Nursery Market Report: Feb. 2001, New Varieties: Think Spring

Specializing in the new and unusual, EuroAmerican Propagators, Bonsall, Calif., introduced bold varieties that perform well in most USDA zones. EuroAmerican also identified market trends and introduces plants to fill these needs.

One such trend is that landscape designers consider foliage color and pattern just as important as bloom color, size or shape when selecting material for beds. As a result, EuroAmerican has introduced several new plants that offer unusual foliage patterns and colors.

‘Oriental Limelight’ has lemon yellow and green variegated foliage. Its mounding, self-branching habit makes a suitable companion for flowering plants in pots and flower beds from spring until fall. The plants will survive the winter in USDA zones 5 and warmer.

‘Amethyst Lights’ is a heat-loving variety with variegated foliage in green, white and pink. Two-tone pink flowers appear in late summer.

‘Golden Lining’ offers yellow and green variegated foliage and tiny, rose-colored flowers. It grows as a low, compact shrub in mixed planters and beds.

‘Illumination’ offers golden yellow foliage with green margins and a trailing habit. It prefers partial shade, but in a planter, ‘Illumination’ can be placed in full sun if there are taller plants to provide shade. The plant is frost hardy in USDA zones 4 and warmer.

Beyond these foliage plants, EuroAmerican has added a new line of Diascias that are more heat tolerant than previous introductions. ‘Coral Belle’ has delicate, coral pink flowers, lush foliage and medium growth vigor. ‘Little Charmer’ is the most compact variety and has pink flowers and low-growing foliage. Finally, ‘Red Ace’ is the most vigorous grower of all three. The plant has vibrant red flowers and a semitrailing growth habit.

In the Dandenong Daisy line, ‘Pink’ has pastel pink flowers displayed above compact, lush foliage. While the plant’s bloom cycle peaks in spring, it also continues well into summer.

In the Festival series, ‘Royal Festival’ Gypsophila has large, white flowers and a compact growth habit. Festival Gypsophilas are frost hardy and grow best in full-sun locations.

‘Laguna Blue’ and ‘Tioga Blue’ Lobelias are heat tolerant, vigorous growers. ‘Laguna Blue’ has cornflower blue flowers, and ‘Tioga Blue’s’ blooms are sky blue.

In the EuroSelect line, ‘Summer Pink’ is a new marguerite daisy with pastel pink blooms displayed over compact, silver-green foliage. High light levels and cool temperatures improve the plant’s color intensity.

‘New Light Lavender’ is a heat lover with light lavender flowers and lush, shiny foliage. This new Cuphea variety thrives as the summer temperatures rise.

‘New Gold Flash’ Lotus has an extended bloom period and vibrant orange and red blooms. As long as night temperatures stay below 68 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit, the blooms appear in abundance.

In the Springstar collection, ‘Aurora’ has large, magenta blooms and a compact growth habit. It is suitable for both flower beds and patio planters.

Part of the Athens Select line of heat-tolerant plants, ‘Lavender Popcorn’ is a new Lantana with lavender flowers that die back. Then long seed pods appear with small, round, bright pink seeds the size of popcorn kernels.

‘Athens Blue Spires’ is a heat-tolerant rosemary with unusually soft leaves. The plant can grow up to 5 feet tall in USDA zones 7 and warmer.

‘Susan’s Song’ is an attractive Ranunculus variety with variegated foliage, yellow flowers and a tolerance to heat and humidity.

‘Blue Shade Ground Hugger’ is a creeping Ruellia that covers the ground with blue flowers and has dark green foliage.