth habit and small leaves, making it the ideal plant for smaller gardens. Now your customers can enjoy lilacs beyond two weeks in the spring. Mildew and root-rot resistant, Bloomerang grows 4-5 feet tall and wide. It is hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 3, and grows best in full sun.

From Proven Winners ColorChoice.

Rosa
Apricot Drift ‘Meimirrot’
Apricot Drift is one of two new additions to the Drift series of groundcover roses for 2010.  Apricot Drift is characterized by soft double apricot flowers that form continuously all season on a low-growing shrub. Mature size is about 2 feet high by 2 feet wide. Disease resistance is exceptional. Perfect for use along pathways, hillsides or at the front of a border.  Full sun is best. Hardy in USDA Hardiness Zones 5-9.

From Conard-Pyle Co.